tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060605.post-86344100767900381442007-11-15T19:06:00.000Z2007-11-15T19:06:00.000Z2007-11-15T19:06:00.000Z<I>Email received:</I><BR/><BR/>I suppose you do not want me, as a Belgian, to comment. Against the current background of foolish nationalism – mostly in politics & in the media. <BR/><BR/>I can see that in the UK as well the Scottish Nat Party is gaining strength.<BR/><BR/>This might be an early taste of the shape of things to come.<BR/><BR/>It’s double. <BR/><BR/>The upcoming Europe might have to face two trends:<BR/><BR/>- micro nationalism. For instance Flemish nationalism will further develop to micro – nationalism, overlooking state borders. West FL wants to be much closer to Nord – Pas De Calais in France. BE/ VL Limburg – possibly rightly- wants to develop an economic area encompassing Köln( Cologne / Keulen), Maastricht, Liège ( Luttich, Luik) and Limburg ( Dutch province). Etc.. There will be one major victim : Brussels.<BR/><BR/>- growing importance of major cities with a huge hinterland. It’s not excluded that within x years people will have a look at the world, starting from this concept.<BR/><BR/>Back to our beloved Music.<BR/><BR/>Belgium happens to be a country with a very lively musical performance scene. <BR/><BR/>However it’s not a country of many, many great musicians. Here and there there’s an exception. In classical music Boesmans & Breways, performers Ph. Herreweghe and the Kuiken Brothers. In present day free jazz ( he’s.. 70 years old) : Fred Van Hove http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/music/artist/card/0,,445837,00.html . I overlook many courageous BE people now.<BR/><BR/>The best in arts that ever happened to us was Bruegel, for instance http://bruegel.pieter.free.fr/ ; http://www.pieter-bruegel.com/ ; http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/bruegel/ .<BR/><BR/>Bernard TuyttensPliablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10616598845886342325noreply@blogger.com