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RO: Il felicitam pe compozitorul George-Ioan Pais, selectionat din partea sectiunii noastre pentru editia 2024 a Festivalului #WorldMusicDays, Insulelel Faroe, cu lucrarea pentru violoncel solo “Giant robots in a picnic basket”!

ENG: We congratulate composer George-Ioan Pais, selected from the part of our section for the 2024 #WorldMusicDays, Faroe Islands, with the solo cello piece “Giant robots in a picnic basket”!

Short biography:

George-Ioan Păiș (*1994) is a Romanian musician based in Bucharest. He incorporates the lively rhythms and visceral energy of his musical upbringing (starting out as a metal drummer) in the sonic universe of classical composition. Currently a PhD student, George Păiș has graduated from the National University of Music, Bucharest (where he also teaches as an assistant), with a BA in Jazz-Pop Composition and a Master’s degree in Classical Composition. Besides his work as a composer, he is also active in the local jazz scene as a synth player and bandleader for the jazz-rock trio Opening Theory.

Programme notes:

Inspired by a striking image from a childhood dream, one that threads the border between memory and personal mythology, an image of never-ending mechanical arms sprawling to the sky from a tiny and inconspicuous picnic basket, the piece calls upon the cello in an aim to explore an energetic, machine-like sound-world through its extensive use of pizzicato and percussive effects, with hints of an ethereal melody towards the end.

Selectia completa / complete selection: https://iscm.org/wnmd/2024-faroe-islands/

[RO]

Preşedintele SNR-SIMC şi membrii Comitetului Executiv au selecționat, din propunerile primite din partea membrilor SNR-SIMC, 6 lucrări care vor fi trimise din partea SNR-SIMC pentru festivalul ISCM World Music Days – Faroe Islands 2024. Selecția a fost realizată în baza indicațiilor de pe website-ul oficial https://www.wnmd2024.fo/copy-of-contact.

Lucrările selecționate sunt, în ordinea alfabetică a numelor compozitorilor:

1. Vlad-Răzvan Baciu – Pleasure Beast – Categoria 7 [Trios or Quartets]
2. Alin-Constantin Chelărescu – Scarico demonico – Categoria  8 [Duos]
3. Alexandru-Ștefan Murariu – Espaces III – Categoria  8 [Duos]
4. George-Ioan Păiş – Giant robots in a picnic basket – Categoria 9 [Solos]
5. Andrei Petrache – Racing on Möbius Strip – Categoria 12 [Electronic Music with  Fixed Media]
6. DanDe Popescu – Cave dweller – Categoria 6 [Percussion Ensemble]

[ENG]

The President of SNR-SIMC and the members of the Executive Committee have selected, from the submissions received from SNR-SIMC members, 6 entries to be sent on behalf of SNR-SIMC for the ISCM World Music Days – Faroe Islands 2024. The selection was made based on the indications on the official website https://www.wnmd2024.fo/copy-of-contact.

The selected works are, in alphabetical order of composers’ names:

1. Vlad-Răzvan Baciu – Pleasure Beast – Category 7 [Trios or Quartets]
2. Alin-Constantin Chelărescu – Scarico demonico – Category 8 [Duos]
3. Alexandru-Ștefan Murariu – Espaces III – Category 8 [Duos]
4. George-Ioan Păiș – Giant robots in a picnic basket – Category 9 [Solos]
5. Andrei Petrache – Racing on Möbius Strip – Category 12 [Electronic Music with Fixed Media]
6. DanDe Popescu – Cave dweller – Category 6 [Percussion Ensemble]

[ENG]

The LIST OF SELECTED WORKS – ISCM2023 World New Music Days South Africa has been posted on the official website (LINK HERE). From the official submission of our section, we are happy to announce that the selected work is Lucian Zbarcea – Aksaka, for String Quartet.

Says the composer: “My plan was to compose a work that would be specific for my style, but would also evoke Bartók. I tried to incorporate various elements of Romanian traditional music in this short piece for string quartet. Starting with the title, the most important element is the rhythmical pattern specific for areas in Romania and other neighbouring countries (Aksak). Many traditional pieces of music, especially dances, are based on combined rhythms (2+3, 2+3+3, 4+3 etc.), and I always tried to use them inside many of my works. These were the main ideas to start with when I first planned the piece.”

Lucian Zbarcea pursued the classes of the “George Enescu” college for music in Bucharest (piano/2001) and the National University of Music in Bucharest (composition/2006) and studied the Indonesian Gamelan in Bali (2007). Master (2009) and PhD (2019) at the (same) NUMB. Special Prize of the Jury – International Film Music Composition Competition – Zurich 2016, 2nd prize – International Composition Competition Road to Romanticism – Bucharest 2007). His works were performed in Europe, South America, South-East Asia. Since 2019 he is teaching the Indonesian Gamelan at the NUMB and working as Music Producer at the Romanian National Broadcasting Society in Bucharest.

