Projects

An artistic research on the implementation of the free-bass system on accordion within jazz (-related) music

Rik Cornelissen

The list of accordionists working within of close related to the field of jazz music and improvisation isn’t long. Also, the development of the instrument and repertoire is still in progress and have had an impressive spurt in the last 70 years, although the research literature is limited and related to jazz even absent. The lack of using the highly developed free-bass system within jazz music, and seeing the harmonic and melodic potential of this invention, became my motivation for this research. 

Arte de Contrapunto

Vicente Parrilla

My artistic research aims to revive the Renaissance practice of improvised counterpoint. My basis will be a close study of ms. Paris, BnF, Esp. 219, a treatise allegedly written by Vicente Lusitano. I will examine and learn the numerous contrapuntal techniques of this source, with the goal of incorporating them into my performances as refined historical skills.

Research rooted in practice will help me to present my artistic output on CD recordings featuring improvised counterpoint. Ultimately, I will be able to bring the results of my research onto the postmodern concert stage at the highest possible artistic level.

Composing for organ and electronics: spaces and practices

Michele Del Prete

My research focusses on site-specific compositional and performance practices of music for organ and electronics and their musical-spatial values. I will compose and perform as electronic performer music for organs and electronics particularly focusing on instruments of the Renaissance-Baroque Dutch and North German/Hanseatic School. The compositional output will consist of tape music based on recorded organ sounds, works for organ and live electronics and works for sound environments of multiple organs and electronics. On the occasion of this research I will investigate the relation between organ and electroacoustic music clarifying which are the explicit and implicit references of electroacoustic practices to much older models, outlining an understanding of electronics as contingent, essentially non-reproducible post-digital practice.

Amplified piano / Amplified pianist

Johann Vacher

The appearance of microphones and loudspeakers allowed composers to explore new musical territories. Until then, grinding noises coming from mechanic of piano or sounds emitted by the pianist were only perceived as disturbing the performance. With the development of amplification, those noises have become sounds that composers could use in a musical discourse. 

New pianistic techniques have appeared: inner and outer parts of the instrument are investigated with the hand or with various accessories, while, in turn, properties of these accessories are revealed through their use inside the piano. The pianist himself becomes a study object: he is asked to make amplified finger snaps or tongue clicks, he has to speak, to sing or to whistle in a kind of choreographed show. 

Live electronics have brought new steps of amplification, increasing virtuosity, filtering resonance, working on acoustic diffusion. The pianist can then interact and play along with live electronics, expanding the possibilities.

This research will be done from the performers’ perspective, but in collaboration with different composers for experimenting new amplified piano / pianist music.