WHY THE "ORGAN"?​

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Did you know that the organ is known as the Rex Instrumentorum (the king of instruments)? No other musical instrument is so complex, so complete and so diverse... A violin always has 4 strings, a piano, 88 keys. An organ can have one or many keyboards, from 24 to 56 keys approximately, a pedalboard or no pedalboard at all, a few or hundreds of stops, and the combinations and variations are so many that we can actually say that until the 19th century every organ is unique.

WHY IN "SANTO TIRSO AND VILA NOVA DE FAMALICÃO" ?

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Did you know that Santo Tirso and Famalicão have the biggest cluster of companies in the field of organ making in Portugal, and that these two cities produce pipes and organ pieces to some of the most important organs of the world? And did you know that Portugal is one of the countries with more historic organs still preserved? 

WHY "INTERNATIONAL"?

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We believe that culture can and should be accessible to EVERYONE. We believe in the decentralization of culture and that is why we bring the most renowned organists from abroad and from Portugal to share their talent and their art with our audiences.

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SO... THE FIO; INTERNATIONAL ORGAN FESTIVAL IN VILA NOVA DE FAMALICÃO AND SANTO TIRSO!

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The FIO connects the cities of Vila Nova de Famalicão and Santo Tirso thru the organ music, organizing solo organ recitals, recitals of voice and organ, solo instruments and organ, organ and orchestra, organ and dance... because the organ is a soloist and an accompanist instrument, a liturgical and a concert instrument, it can be fixed or movable, medieval, from the renaissance, the baroque or the romantic period and, therefore, there is a repertoire for every type of instrument. The organ is such a diverse instrument that the possibilities of enjoying it are infinite.

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So, we propose concerts not only in the most important venues of the cities of Famalicão and Santo Tirso, but also in distant parishes. And if there is no organ, no problem. We will bring one!

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WHO ARE WE​

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The FIO is organized by the Tagus-Atlanticus Cultural Association, a non-profit organization that promotes events since 2011 with the purpose to unveil and promote culture and heritage from the Ibero-American countries, and by JMS Organs, a company founded in 2015 and specialized in the construction of reed pipes for organs and the restoration of historical instruments. 

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This is why an organist/organologist, two organ makers, and a lyrical singer in love with organs got together to materialize this idea. We must mention that this project wouldn't be possible without the support (which was always way beyond financial) from the city halls from both cities, besides some companies that believed in this project from the very first edition, alongside others that have joined us over the past ones.

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And, do you know what happens when so many people gather together to make something new? More than 6500 people watched our concerts live and almost 15.000 thru social media. Besides that, thanks to our support, 9 churches have already restored their inoperational organs or bought new instruments.

 

Because:

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"When one dreams a dream alone, it is only a dream. But when one dreams with others, that is the beginning of a new reality!"

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 (Miguel de Cervantes)