The ocarina was born in Italy. It has travelled all over the world, even crossing oceans.

In this special session, we will have the privilege of listening to the highly experienced musician Eduardo Ghelli on a journey of discovery of the ocarina and its diffusion in South America.

Born in Cordoba, Argentina, but the great-grandson of immigrants from Budrio, he has maintained a deep connection with the musical traditions associated with the ocarina. In fact, he has played a fundamental role in the instrument’s popularisation in South America, founding the first Ocarina Group in Argentina in 2010.

During the lecture, Eduardo will explore various aspects related to the ocarina, from its distribution and use in different cultures around the world, the different construction techniques, the interweaving of history and personal experience.

Workshop with Robert Hickman

The workshop, open to all ages and musical backgrounds, offers an introduction to the instrument, covering essential fundamentals: from correct posture and breath control to rhythm management and fingering techniques.
The teaching will focus on a hands-on approach, combining direct listening with sheet music reading.

A great introduction, ideal for curious minds and a perfect starting point for those wishing to embark on their ocarina journey.

The workshop will last approximately 90 minutes and will be conducted in English.
It is recommended that each participant brings a C alto ocarina.

Robert Hickman is the creator of Pure Ocarinas, a bespoke workshop specializing in custom-made ocarinas, and the author of Serious Ocarina Player and The Art of Ocarina Making. He first discovered the ocarina in 2007 through a performance by David Eric Ramos on YouTube, and was immediately captivated by the instrument’s unique sound. Since 2011, he has made the ocarina the central focus of his creations, compositions, and books.
His instruments are designed with an emphasis on ergonomics, and musically, his main interest lies in Irish and folk music, blending balfolk, contra, and ceilidh dance.
For several years, he has also been leading workshops at folk festivals across the UK.

Workshop

This workshop, led by Robert Hickman, offers a unique opportunity to explore traditional Irish music through the ocarina. Participants will learn the fundamentals of Irish music through a blend of theory and hands-on practice.
The teaching will primarily be by ear, staying true to tradition, though some sheet music will be provided to support the learning process.

We recommend using a C alto ocarina, an instrument that offers a wide range of expression and allows for a level of ornamentation not easily achieved with instruments like the simple flute or tin whistle. With its distinctive timbre, the ocarina is ideally suited for delving into the nuanced, ornamental aspects of Irish music.

Active participation and attentive listening will be key to fully immersing yourself in the world of Irish music, making the workshop both educational and enjoyable.

The workshop will be conducted in English and will last approximately 90 minutes.

Robert Hickman is the creator of Pure Ocarinas, a bespoke workshop specializing in custom-made ocarinas, and the author of Serious Ocarina Player and The Art of Ocarina Making. He first discovered the ocarina in 2007 through a performance by David Eric Ramos on YouTube, and was immediately captivated by the instrument’s unique sound. Since 2011, he has made the ocarina the central focus of his creations, compositions, and books.
His instruments are designed with an emphasis on ergonomics, and musically, his main interest lies in Irish and folk music, blending balfolk, contra, and ceilidh dance.
For several years, he has also been leading workshops at folk festivals across the UK.

The event

The iconic international concert of the Festival: a celebration of cultures and sounds from across the globe.

The Consortium Theater in Budrio hosts a truly exceptional event. Six ocarina ensembles from three continents will perform, honoring the magic of this incredible instrument.

An experience that blends tradition with modernity, creating a unique fusion of sounds, melodies, stories, and cultures. Through this instrument, the different voices of the world unite, embodying an evening dedicated to the beauty of cultural diversity and the universality of music.

A shining example of how a small town can become a global cultural hub. This event is a tribute to Budrio and its rich history.

FLOWERS OF HIROSHIMA

After their success in the 2024 edition, the duo returns to our International Ocarina Festival.
The Hiroshima-born duo of Shirai Asaka (zither) and Nakahara Chisato (ocarina) has been performing both in Japan and internationally for years, sharing messages of peace through their music.

They’ve had the honor of performing in Germany on several occasions, including in Hannover to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the city’s friendship with Hiroshima, as well as in Frankfurt.

Program

1. Hiroshima – Peace Clock Tower, a traditional song played every morning at 8:15 a.m., 364 days a year from the clock tower in Hiroshima Peace Park.
2. Island of Prayer by Asaka Shirai, a piece composed in honour of Miyajima, the abode of the gods and a World Heritage Site in Hiroshima.
3. Senbon Sakura, the song that captures the beauty, the transience and the fleeting joy of the cherry blossoms.

