Westphalian Resonances

„Folks Music"

Nine musicians from across Europe
reinvent German folk songs through jazz.

A documentation of the project
2024/25 by Sebastian Netta

Resonances of an Old Heritage

One might say that this project is a bow.

A small, deliberate gesture toward those songs that have accompanied us for generations—often barely noticed, like familiar pieces of furniture in the twilight. Yet it was only through the encounter with guests from other horizons that something unexpected began to happen: the melodies shook off their dust, as if they had merely been waiting for a breath of fresh air. In the curious gaze of the international musicians, the old airs became light, almost translucent.

They shed their aura of obligation and patina and revealed what they truly are at their core: open spaces, ready for new life. On a personal level, this undertaking is very close to my heart. Perhaps because it holds a rare opportunity—to witness tradition breathing, once it is not guarded, but trusted. That I am now able to share this path with you, the readers, fills me with a quiet sense of joy.

My sincere thanks go to all those who made this project possible. Every gesture, every conversation, every act of trust has contributed to turning an idea into a shared work. Without you, this would not have come into being.

Sebastian Netta,
December 2025.