Music as a Bridge: Composing "New Folks at Home" for the DaST Documentary in Torrão, Portugal

This practice-based research project examines the role of music composition as a catalyst for community engagement and reciprocal cultural exchange within an artistic residency. The practice was conducted during the second "Torrão Re-imagined" workshop (June 14-27, 2025) in the rural village of Torrão, Portugal, an initiative co-led by Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) and the Foundation DaST.

The primary creative output of this research is the original song New Folks at Home, which served a dual purpose. Firstly, it was created as the thematic music for a documentary focusing on the Foundation DaST's community-driven "Torrão Lab" project. Secondly, and more significantly, the song was developed through a music workshop and conceived as a gesture of gratitude and dialogue with the local community. This intention culminated in a public exhibition at the Aqui Gallery on June 26, where XJTLU students performed the song in a choral response to the farewell songs traditionally sung by the local grandmothers' choir.

The research posits that artistic creation, particularly music, can transcend mere documentation to become a medium for building empathetic connections and practicing "reciprocity." The act of gifting the song "New Folks at Home" to the villagers, a direct response to their traditional songs, created a moment of profound, shared resonance. This study demonstrates how a practice-based methodology can facilitate a co-creative process where music weaves together memory, community context, and imagined futures, ultimately arguing for the value of artistic research in fostering sustainable and meaningful cross-cultural dialogue.