NANAKO E RUNEKA

A Japanese duo of an ocarina player and an ocarina teacher.

Program

1. 「Sakura」– variations, arr. Nanako Yamashiro, published in ‘Koto Music Collection’ (1888) and taught in Japanese schools.

GOOSAPHONE

Goosaphone, also known as Goose or simply Kaitlyn, is a cosplayer and musician from Wisconsin, USA. She is a member of Ocabanda, the American ocarina septet founded by David Erick Ramos, and plays the ocarina in low C. She mainly performs at music events related to video games and incorporates cosplay into her performances.

Program

1. Music for video games from the Pokémon, Fire Emblem and Legend of Zelda
2. Lugia’s Song and other iconic ocarina songs

AURORA-N OCARINA TRIO

A group of three women, each of whom has won prizes in traditional Japanese music competitions. The trio performs with the intention of expressing the purity and beauty of the figure of Aurora and the hope that the melodies of the ocarinas will spread light and joy, like a ray of life embracing the earth. The group’s name reflects this spirit: ‘Aurora’, the goddess of the dawn in Greek mythology, and ‘N’ for Nagoya, their origin city.

Program

1. Eine kleine Nachtmusik, Mozart
2. Take Five arr.Maico/Kojyo
3. The Typewriter by Leroy Anderson

CYRILLE MERCADIER & ENSEMBLE DENNER

Cyrille Mercadier joins the Ensemble Denner for this special performance.
Cyrille Mercadier began playing the ocarina at the age of eight, when a friend of his father’s gave him an instrument made by Mignani in Budrio. Thirty years later, an invitation to perform as a soloist led him to explore the world of Vivaldi with a special model of ocarina in C-small made for him by Olivier Gosselink. Since then, Cyrille has toured extensively in addition to his career as a freelance clarinetist and clarinet repairer in Paris.
The Ensemble Denner’ clarinetists graduated from French conservatories and are members or former members of prestigious Parisian orchestras such as the Garde Républicaine and the Musique des Gardiens de la Paix. With over 30 years of experience as chamber music ensembles, they regularly perform with symphony orchestras and continue to cultivate an intense musical collaboration.

Program

1. A. Vivaldi : Il Cardellino arr. C. Mercadier 10’
2. V. Bellini : Casta diva arr. C. Mercadier 6’
3. E. Mäkelä : Ocarina concerto (3 rd movement), first audition in Italy 7’
4. Trad. : Calusul arr. Lionel Milin 3’

SHIINAZAKA

Founded in May 2022 by Shiina Haruna and her students, these group members live in Japan, mainly in Sapporo and Hokkaido, and have an average age of 40. The group won first prize in the ensemble category at the Japan Ocarina Competition, for two consecutive years (10th edition in 2023 and 11th edition in 2024). They also won first prize in the ensemble category at the 5th (2024) International Ocarina Rave Online Competition.

Program

1. Guillame Tell – Overture, composed by G. Rossini, arr. E. Bernagozzi
2. Jig & Air – pensieri sull’Irlanda (Gli occhi di Shamrock) – composed by Atsushi Tajima

The annual event features the symbol of global ocarina tradition, the Gruppo Ocarinistico Budriese, and the youth who embody the future of Italian music: the BenTIVoglio Youth Orchestra.

GOB – Gruppo Ocarinistico Budriese

The 10-hole ocarina was invented in 1853 by Giuseppe Donati, a local boy. After the invention of five ocarinas of different sizes, the first ensemble was formed in 1863 but later it became a seven-member and from that moment it started to perform in the most famous European theaters, proposing original songs or arrangements of the most famous opera music. This is Gruppo Ocarinistico Budriese.

The current GOB carries on this musical heritage, focusing on 20’s and 30’s groups led by Alfredo Barattoni. The current lineup includes ocarina players trained at the Budrio Ocarina School and musicians with a classical training background. The unmistakable pastoral sound, typical of an ocarina ensemble, has been joined in recent years by more classical instrument in a repertoire for one or two ocarinas (G.O.B. ‘s Soloists). In their concerts, the G.O.B. Soloists offer pieces in which the ocarina is accompanied by piano, string quartet or baroque orchestra.