[RO]

LISTA LUCRĂRILOR SELECȚIONATE pentru ISCM2023 World New Music Days – Africa de Sud a fost postată pe site-ul oficial (LINK AICI). Din partea oficială a secțiunii noastre, avem plăcerea de a anunța că lucrarea selectată este Lucian Zbarcea – Aksaka, pentru cvartet de coarde.

Spune compozitorul: “Planul meu a fost să compun o lucrare care să fie specifică stilului meu, dar care să evoce și muzica lui Bartók. Am încercat să încorporez în această scurtă piesă pentru cvartet de coarde diverse elemente din muzica tradițională românească. Începând cu titlul, cel mai important element este modelul ritmic specific zonelor din România și din alte țări vecine (Aksak). Multe piese de muzică tradițională, în special dansuri, se bazează pe ritmuri combinate (2+3, 2+3+3+3, 4+3 etc.), iar eu am încercat întotdeauna să le folosesc în interiorul multor lucrări ale mele. Acestea au fost ideile principale de la care am pornit atunci când am planificat prima dată piesa.”

Lucian Zbarcea a urmat cursurile Colegiului de muzică “George Enescu” din București (pian/2001) și ale Universității Naționale de Muzică din București (compoziție/2006) și a studiat Gamelan indonezian în Bali (2007). Master (2009) și doctorat (2019) la (aceeași) NUMB. Premiul special al juriului – Concursul Internațional de Compoziție Muzicală de Film – Zurich 2016, Premiul II – Concursul Internațional de Compoziție Drumul spre Romantism – București 2007). Lucrările sale au fost interpretate în Europa, America de Sud, Asia de Sud-Est. Din 2019 predă Gamelan indonezian la NUMB și lucrează ca producător muzical la Societatea Națională de Radiodifuziune din București.

[RO]

În data de miercuri 21 iunie 2023 a avut loc, la Universitatea Națională de Muzică din Bucureşti (sala de Vizionări, ora 10:00) Adunarea Generală SNR-SIMC, cu participare atât live, cât şi online a membrilor secțiunii. Cu aceasta ocazie a fost votată în unanimitate continuarea activității echipei curente pentru mandatul 2023-2025, dar şi o modificare importantă a Regulamentului SNR-SIMC. Este vorba despre Capitolul III, Articolul 5 al Regulamentului care prevede, începând de acum, şi posibilitatea membrilor stagiari ai Uniunii Compozitorilor şi Muzicologilor Români care s-au distins prin activitatea lor de a depune o cerere de adeziune pentru a deveni membri ai SNR-SIMC. Până acum, această posibilitate era rezervată exclusiv membrilor definitivi ai Uniunii.

[ENG]

On Wednesday 21 June 2023, the ISCM Romania General Assembly took place at the National University of Music in Bucharest (Exhibition Hall, 10:00 am), with both live and online participation of section members. On this occasion it was unanimously voted to continue the work of the current team for the mandate 2023-2025, as well as an important amendment to the SNR-SIMC Regulations. This is Chapter III, Article 5 of the Rules, which provides, from now on, the possibility for trainee members of the Union of Romanian Composers and Musicologists who have distinguished themselves through their work to apply to become members of ISCM Romania. Until now, this possibility was reserved exclusively for permanent members of the Union.

[RO]

Preşedintele SNR-SIMC (Diana Rotaru) şi membrii Comitetului Executiv (Irinel Anghel, Constantin Basica, Gabriel Mălăncioiu şi Alexandru Ștefan Murariu) au selecționat, din propunerile primite din partea membrilor SNR-SIMC, 6 lucrări care vor fi trimise din partea SNR-SIMC pentru festivalul ISCM World Music Days – Africa de Sud 2023. Selecția a fost realizată în baza indicațiilor de pe website-ul oficial https://www.newmusicsa.org.za/wnmd-call-for-works.html.

Lucrările selecționate sunt, în ordinea alfabetică a numelor compozitorilor:

1. Cristian Bence-Muk – Sepulcralis Labyrinthus (2020) pentru trombon şi pian – Categoria 8 [Duos]
2. Cătălin Crețu – I.X.@100 (2022)pentru soprană și bandă – Categoria 11 [Fixed media + 1 performer]
3. Cristian Lolea – Fairy Tales (2015) pentru orchestră de cameră – Categoria 2 [Chamber Orchestra]
4. Adrian Pop – Tempi 2 (2022) pentru contrabas solo – Categoria 9 [Solo]
5. Dan Variu – BarTikTók (2020) pentru cvartet de coarde – Categoria 5 [String Quartet]
6. Lucian Zbarcea – Aksaka (2020) pentru cvartet de coarde – Categoria 5 [String Quartet]

[ENG]

The President of ISCM Romania (Diana Rotaru) and the members of the Executive Committee (Irinel Anghel, Constantin Basica, Gabriel Mălăncioiu and Alexandru Ștefan Murariu) have selected, from the propositions received from the Section memers, 6 works to be sent as the official submission to the ISCM World Music Days Festival – South Africa 2023. The selection was was made on the basis of the indications on the official website, https://www.newmusicsa.org.za/wnmd-call-for-works.html.

