New CD Marco Fusi
29 March 2021
Marco Fusi's new album "Giacinto Scelsi - works for violin and for viola", published by KAIROS, presents listeners with the results of a newly elaborated performance practice of these works, based on archival research, in-depth audio analysis, computer-generated animated scores and extensive exploration of instrumental improvisatory techniques. The liner notes accompanying the album offer detailed insights into the research process leading up to the recording.
This publication is the result of Marco Fusi's PhD research at the Koninklijk Conservatorium Antwerpen and the UAntwerpen (docARTES programme), with the support of KCA's research cluster CREATIE and Orpheus Instituut.
The unique creative process of Giacinto Scelsi forces the musician to rediscuss and redefine their agency and artistic engagement while performing his music. Moving away from traditional roles and systems of communication, his improvisatory approach to composition and his disregard for written music encourages performers to develop new strategies for interpretation.
Projects
L'homme. Les sons. Faithful to what?
Direct contact with Giacinto Scelsi has been the only acknowledged approach to the interpretation of his music, hence forming a circle of elite-performers, recipients of an understanding “beyond the written score”. However, in order to preserve the accuracy and faithfulness of performance, it is essential today to investigate the complex creative process of Scelsi, looking for interpretative suggestions residing within his artefacts. The subject of analysis will be Scelsi's opus for strings. I will focus on the materials of Scelsi's original improvisations (recorded tapes and specific musical instruments used), the role and artistic liberties of the transcribers over the written score and the process of instrumental assignment of a keyboard generated performance. The pars construens aims to find understanding behind Scelsi's improvised musical language, their formulations and functions, proposing effective technical adaptations on string instruments. My goal will be to present a coherent way to perform the works of Scelsi, eliminating the problematics of oral transmission while remaining faithful to his language and sounds.