Park-Platz-Sound: Oakestra

A concert featuring Eichen and Andrea Crescenzi, Peter Hinz, and Yolanda Diefenbach

What happens when oak trees become part of an orchestra? Italian bassist and psychologist Andrea Crescenzi, Mannheim-based percussionist Peter Hinz, and saxophonist and singer Yolanda Diefenbach, among others, explore this question with an “Oakestra” made up of young oak trees. A technique developed specifically for this purpose translates the plants’ bioelectric signals into sounds, to which the musicians react live through improvisation—a dialogue between human and non-human perspectives.

The idea emerged from the project “Redesigning the Old Fire Station” in collaboration with the University of Mannheim and the MARCIE course “Cultural Intrapreneurship,” in which students developed innovative approaches for how cultural institutions can operate in a more participatory, open, and deeply rooted manner within the social context. Thanks to funding from the “Wissen bewegen” program of the Center for Educational Innovation (ZLBI), this evolved into the “Park-Platz-Sound” project, which will conclude with this concert.

A small acorn, planted exactly one year ago during a greening initiative in the backyard of the Old Fire Station, serves as the starting point for an entire ensemble—and, looking ahead, a greening strategy: The young oak trees of the “Oakestra” are intended to continue growing and become part of new tree islands and raised beds. In this way, the project combines artistic experimentation with the concrete transformation of the site.

All proceeds will go toward further greening of the backyard of the Alte Feuerwache in Mannheim.

In collaboration with the University of Mannheim, Wissen bewegen & MARCIE