Ritual I | Sacrum Profanum

Please sit down or lie down, close your eyes and switch off. The first Ritual will begin with music at the limit of audibility and end with the sound of an instrument that may never have existed.

About the event

In the first Ritual we put together two instruments that did not exist until recently. Aeneas Kubit is the originator of the first quarter-tone accordion in Poland, which also allows playing between semitones. Lukas de Clerck designed the telescopic aulos — a modern answer to an ancient instrument that disappeared from use more than a thousand years ago. One expands on what is known, the other arises from shreds of knowledge about the past. Both open the music to microtones, rumbling and non-obvious timbres.

We will start in total darkness with the premiere of Please, sit comfortably or lie down. Close your eyes and switch off. You can fall asleep, everything will be fine. Artur Zagajewski. The track will remain very quiet at all times. The accordion will be played at close range — not to sound powerful, but to bring to the audience the tiniest vibrations, noises and sounds of both sides of the instrument. Take the title literally: sit or lie down, close your eyes, switch off, or even fall asleep. Everything will be fine.

The intervention of Jakub Ziółkowski will lead us out of the darkness, followed by a telescopic aulos acoustically. De Clerck played reconstructions of old instruments for years and made reeds on his own until he decided to free the aulos from the obligation to faithfully recreate the past. His instrument has no finger holes, and the height of two simultaneously sounding pipes is changed by their telescopic extension. The reeds behave like two oscillators, producing microtonal friction, rumbling and dense drones. In Krakow, de Clerck will pick up excerpts from the album The Telescopic Aulos of Atlas and present completely new material.

The First Ritual does not, therefore, lead from the present to antiquity. It brings together two modern inventions and two ways to go deeper into sound to play music that was previously unheard.

More information and details about the concert can be found on the Sacrum Profanum Festival 2026 website.

English version: To read the descriptions and find out more in English, please visit the Sacrum Profanum website

Concert Band Ritual

Ritual is the main band of concerts of this year's edition. Every day we bring together artists presenting their own version of the Ritual. They will reach into forgotten cultures and fading traditions, create fantastic ethnographies and contemporary forms that can put audiences in a trance. We will hear music from different parts of the world — from reconstructions of Wielkopolska folk, through Algonkin songs and Indian ragas, to a Japanese performance and a contemporary instrument derived from the ancient Greek aulos.

The ritual begins with crossing the threshold. Enter Si On and Jakub Ziółkowski's installation — a world of painted fabrics and humanoid figures, reminiscent of a ritual tent. It is a space dedicated to the hallowed time of the festival. It is also a sphere untangled between art and rite, in which the audience will sit around the central stage. Each day, two performances will be combined by the musical-ritual intervention of Ziółkowski, who will act as master of ceremonies for the duration of the concerts. Artists and music will change, but all parts of the Ritual will maintain the same uninterrupted course.

Artists

Artur Zagajewski — Please sit comfortably or lie down. Close your eyes and switch off. You can fall asleep, everything will be fine. for accordion quarter-tone solo (2026) 30' (world premiere)

Aeneas Kubit — amplified quarter-tone accordion

Jakub Ziółkowski — ritual intervention 10'

Lukas de Clerck — The Telescopic Aulos of Atlas (2024) 30'

Lukas de Clerck — telescopic aulos

https://youtube.com/watch?v=m26_Zfco4V0

https://lukasdeclerck.bandcamp.com/album/the-telescopic-aulos-of-atlas

Organiser: KBF

The concert is co-organised by Cricoteka.

It was realized as part of a scholarship from the Minister of Culture and National Heritage.

Accessibility

The event will last about 65—70 minutes and will take place without interruption. Two performances will be joined by a ten-minute intervention by Jakub Ziółkowski. Artur Zagajewski's piece will last 25-30 minutes and will be performed in complete darkness. The music will be very quiet. The audience can sit or lie on the carpet, cushions and poufs. Several chairs will also be available for people who cannot use the floor or low seats.

After the first part, the total darkness will end. The performance of Lucas de Clerck will last about 30 minutes and will take place acoustically, without sound system.

You can leave the event at any time, but there will be no possibility to re-enter the hall.

The nearest public transport stops are: Korona (tram and bus) and Plac Bohateros Getta (tram). Cricoteka does not have a car park for guests. Two parking spaces for people with disabilities are located on Nadwiślańska Street, near the entrance from the side of the Bernatka footbridge, but a high curb may be a difficulty when getting off. Upon prior notification of such a need, we can allocate a temporary parking space in the square.

The most convenient entrance to the building is through Cricoteki Square. After passing through the glass door, head to the elevator or staircase. The ticket office is located at level -1. Go to it if you do not have a ticket to the event or need additional information/assistance.

If you need more information or would like assistance, PJM translation, audio description, or have any other needs that we should know about so that you can feel comfortable, please contact the Accessibility Coordinator:

Anna Rejowska (e-mail: rejowska@cricoteka.pl, tel.: 505 319 882)

There is also the possibility of making an appointment.

For more information on accessibility, visit https://cricoteka.pl/pl/dostepnosc/