“Of Fragility and Impermanence”

Of Fragility and Impermanence is my latest project, exploring the transient nature of human existence while celebrating the delicacy of sound and the fleeting beauty of moments. Rooted in the duality of fragility and impermanence, this work embraces vulnerability as a path to self-discovery. Through music, it seeks to capture life’s ephemeral essence, inviting reflection and acceptance of constant change.

Bringing this project to life is a group of extraordinary musicians—José Soares, João Hasselberg, Raquel Reis, Samuel Gapp, and myself—whose collective artistry shapes its sonic landscape.

Why embark on a musical and artistic exploration of Fragility and Impermanence?

This project arose from an inner impulse—a need to contemplate what is most human and transient in us. Fragility is not merely a weakness; it is a mirror reflecting the complexity of our existence. Recognizing our fragilities is an act of self-discovery, a gateway to personal growth. Embracing them allows us to transform obstacles into springboards for new perspectives and progress.

From a sonic perspective, I am drawn to sounds that challenge convention: fragile, subtle, marginal. These sounds carry character, inhabit the thresholds of human perception, and resonate with the beauty of what is delicate. Sonic fragility invites contemplation and the exploration of dichotomies—silence vs. sound, slowness vs. urgency, stillness vs. creative impulse.

Impermanence is the constancy of change, the fleeting nature that permeates every moment. In music, I want to explore it as a force that embraces transformation. Every note, every pause, every texture celebrates the unique, unrepeatable instant that unfolds in time and vanishes.

Fragility and impermanence are not only intertwined but also mutually enriching: an awareness of fragility amplifies our perception of impermanence, and vice versa. Accepting this duality can lead us to a deeper appreciation of life’s fleeting beauty, both in the physical and metaphysical realms.

In music, fragility and impermanence are not just themes—they are practices. This project seeks to translate these ideas into sound, inviting us to reflect on who we are, what we hear, and how we live.

André Carvalho’s Of Fragility and Impermanence will be recorded in April at Centro Musibéria (Serpa) by Tiago de Sousa, with the support of Fundação GDA, Antena 2, and Centro Musibéria.