Alexandros Markeas: generative improvisation with new technologies applied to music and innovative forms of performance

• Grant number: 09/07424-5
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Duration: July 26, 2009 - August 01, 2009
• Field of knowledge: Linguistics, Literature and Arts - Arts - Music
• Principal Investigator: Jose Augusto Mannis
• Grantee: Jose Augusto Mannis
• Visiting researcher: Alexandros Markeas
• Visiting researcher institution: Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, France
• Host Institution: Instituto de Artes (IA). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Professor Markeas's visit constitutes a continuation of the international cooperation begun in 2008 (proc. Fapesp 2008/04187-0) involving UNICAMP (Brazil), UNTREF (Argentina), Centro Nacional de la Musica - sede RICMA: Red de Investigación y Creación Musical of America (Chile), the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de danse de Paris (CNSMDP) and the University of Lille III (France). The project with Professor Markeas is directly linked to visits by Professors Ricardo Mandolini and Claude Ledoux (Proc. FAPESP: 2009/061596) in July/2009. As such, 3 applications have been sent to FAPESP which are inter-related and which all have received funding from the French government's Préfalc program. Entitled "Investigation, creation et patrimoine musical en Amérique Latine", the project is coordinated by Gretchen Amussen, Deputy Director for External Affairs and Communication at the Paris Conservatoire. This particular request involving Professor Markeas seeks to provide continuity between his teaching and local research, and is linked to the discipline "Generative Improvisation" at the Paris Conservatoire, with a special focus this year on new technologies and sound treatment in real time, original concert forms and artistic performance. In each case, improvisation is integrated into the creative process and the field of performance practice, as is the case with Unicamp's (IA/Depto of Music) thematic project FAPESP 03/01253-8 "Computador como Ambiente de Criação e performance musical" coordinated by Dr. Silvio Ferraz (03/2004 to 03/2008), with J.A. Mannis and Profa. Dra. Denise Garcia); the project « Faces da Música Eletroacústica Brasileira: o Grupo Música Nova e seu pioneirismo na utilização de recursos eletroacústicos" (2005-2006) by Profa. Dra Denise H.L. Garcia and Clayton R. Mamedes as well as "Confluências composicionais em estéticas distintas - música brasileira atual"(2005-) coordinated by Professor Dr. Silvio Ferraz. Today's proposal will also improve other local research projects, such as "A improvisação coletiva e o desenvolvimento de uma técnica de composição em Pauline Oliveros: das Sonic Meditations ao Deep Listening" and "A composição com luz e sombra: analyses de músicas de Luiz Carlos Csekö" presented to the Master's degree by Denis Koishi and Jeferson Ribeiro, tutored by J.A. Mannis. For his second visit to UNICAMP, Professor Markeas will enlarge on his previous work in the field of improvisation, notably in the following two areas : First, new technologies applied to music and sound control and treatment in real time and new technologies and multimedia resources as they prolong the artist's thought processes. Working sessions involving musical invention with musical gesture extended by computer sound processing devices are programmed. Activities will also include specific attention to musicians specialized in electronic media in real time. Secondly, Professor. Markeas will provide a practical approach to innovative concert and performance forms (performances, musical theater, multimedia, interactive video): the dialogue between musicians and theatre creators (choreographers, theatre and film producers, actors, multimedia artists) often is accompanied by improvised gesture. This gesture allows for the comprehension of spontaneous artistic intention and the communication between artists during performances. These activities consider specific qualities required by the improvisational musician: 1) the capacity to listen to his partners and to react; 2) musical imagination and original ideas. It is expected that each musician's actions will allow him to extract and accentuate his own theatricality. Sessions will be held at Unicamp from July 27-31. The public includes university researchers, students, teachers, and outside interested audiences. (AU)