Kulturminister Uffe Elbæks tale ved åbning af WOMEX World Music Expo (international festival for verdensmusik)

Sted: DR's koncertsal
Dato: 27. oktober 2011

(Det talte ord gælder)

Welcome! My name is Uffe Elbæk, and I am the Danish minister for culture.

One of the best things about my job is that I get to meet people like you – the best of the best in world music.

Music is very important to me, because music is one of the few truly international languages. Music goes both before and beyond words, and it allows people to communicate without speaking.

Music is pure emotion and pure communication.

The music of a specific culture is both unique to its place and time – and yet it speaks to us all regardless of country, language and cultural background.

And when music lovers meet each other, different perspec-tives and cultures meet as well.

***

World music has come a long way in Denmark during the last fifteen years. Now, Klezmer music fuels the party at Danish weddings, and salsa and samba are among the most popular dances. Gospel is widely sung in Danish choirs.

At the same time, Danish folk music is widely respected throughout the world – as yet another wonderful aspect of “world music”.

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The opening of the World Music Expo is always a cause for celebration for anyone who loves music and culture.

But I also take pride in the fact that Denmark and Copenhagen now for the third time is hosting Womex.

I can honestly say that Womex has given this country so much in return.

We pride ourselves in Denmark for our tolerance and open-mindedness, and Womex lets us Danes show our-selves at our best.

Next year, Womex will travel to Thessaloniki in Greece, and I am sure that will be another great success.

***

Tonight, this magnificent concert hall, created by French architect Jean Nouvel for DR, our Danish national broad-caster, is going to ring and sing with Hungarian music.

And during the next days the festival will present a selec-tion of the finest music from different parts of the world.

Tomorrow evening and three nights on, about thirty international showcase acts will be performed on five different stages here in DR. And nine Nordic orchestras will perform in the special Nordic Club, with a focus on the roots and musical traditions within the Nordic coun-tries.

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During the course of the festival, there will be meetings between musicians and organizers at the great Forum exhibition.

And of course you’re all invited to visit the Danish stand and the other Nordic countries in the – now famous - green grass lounge in the centre of the Forum exhibition. Have a seat on the grass and a lets have a nice conversa-tion!

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In that respect - before letting us get on with the show, I would like to challenge all of us a little bit.

What can we do to get even more people involved?

How can we engage the people that never listen to world music?

Are there groups of people who we’re not reaching now, but who could be a great source of inspiration?

I don’t have the answers, but it’s something we should think about. We have to take the great work we’re doing now and do it even better!

On that note - thank you very much. Enjoy the show!