II Arqueo Music Days. ”About the hydraulis of the Olmeda”.

In 2022, the Provincial Council of Palencia provided the Roman Vilage La Olmeda with a replica hydraulis, a hydraulic organ used in antiquity. The provincial institution rescued this unique musical instrument, which adds to the immense cultural attraction of the archaeological site. The hydraulis of La Olmeda was built in the Workshop of Organ Building and Art Acitores, directed by Federico Acitores in Torquemada since 1983. Building this instrument, which is more than two thousand years old and of which there are scarce archaeological remains, has been an interesting challenge and difficult task. It is a tetrachord hydraulis with four rows of diatonic pipes, following the Greek models, suitable for full functionality in musical performances. The hydraulis is a hydraulic mechanism organ similar to those used in Greco-Roman antiquity. It became popular in ancient Rome, which spread the use of this instrument throughout its empire, as musical accompaniment in theaters, amphitheaters, and circuses, as well as in social and liturgical gatherings.After acquiring the hydraulis for the Roman Villa La Olmeda, it is necessary, on the one hand, to make the instrument known and, on the other hand, to enable scholars and interested individuals to approach the music of the Roman era. Additionally, the goal is to attract the attention of potential performers interested in playing this instrument. To better achieve these objectives and also to delve into the knowledge of ancient music, the Provincial Council of Palencia is organizing the 2nd Archaeomusic Days, which will include theoretical studies, analysis of sources and images of instruments that have come down to us, as well as the recreation of instrument sounds. These activities will allow scholars and the interested public to approach an unknown and distant reality that played an important role in classical society, both in the public and private spheres.

PROGRAM

• August 8: Free and open concert until full capacity at 7:30 p.m. “Sounds of the Villa” by Tintinnabulum.
• August 9, morning:
  • 9:30 a.m. Departure by Bus from Palencia for registered participants (Plaza de San Lázaro)
  • 11:00 a.m. Presentation by D. Francisco José Udaondo Puerto. Organist. Director of the Choir of the Pontifical University and professor at the University of Salamanca: “Hydraulis: From Theater to Church. 2000 Years of Organ History”
  • 12:00 p.m. Presentation by D. Federico Acitores. Organ builder and creator of the Hydraulis of La Olmeda. Acitores Organ Building and Art: “The Hydraulis of La Olmeda”
  • 1:00 p.m. Discussion
• August 9, afternoon:
  • 2:30 p.m. Lunch in Saldaña for registered participants and speakers
  • 5:00 p.m. Visit to the La Olmeda Museum in Saldaña
  • 7:30 p.m. Free and open concert until full capacity: “Sonos ex antiquis. Sounds of Antiquity” by Hydraulia: Alberto Ruiz, hydraulis. Ana Aguado, organist. Natalia Bravo, vocals.
  • Return by Bus after the concert for registered participants and speakers.
• August 10, morning:
  • 9:30 a.m. Departure by Bus from Palencia for registered participants (Plaza de San Lázaro)
  • 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Round table: “Organology of Classical Antiquity”
    • D. Francisco José Udaondo Puerto. Organist. Director of the Choir of the Pontifical University of Salamanca (UPSA). Professor at the University of Salamanca (USAL)
    • D. Federico Acitores. Organ builder and creator of the Hydraulis of La Olmeda (Acitores Organ Building and Art, Torquemada, Palencia)
    • D. Samuel Maíllo. Professor of organ at the Superior Conservatory of Music of Castilla y León (COSCYL)
    • D. Sixto José Castro Rodríguez. Professor of Aesthetics. Department of Philosophy. University of Valladolid (UVA).
    • D. Francisco Cortés. Luthier and Professor of Plucked and Bowed String Lutherie at the University of Jaén (CSM). Director of SKOLION, Greco-Roman Musical Archaeology Group.
  • Diploma presentation for registered participants
• August 10, afternoon:
  • 2:30 p.m. Lunch in Saldaña for registered participants and speakers
  • 5:30 p.m. Concert by the Hydraulis of La Olmeda. D. Samuel Maíllo: “Mousiké Téchne”
  • 7:30 p.m. Concert by the Greek and Roman Music Group Skolion, Greco-Roman Musical Archaeology Group (Almedinilla, Córdoba). Director: D. Francisco Cortés. “Musical Aesthetics and Sounds of Ancient Rome”
  • 9:30 p.m. Return by Bus after the concert for registered participants and speakers
• August 11: Free and open concert until full capacity at 7:30 p.m. by Ars In Vita: “Metamorphoses”. Music and dance performance inspired by Ovid’s Metamorphoses.
• August 12: Free and open concert until full capacity at 7:30 p.m. by Neonymus: “Evoking Antiquity”

REGISTRATION
All concerts of the II Archeomusic Days are free and open to the public until full capacity. No registration is required. Access is permitted starting at 7:00 p.m.

To attend the lectures and round table, prior reservation is essential, by paying the registration fee for the August 9 and 10 sessions, which include bus transportation, lunch, and a diploma. Please complete the registration form and make the corresponding payment as instructed in the attached documents. Registration forms and proof of payment should be sent by email to the Cultural Service of the Palencia Provincial Council at cultura@diputaciondepalencia.es.