The Musical Walls project is a unique interactive sound installation guiding us through the rich musical past and vibrant present of Erzsébetváros, across various sites in Budapest’s 7th District. The aim of this project is to bring residents and visitors closer to the district’s musical heritage through public artworks, linking past and present in harmony. For this purpose, the renowned art collective, Metrum Ensemble, has been chosen as the creative force. Since their debut in 2012, Metrum Ensemble has been a distinctive presence in Hungarian music, reviving the memories of Erzsébetváros through their unique artistic vision, with a special focus on Jewish traditions, cabarets, and coffeehouse music, as well as the district’s working-class and religious musical heritage. Through interactive Sounding Memorials this rich legacy becomes accessible to all, with QR codes allowing people to access to the curated musical selections on their mobile devices.
A Performative Procession Along the Musical Walls
At the premiere of Musical Walls, a performative procession titled “Be the Seventh!” took place, unveiling the interactive sounding memorial plaques across the 7 designated locations, each a historic site in the district. During the community walk, participants visited all seven locations, where the artists inaugurated each installation with a brief flash concert, introducing an unique musical motif to every location and deepening the experience at each site.
The walk culminated with a closing event at the Bethlen Square Theater, where the artists shared insights into the project with the audience. This included an inside look at the application process, the development of the concept, and the implementation stages, followed by an informal reception and celebratory toast.
From the Artist’s Perspective: The Most Positive Experience
Two of the main creators, Anna Rákóczy and Lajos Rozmán, shared their personal reflections on the project’s unique aspects. When asked about their most positive experience with Musical Walls, they said:
Lajos Rozmán thought:
„As creative people – performers doing their work in a creative way – the joy at the unveiling of the Living Sounding Memorials came, as always, from the sheer fact of the happening. All the more so, that we treat these – seemingly mechanical – structures as artistic works, and therefore the question of " never being perfect and never being completely finished" is truly familiar. So, in the work we experience every moment as a single step towards an unattainable goal. The experience is that nothing is ever really finished – just there is a certain point, where you start working on something else. The fact that many people, understandably expected or would have liked to see a more finished piece of work is almost sympathetic – as the Lupa Island ferryman’s almost enjoyed flood housing rescue. In other words, it is a kind of joy if there may be some tension arising from this, because it inspires one to do oreven just think things that one would probably not be able to be done without the energy of this. There is a flow, a breaking out of the usual channel, and that is good.”
Today and Testing Mode
Though Musical Walls is now open to the public, the technical aspects of the project continue to demand attention. The creators are continuously monitoring the systems, ensuring that any issues are quickly resolved to maintain a seamless musical experience for the residents and visitors of the district.
Come closer, listen to the stories hidden within the walls, and join us in experiencing this remarkable musical journey through Erzsébetváros!
For more on Metrum Ensemble’s work, visit their official website: https://metrumensemble.com/zenelo-falak-musical-walls/, and don’t miss the highlights from the Musical Walls premiere below—step into the moments where music meets the vibrant streets of Erzsébetváros!
Text by: Dominika Gergő
