Page 13 - AHATA

A13
Thursday 20 February 2020

The Krosshart Project: Putting Their

Stamp on Aruban Arts and Culture

ORANJESTAD — On February 1st 2020 the official launch of the Krosshart project
emerged on the Aruba. A groundbreaking and innovative initiative by two young
and talented Aruban musicians who have dared to envision the evolution of tradi-
tional Aruban music. Like Plato states, “music gives a soul to the universe, wings to
the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything”. Aruba in its essence is
filled with cultural and musical traditions that have anchored the artistic foundation
of the island. Traditions that have made us unique in the world and traditions that
have carried our identity over the decades. From the synergies between Afro-Eu-
ropean cultural and musical influences we now have our own Dande, and our own
interpretation of musical genres such as the Tumba, Wals, Mazurka, Polka and so
on. Now, well into the 21st century we have reached a point of a “cultural discon-
nect” between the older and young generation.

A “cultural disconnect” in the sense that there seems to be a challenge of diffus-
ing Aruban cultural traditions to the next generation. There are numerous theories
and explanations for this, but the essence and the priority should be to reduce this
disconnect. Throughout the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN, the outlook
remains on finding the sweet spot between preserving as much as we can, while
also stimulating innovation. So, in this positive spirit of finding a solution, let’s highlight
this cutting-edge project, so continue reading and see how you can be part of it
as well.
years ago. Since then, they have played numerous times
Krosshart Project at The Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival and been involved
The krosshart is a concept created by Siegfried Hart and Chris Kross approximately 8
in various cultural developments on the island. As time
passed, this became a family of ingenious minds col-
laborating to express their vision and play part in the fur-
ther development of the Aruban musical heritage. In the
meantime, they both crossed Aruban borders to pursue
their education (in music), Chris Kross in the United States
and Siegfried Hart in the Netherlands.

According to the Krosshart project, each generation is re-
sponsible to put their stamp on the local artistic and cul-
tural evolution within the community. This project’s vision
is to achieve this by innovating Aruban traditional music
by combining multiple Aruban genres together and with
other genres as well, without disrupting their fundamental
rhythms. “This is done by using primary parts of each genre
that fits together and the experimentation with rhythm,
harmony, orchestration and sound design. Creating new
sub-genres with diversity in rhythm and color. Genres we
experiment with: Dansa, Wals, Tambu, Tumba, Seu, Soca,
Hip Hop, Jazz, Classical music, Bossa nova, Candomble
rhythm, Calypso, Zoukous”.
Now both these musicians are collaborating with other
Aruban talents who are Lidrick Solognier, Jose Croeze
and, many other musicians to create this innovative al-
bum.

Continued on Page 14