Information
What is Sonoscopia?
Sonoscopia is the first specialised observatory focused on early music, dedicated to analysing, tracking, and increasing the visibility of the sector’s realities and the people involved in the Iberian Peninsula. It is an independent, self-managed, and participatory space designed so that anyone connected to this field can contribute information, share experiences, and collaborate in building a more connected and sustainable ecosystem. · Sonoscopia’s mission is to facilitate the creation of complex, operational circuits across the Iberian region, promoting cooperation among professionals, humanistic cultural management, and the development of networks that strengthen the sector. Its vision is to become a reference for early music in Spain and Portugal, driving sectoral self-observation as a tool for strategic planning and informed decision-making. · This project arises from an observed need: the lack of spaces dedicated to information exchange, sectoral studies, and dialogue among the various stakeholders in early music. Sonoscopia aims to fill this gap by providing a platform where musicians, researchers, cultural managers, and educators can find opportunities, establish synergies, and avoid duplicating efforts. As a self-managed and freely accessible observatory, it ensures all resources are available for free, without allowing third-party commercialisation of data. The platform is currently available in Spanish, Portuguese, and English, reflecting its Iberian and international vocation. · Sonoscopia is grounded in a humanistic cultural management philosophy, prioritising community focus, transparency, and genuine exchange with those who make up the early music community. It is not an institutionalised project but an initiative that grows through the active participation of its users, allowing it to adapt flexibly to the sector’s real needs.
What types of resources and content does Sonoscopia offer?
In its current phase, Sonoscopia provides various informational resources. Notably, it features a comprehensive directory of spaces across the Iberian Peninsula where early music events and activities are programmed. This directory includes an interactive map, a cultural programming calendar, and a detailed database—useful tools for identifying venues to submit artistic proposals, discovering festivals, or conducting strategic sector studies. All these resources are freely accessible, though the database and its representation remain the intellectual property of its founder. Periodic registration of different versions of this informational resource with Spain’s Intellectual Property Registry under a Creative Commons Non-Commercial License ensures open access and prevents third-party commercialisation. · Beyond the directory, Sonoscopia compiles interviews with early music professionals in Spain and Portugal, aiming to promote the exchange of diverse perspectives and enrich the debate around early music. · These conversations are complemented by a selection of essayistic and informative articles addressing topics such as sector sustainability, its future, and new development horizons, available in the “Lecturas” section. These texts seek not only to inform but also to provoke critical reflection and propose innovative solutions.
Who manages Sonoscopia?
Sonoscopia thrives on the flexible, coordinated participation of several individuals with varying degrees of responsibility and cooperation. It is an emerging team currently consolidating. Soon, once more stable collaborations are confirmed, the active members of the network will be publicly announced. · Altea Guevara Alonso is the founder, intellectual author of the format, and main coordinator of the project, currently responsible for its strategy and content curation. To learn more about her professional and academic background, visit her website: www.alteaguevara.com.
Is Sonoscopia free to use? How is it funded?
Yes, Sonoscopia is a platform whose resources and participation are entirely free for all users. This project is part of the practical applications of Altea Guevara Alonso’s doctoral thesis, titled "Do arquivo à cena: Una etnografía contemporánea de las prácticas profesionales alrededor de la música antigua en Portugal", conducted under the co-supervision of the Universitat Politècnica de València (with Enrique Ordña) and ISCTE Lisbon (with Maria João Lima). The research is funded by the Generalitat Valenciana (CIACIF 2022/376), secured through a competitive public call. · Apart from this funding, which is entirely dedicated to research, Sonoscopia receives no public or private funding. It is sustained and developed through the personal, altruistic work of its founder and the sporadic support of friends and collaborators.
How can I collaborate with Sonoscopia?
Sonoscopia is open to all types of collaboration. Currently, it relies on the support of musicians, students, researchers, and teachers who contribute by providing data, giving feedback, disseminating the project, or participating in interviews and articles. · Users can interact with the festival directory via a form to propose database modifications and complete a usability survey to help improve the platform based on identified needs. Updates are made bimonthly to incorporate these contributions. · The project is open to any form of cooperation. If you wish to propose or request initiatives, write an article, conduct an interview, share resources, or support in any other way, you can contact us at info@alteaguevara.com. All ideas and contributions are welcome to enrich this collective space.
How can I get in touch with the Sonoscopia team?
For any queries, collaboration proposals, or suggestions, you can email info@alteaguevara.com. The project manager will respond to all messages as promptly as possible.
Where can I follow the latest updates about Sonoscopia?
You can subscribe to the Sonoscopia newsletter to receive relevant news about updates, new articles, published interviews, and surveys aimed at gathering data for ongoing research. Emails will be sent less than once a month, ensuring information is clear and concise without overwhelming subscribers.
What are the future lines of work for Sonoscopia?
In the medium to long term, Sonoscopia aspires to consolidate itself as a transmedia and multidisciplinary platform, creating spaces for encounters—such as meetings, international debate panels, and cultural activity programming. Additionally, the project aims to support sector initiatives, develop sociological or economic sectoral studies, and foster working groups dedicated to research and dissemination. · To achieve these goals, Sonoscopia will work on formal consolidation, aiming to officially incorporate collaborators who currently participate sporadically, as well as new individuals interested in actively contributing to the project’s management, production, and development. This process will include creating a community infrastructure to design and sustain a collaborative network based on shared knowledge and collective participation. · In a later phase, Sonoscopia will publish a manifesto, roadmap, or statute document, signed by its members and publicly accessible. This document will dialogically establish the project’s strategy, internal operations, constitution, and governance policies. · Regarding geographic scope, Sonoscopia does not currently plan to expand its area of intervention to other countries or regions. Its primary objective remains creating synergies within the Iberian context, addressing the specificities of Spain and Portugal and their mutual relations. While the project maintains links with European early music initiatives, its focus remains eminently local, centred on the needs and opportunities of the Iberian Peninsula. · Sonoscopia’s ultimate goal is to become a reference point for cooperation, associativism, and strategic self-observation in the early music sector, both within the Iberian Peninsula and in connection with other European networks. Its evolution will largely depend on the active participation of its community and its ability to adapt to the sector’s demands and challenges. Your collaboration is essential to grow this collective project! 🎵
