In the ÌNIN One Earth Choir Project, 'on the Path of the Peoples'
is a symbol: - of a Passage and of a Dialogue between the North and the South of
Europe, and between any Pole in the World - of a Path, of an Opening, of Human
Steps
The St. Gotthard road is still called ‘Via delle Genti’, the ‘Path of the
Peoples’ –
The first documents about the Saint Gotthard road date back to around 1200 A.C.
with the opening of the Schollenen gorges –
With the increasing colonization of the Alpine valleys and in order to allow the
transit of goods, the traffic through the Schoellenen gorges needed to become
possible - Thus a first wooden footbridge was constructed, supported on rocks,
jutting buttresses and wedged timbers, suspended over the river Reuss.
(adapted from: National Museum of the St. Gotthard, along a high way of History,
Pro San Gottardo Foundation, Airolo, 1989)
It was a rough walk, bristling with difficulties, but it opened a way, new and
direct, an adventurous way for wayfarers and pilgrims, silent monks and artists,
coming from the North on foot or on a mule, which were searching for the way
climbing down to the Mediterranean - or the way from the sea up to North across
the Alps.
In the ÌNIN Event the St. Gotthard Pass is a Symbol:
human steps, discovery,
dialogue
on the path of the Peoples
In winter, up in the Pass, the snow reaches the height of 4m - the Pass is
closed to the traffic -
Can you imagine how the Pass looks like in winter?
Will the winter snow allow a great Choir to sing even up there, in the heart of
the Alps on February 21st ?