“El concierto de campanas para un patrimonio de la humanidad”/ “The concert of bells for the heritage of humanity” will be happening on the same night as the Night of Museums, December 10, 2011 from 8PM to 11PM.
Click poster to enlarge
On the Day of National Heritage/ Patrimonio Nacional, the Cultural Center of Spain/ Centro Cultural de España in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture/ Ministerio de Cultura and the Archbishop of Santo Domingo/ Arzobispado Metropolitano de Santo Domingo there will be a group ringing of the bells. This is a worldwide activity which will take place in Dominican Republic for the first time this year. Llorenç Barber who is a composer, instrumentalist and musicologist will direct the concert. He will be accompanied by the band of Monserrat Palacios who will be ringing the bells throughout the Colonial City.
The organizers offered local musicians, art students, choir members, and just people who wanted to participate to join in. They have been practicing all week. I have been hearing the bells ringing at different intervals throughout this week. They sound wonderful and I cannot wait to hear the real event.
During this ringing of the bells or after they will light the Columbus Lighthouse/ Faro de Colón which usually only happens once or twice a year. So keep you eyes to the sky to see the illuminated cross high above the city.
The 12 bells will be synchronized starting at 8PM. To avoid interfering with the concert, vehicular traffic will be detoured from 7 to 10 pm on the following streets:
Las Mercedes and Padre Billini, from Santomé to Calle Las Damas. The streets Santomé, Sánchez, José Reyes, 19 de marzo, Duarte, Hostos, Arzobispo Meriño and Las Damas, from Las Mercedes and Padre Billini; Arz. Noel, El Conde, Salomé Ureña and General Luperón.
They posted tips on how to hear the best sounds of the bells:
1. Try and find a centrally located spot between all the churches in the Colonial Zone.
2. Try and get a spot that is quiet.
3. Find an open space, the higher the better.
4. Listen closely for all the different sounds both large and small.
5. Abrir de par en par las puertas de la sensibilidad y la memoria.
I will try and put the live Colonial Zone Web Cam out the window and see if I can pick up the sound. The web cam will also be archived in case you cannot watch in real time. I will also try and record it with my digital camera to share. Lets hope one of these will work so we can share this event with the world.
