Al Final de la Ramba, a cultural association in Barcelona that works to generate and promote artistic and cultural activities in the city, recognizes and appreciates the beauty these performers bring to commuters’ lives. Their 45-minute documentary, Músics Metro BCN, came about to bring the music and stories of Barcelona’s Metro performers closer to the public. The association’s philosophy is to respect all artistic manifestations, whether produced in the Liceu or created in a subterranean corridor.
Given that the metro’s acoustics are not the finest, it was difficult for the group to get a good recording. Yet the international – mainly from Romania and Argentina – group of artists played with pride and passion. The main instruments used were the classical guitar and the accordion.
“The most curious thing to observe is the interaction between the artists and the crowd,” says Al Final de la Rambla’s director Francesc Páez. “There are many different reactions, from the person that stops and congratulates them, to others that get annoyed and cover their ears. Also, there are grateful gestures and surprising tokens of affection, such as one passer-by in the metro that gave a delicate kiss to a musician after listening to a long session.”
Páez goes on to mention that the instrument cases, which collect coins from passers-by, also serve as souvenirs that the musicians carry around with love. A great deal of a performer’s history can be found in these little coin collectors. Perhaps that spare change weighing you down can add to their stories?
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