Parallel 40
Growing up on the island of Menorca, our cellist Pau learned about a concept which made a big impression on him: the 40th Parallel North. “An imaginary line connecting Menorca to faraway places in the World.”
Parallel 40 is an ode to discovery and connection, collecting and arranging music from many different countries and regions found along the 40th Parallel North. Starting in Menorca and heading east, for a full turn around the globe, we will discover music and stories from Menorca, Italy, Greece, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, North Korea, China, Japan, the US, Portugal and Spain.
New repertoire
We have been busy arranging traditional music from several places on the Parallel, as well as finding many original compositions for String Quartet. The aim of Parallel 40 is to create new repertoire for String Quartet and simultaneously discover music from all over the globe. By doing so, we wish to connect people and different cultures and inspire people through our vivid, musical storytelling.
Fundraising for Parallel 40
Get involved and help support our Parallel 40 project by visiting our Fundraising Page:
Programmes
Around the Globe
We take tasters from countries all around the globe following the 40th Parallel Line of Latitude from West to East. Starting on the Island of Menorca, travelling all around the globe. Have a listen to our Parallel 40 CD for a programme taster.
Livestream of the Around the Globe programme from Amsterdam (2024).
Parallel 40 CD
Have a listen to our Parallel 40 CD – full taster of music from the entire way around the Parallel 40th North line. Hear the music change from West, on the Island of Menorca, to the East and back again, making a full musical circuit of the globe.
Downloads
Mediterranean
Taking a closer look at Mediterranean countries and cultures which interact with the 40th Parallel North Line of Latitude. With music from countries on the Mediterranean basin, including Spain, Portugal, Greece, Albania and Turkey.
Tasters: Greece
Turkey
Central Asia
Taking a closer look at countries and cultures in Central Asia which interact with the 40th Parallel North Line of Latitude. With music from countries including Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and on to Inner Mongolia and China. The Silk Road trade routes crossed through Central Asia, leading to the rise of prosperous trade cities, acting as a crossroads for the movement of people, goods, and ideas between Europe and the Far East.