WELCOME

Hellenic Orff-Schulwerk Association (E.S.M.A. CARL ORFF) is a non-profit association.

It was founded in Athens in November 1990 by the graduates of the first two professional training cycles in Orff music and dance education at the Moraitis School. Significant was the role of several individuals that actively engaged at the time in disseminating the ideas of Carl Orff’s pedagogical approach. Polyxeni Matey was named honorary president and the Matey School was designated as the place where the association is located.

MUSIC

"'Elementary music' is a key concept in Orff's approach. It is never just music but is always linked to movement, dance and speech. A music that is not only intended for listening, but acquires meaning through action and participation." Carl Orff, The Schulwerk. Its origin and aims, 1992

ΜOVEMENT

"From movement, music. From music, movement." Dorothee Gunther, The Schulwerk, 1978

SPEECH

The natural starting point for working with children is nursery rhymes, the whole richness of old, appropriate children's songs. Recognizing this fact gave me the key to my new educational work.

Carl Orff, The Schulwerk, 1978

Moments from our Activities

Carl Orff

“Looking back, I would like to describe Schulwerk as a wildflower […] Just as in nature plants settle where they are needed and where conditions are favorable, Schulwerk grew from ideas that were widespread and scattered over time, but which found favorable conditions in my work.”

Carl Orff, The Schulwerk-Its origin and aims, 1992.

carl-orff-head

Polyxeni Matey

"Carl Orff had an unusual breadth of mind and broad education, combined with an explosive temperament, an unerring criterion for the Genuine and the True, an innate kindness and a love for children, an irresistible, renowned humor and a 'flame', which he knew how to transmit to all of us who were fortunate enough to know him and which lives unquenchably and life-givingly today in his work."

Πολυξένη Ματέυ, «Carl Orff 1895-1982: Η “φλόγα” μετράει», Ρυθμοί τ. 3, 1992