The GOB has been active for several, performing over 1,000 concerts in Italy and abroad. The group has recorded many CDs and DVDs. Among the commitments of the GOB there are: tournèes in Australia (1987, 1996, 2000), Cuba (1989), Argentina (1990), Chile (1990, 1999), Venezuela (1991), USA (1994), South Korea (2010, 2012, 2014), China (2014 with a concert in the prestigious National Theater – NCPA of Pechino) and Japan (2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2023) as well as in Europe.
Recently, they have been broadcasted by Radio3 (2014), RSI (Radio of Italian Swiss, 2014) and WDR (Germany, 2015). In 2019 they performed at the Ravello Festival and in 2020 at the Macerata Sferisterio for Musicultura. In August 2024, his sixth tour to Japan is planned.

Music program

Fotografie by Emiliano Bernagozzi
Goodnight Suite by Johachim Johov
Ouverture of “The Magic Flute”, by Mozart

BenTIVoglio Youth Orchestra

The “Sinfonica Giovanile” Orchestra was born from the long-time experience of the Music School “Il Temporale” and the International Festival “Musica da Camera” at the Bentivoglio Castle.
The Orchestra formation workshop, directed by Emiliano Bernagozzi, involves the students of the “Il Temporale” music school and it is open to all boys and girls who study music.

Today the Youth Orchestra has 40 members aged 13 and over.
In 2016 won the International competition “Rossini” in the city of Pesaro. It has already been the protagonist of a tour in the Czech Republic in 2016 and in a tour in Irpinia in 2027, which ended with a performance of Vivaldi’s Gloria at the Royal Palace of Caser

A guided tour led by Cristian Paolini, for the Diapason Progetti Musicali Association. A chance to discover the beating heart of Budrio’s tradition.

The Ocarina Museum in Budrio is the only one in Italy that tells the story of this wonderful instrument, from its origins to new contemporary expressions, through the creations of its original makers (Giuseppe Donati, Cesare Vicinelli, Alberto Mezzetti).

Photographs and score complete a story that has been surprising and enchanting artists from all over the world since the 19th century.

This initiative is part of the broader “Saturday with the Ocarina” project, conceived and organized by the Diapason Progetti Musicali APS Association in collaboration with the Municipality of Budrio, which also includes a workshop for children.

Guided tour led by Succede Solo a Bologna

A unique opportunity to explore an exclusive and captivating place, a true hidden gem nestled in the heart of the Bolognese countryside.

HISTORY

The villa was constructed in Vedrana di Budrio at the end of the 17th century by Marquis Giuseppe Carlo Ratta, based on a design by Bertelli. The architecture reflects the Bolognese senatorial family’s desire for prestige, while also offering a functional structure. The central part of the villa symbolized the family’s status, while the side wings housed the kitchen, staff quarters, and storage areas for the agricultural estate’s operations.

The large cellar was used for wine production and the storage of barrels. In 1896, the villa and its surrounding farm were purchased by Annibale Certani, an agricultural engineer and the great-great-grandfather of the current owners.

In 1945, during World War II, the villa suffered severe damage. However, it was fully restored in 2017 by the Vittori Venenti family, including repairs from the damage caused by the 2012 earthquake.

Dating back to the 16th century, the villa was initially owned by the Cospi family and later inherited by the Ranuzzi Cospi family. In the 18th century, it underwent a radical transformation, emerging as an architectural masterpiece. At the heart of the complex stands the villa, featuring a frescoed loggia with three arches, flanked by two porticoed structures and two symmetrical buildings with elegant facades.

In the 17th century, it housed a renowned picture gallery with works by Guido Reni, and in the 18th century, it became a prominent cultural hub. Here, Count Prospero Ferdinando Ranuzzi founded the literary academy “I Notturni,” which was frequented by aristocrats and intellectuals. After changing hands several times, the villa was restored in the 1980s by Giovanni Tamburini, who returned it to its original grandeur.

The event

The ‘Ocarinando’ project of the association Diapason Progetti Musicali APS brings music into schools and this day is its worthy culmination. Experienced ocarinists, students and teachers will come together in various performances.

In questa mattina si esibiranno gli allievi del programma “Suoniamo l’ocarina”.

Promosso dall’Associazione Progetti Musicali APS, “Suoniamo l’ocarina” è un progetto di Educazione Musicale rivolto alle scuole primarie di Budrio, Mezzolara e Vedrana, offerto gratuitamente dal Comune di Budrio alle classi terze. I suoi obiettivi:

• To deepen the connection with this territory and in particular with music, story and culture of Budrio.
• To make teachers aware of the uniqueness of Budrio’s musical and cultural heritage, with a particular emphasis on the ocarina tradition;
• To enhance the musical knowledge of each student, enabling them to express themselves correctly using specific musical vocabulary.
• To bolster musical knowledge, starting with the direct experience of Budrio’s popular instrumental music.