Welcome to the Cyprus Centre for the Research and Study of Music (C.C.R.S.M.), a non-profit academic organization dedicated to the development and promotion of cross-disciplinary and interdisciplinary research and study of music. Here you will find information and all the latest about our organization, various activities organized, services and publications offered.
The Cyprus Centre for the Research and Study of Music, C.C.R.S.M. is a non-profit organization registered in the Republic of Cyprus in 2012 and began its financial activities in March 2014. Its mission is to promote and advance the research and study of music; innovation, expression, participation, creation and communication in music, encompassing a diverse range of musical genres, of creating and learning, participating and performing. The centre promotes cross-disciplinary, interdisciplinary research across cultures and societies, embracing the multidimensional and multidirectional ‘heteroglossic’ musical worlds.
Recognizing the fundamental power of music and its tremendous significance in people’s lives CCRSM aims in bringing together and actively engage and challenge musicians and/or creators, educationalists and/or researchers, children and/or adults, cultural entrepreneurs and investors all of which always strive to go one step further. CCRSM serves as a centre for the creation and implementation of new ideas related to music leadership, music learning and music professional development in Cyprus, its regional communities, the Mediterranean basin and Europe at large. The centre’s activities are centered in the Mediterranean, a fascinating place of human interactions, conflicts and mixing, diverse syncretism and conversion of diversities. For some people it represents a rich cultural melting pot, while for others a colorful mosaic of localised cultural and musical behaviors and practices.
At the same time C.C.R.S.M. provides a platform and a bridge for ongoing music research, interaction and dialogue with global perspectives. It acknowledges the formulation of multilayered, ‘heteroglossic’, multicultural and intercultural musical narratives and musical identities and their impact in human musical practices at each psychological, social, historical, cultural, ethnic, political, economic, local and global context. In turn, the centre aims in closely observing, investigating and celebrating such human phenomena. They provide rich opportunities for collaborative work, individual intellectual and emotional fulfillment and promote peace and intercultural understanding between persons and groups.
Our logo has a twofold meaning as it is inspired from both the family name of the founder of the organization, "Pierides"(masculine ending in Greek: Πιερίδης, female Pieridou:Πιερίδου) and the ancient Greek and Roman myths of Pierides Muses. Our logo signifies the fusion of geographically different socio-historical cultural and musical worlds and our fundamental underlying principles.
Most symbols on the logo are, interestingly, of feminine gender in Greek language: the sea (θάλασσα), the Muse (Μούσα), the harp (Άρπα), the note (Νότα), the jay (κίσσα), the earth (γή), the music (μουσική), the creation (δημιουργία), the production (παραγωγή) and the knowledge (γνώση). Since ancient times, people have believed that the female cannot exist without the protection of and union with the masculine. Therefore, the curved line on the top of the logo represents Uranus, also known as Ouranós, the embodiment of the sky or heavens, and known as "the god of the sky". He was the first son of Gaia - the earth which is represented in our logo by the bird. Ouranós also became Gaia’s husband. The sky also symbolizes the spiritual element in music experience which assists in the elevation of the human spirit and soul. Finally this line also represents the timeline from the past to the present that is pointing to and continues in the future.
If observed from left to right, just like a journey from past to present, on the left of the logo there is the Muse of Music singing and holding an harp, a figure of Mousayétis Apollo, their combination representing both the female and masculine elements in the music- making. On the right of the Muse’s back a bird emerges, a Eurasian jay, Garrulus glandarius (in Greek = κίσσα) which is found in abundance in the forests of Troodhos Mountains in Cyprus. It is an intelligent, self-conscious, shy and cautious bird well hidden in the leaves of the forest trees with a harsh croaking and voice imitation abilities.
Lastly, the music stave, also representing the Mediterranean Sea seems to be stemming from the harp in a wave-like direction to the right, from past to present. Although the stave is fundamental in western musical notation the impressionistic notation with sails and anchor symbolizes the flow of musical interaction and the fluidity of different and varied musical meanings that are possible through processes of diversification, hybridization and syncretism in each historical moment.