Socrates words are an echo in our ears. This sentence by the celebrated Ancient Greek philosopher has spilt much ink over the centuries. In 1982, Patrick Darby wished to show that Montreal was indeed a good example of a Citizen of the World. That year he co-founded Traquen’Art, in the forefront of its time and as means for all Montrealers to look outwards. A non-profit organization, Traquen’Art’s mandate is to produce and present events in the fields contemporary creative music and those that flow from the musical traditions of the world.

Within the Montreal population of 1.8 million inhabitants, there are some 500,000 immigrants from multiple cultural communities. For over two centuries, immigrants from every corner of the world have settled in the various municipalities on the Island of Montreal. Although most immigrants were of European origin until the 1960s, this has since diversified. Today, the immigrant population comes from Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Middle East. Montreal is an island where cultures meet, where mosques and synagogues stand side by side, where the sweet scents of garam masala intermingles with the pungent aroma of parmesan. Montreal is an island of riches thanks to its cosmopolitan population.

Patrick Darby, Executive and Artistic Director, founded Traquen’Art to bring to others his passion for music from various corners of the world and from various creative musical sources. He would like Quebecers to come to understand and appreciate the cultural diversity of our current society of which we are a source and reference so as to bring the peoples of the world closer to each other, if only by a few notches. Since its founding in 1982, Traquen’Art has organized over 450 concerts and tours. The organization has established its place on the Montreal music scene and has been recognized as a leader in the field of world music.

Its diverse productions illustrate the very spirit of Traquen’Art, for whom art and music represent a universal, deeply spiritual meeting place. Its aim is to show the richness to be found in the world’s cultures as expressed in the diversity of musical traditions. It seeks to promote a spirit of open-mindedness and discovery so as to promote innovation and hence, the quality of the art. Whether it is contemporary music, music of the world or any other form of related artistic interpretation, Traquen’Art seeks to expand and diversify its following, making audiences more receptive, curious and open to cultural differences.

In 1992, Traquen’Art was invited to produce a series of 12 concerts for the 350th anniversary of the founding of the City of Montreal. This was the beginning of the adventure that became Musiques et Traditions du Monde, a concept that still exists today. That same year, the organization produced the first Quinzaine de Montreal, a two week festival devoted to the cello in all its manifestations. This festival, covering some sixty activities, placed Traquen’Art as a finalist in the annual Grand Prix of the Greater Montreal Urban Community. The second Quinzaine took place in 1994 celebrating the «voice» as theme. This event was spectacular due to its impressive showcase: 14 countries and over 400 participants. With public support becoming increasingly loyal and with peer recognition, the organization wanted to thank its public by offering free outdoor concerts. Our association with Parc Lafontaine’s Theâtre de Verdure is a great success and has been for the past 18 years.

Besides its activities in Montreal, Traquen’Art has invested over the years in the touring of artists in both the creative and world music fields. It is proud of the numerous premier Montreal events to its credit, including those of Senegalese stars, Youssou N’Dour (a 2005 Grammy Award winner) and Baaba Maal, and from the USA, John Zorn, the World Saxophone Quartet, from Europe, fado singer Mariza (Portugal) and Värttinä (Finland) as well as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (Pakistan), the Kodo Drummers of Japan, the Whirling Dervishes of Turkey, to name a few.

Musiques et Traditions du Monde

With a rich and varied program of events over the years, some of the international World Music artists to have graced Montreal stages through the series include, among others, the Bale Folclorico da Bahia (Brasil), the Mystère des Voix Bulgares, Vishwa Mohan Bhatt (India), the 30 strong ensemble Musicians and Dancers of Bali (Indonesia), Mystical Arts of Tibet, Beijing Kunju Opera Theatre (China), Zakir Hussain and the Master Percussionists of India, Musafir of Rajasthan (India), Mercedes Sosa (Argentina), Inti-Illimani (Chile), Huun-Huur Tu (Tuva, Siberia), Morin Kuur (Mongolia), Noche Flamenca (Spain), Paco Peña Flamenco Ensemble (Spain), The Inuit Throat Singers (of Povungnituk and of Greenland), and from Montreal, Papo Ross & Orquesta Pambiche (Montreal/ Dominican Rep.), Said Mesnaoui and his Ensemble (Montreal/Morocco), Lhasa de Sela (Montreal/Mexico), Dobacaracol, Intakto (Montreal/Chile) and celebrated artists from Africa such as Youssou N'Dour, Touré Kunda, Fela Kuti, Manu Dibango, Ali Farka Touré, Angélique Kidjo, etc.

Rencontre de Musiques Improvisées

In support of the contemporary creative music community, Traquen’Art has principally emphasized the presentation and promotion fields of improvised music, new music and musique actuelle over the years. Instigator of the New Music America Festival in Montreal in 1990, some of the artists presented by Traquen’Art over the years include, amongothers, from the USA, Philip Glass Ensemble, World Saxophone Quartet, Art Ensemble of Chicago, John Zorn, Laurie Anderson, Ned Rothenberg, Butch Morris (Artist in Residence), Malcolm Goldstein (Artist in Residence), Roscoe Mitchell, Steve Lacy, Roswell Rudd, Tristan Honsinger, Frederic Rzewski, Paradox Trio; from the UK, Fred Frith, Evan Parker, Barry Guy, Dave Holland, Arditti Quartet; from Holland, Ernst Reijsinger (Artist in Residence), Whilem Breuker Kollektief, Instant Composers Pool, Tobi Delius Quartet; and from Asia,  Margaret Leng Tan (Singapore); Ikue Mori, Kazue Sawai, Ushio Torikai, Ruins (Japan); from Germany,  Peter Kowald (Artist in Residence), Peter Brotzmann, Globe Unity Orchestra; and from Montreal, Pauline Vaillancourt, Jean Derome, René Lussier, Robert M. Lepage, Pierre Tanguay, Caude Lamothe, Nouvel Ensemble Moderne, Les Projectionnistes, L’Orkestre des Pas Perdus and fom the rest of Canada, the Double Wind Cello Trio, John Oswald, Rainer Wiens, Bill Smith (Toronto) and the  NOW Orchestra, Hard Rubber Orchestra, Lisle Ellis, Paul Plimley, Paul Cram and François Houle (Vancouver).