The selected works are in alphabetical order of composers’ names:

1. Cristian Bence-Muk – Sepulcralis Labyrinthus (2020) for trombone and piano – Category 8 [Duos]
2. Cătălin Crețu – I.X.@100 (2022)for soprano and tape – Category 11 [Fixed media + 1 performer]
3. Cristian Lolea – Fairy Tales (2015) for chamber orchestra – Category 2 [Chamber Orchestra]
4. Adrian Pop – Tempi 2 (2022) for solo double-bass – Category 9 [Solo]
5. Dan Variu – BarTikTók (2020) for string quartet – Category 5 [String Quartet]
6. Lucian Zbarcea – Aksaka (2020) for string quartet – Category 5 [String Quartet]

The ISCM Romanian Section is grieving one of its most important members. Composer and pianist Nicolae Brânduş (1935-2023) was one of Romania’s most distinct and powerful voices, as well as the President of the ISCM Romanian Section between 1990-1991 and 1993-2002, and a member of the ISCM Executive Committee between 1991-1993. Through many efforts and with much passion, he not only revived the Section (that had been inactive for a long time), but also helmed the only edition of the World Music Days Festival that took place in Romania, in 1999.

Fiercely intelligent and dryly humorous, so is his music, often of superhuman virtuosity, always lively, fresh and carnal. To quote composer Dan Dediu, President of the Union of Romanian Composers and Musicologists, “Brânduş handles with aplomb the flourish of sarcasm, of dry and harsh humour, the wonderful combinations of popular and scholarly music, the phantasmagorical breaks of speech and absurd shouts” [“Siluete în mişcare, Editura Muzicală, Bucharest 2021].

Nicolae Brandus was born on 1935 in Bucharest. He had a double major in piano (1957) and composition (1964) at the National University of Music in Bucharest, and he frequently attended the Summer Courses of New Music in Darmstadt between 1969 and 1980, as well as the course in Aix-en-Provence (1979). A virtuoso pianist, he was a soloist of the Ploieşti Philharmonic Orchestra in the 60s. He had a PhD in Musicology (1981) at the National Academy of Music in Cluj-Napoca with the dissertation “Bases of a formalized analysis of the musical language”. In 1985 he worked with the Group of Musical Research at IRCAM, Paris. He taught at the National University in Bucharest (chamber music, 1969-1981 and 1992-2005), as well as being a scientific doctoral coordinator.

Among his many works we mention: two piano concertos, the “Domnişoara Hus” [“Lady Hus”] cantata, the operas “Logodna”, “La Țigănci” [“At the Gypsies’] and “Tarr & Fether”, the pocket opera “Ornitorinc” for voice and piano, “Phtora” and “European Parody” for orchestra, “KN-Comment” for chamber ensemble, “Bowstring” for solo violin or “X Fatum van B” – a work for clarinet ensemble that received the 1^st prize in 2020 at the “Quoting Beethoven” competition organized by Goethe-Institut Bucharest.

His musical works were performed in the most important cities of Romania and abroad (Poland, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Sweden, Germany, USA, France, Belgium, Holland, Great Britain, Greece, Bulgaria, Austria, Denmark, Italy, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Albania, Slovenia, Macedonia, Israel etc). An active and original researcher, he has contributed articles, studies, essays in music in various cultural journals and sustained, as a visiting composer, lectures about new music in the USA, Germany, Israel, Greece, Hong-Kong, Taiwan and so on.

He was awarded many prizes, such as: The Cultural Merit, Bucharest 1969; Honourable Mention in the “Prince Pierre de Monaco International Competition”, 1973; the Prize of the Union of Romanian Composers and Musicologists, Bucharest 1974, 2002, 2005; the Prize of the Romanian Radio and Television for Opera and Vocal-Symphonic Music, Bucharest 1975, 1977; the Romanian “George Enescu” Academy Prize, 1977; the Diploma of the National Theatre Festival for the “Bizarmonia” show, Bucharest 1999. He was distinguished as an Officer of the Cultural Merit in 2004, in Bucharest.

[ENG]

ISCM Romania members that wish to apply through our Section are invited to send their submissions at dirotaru[AT]yahoo.com until MARCH 1st 2023!

[RO]

Membrii SNR-SIMC care doresc sa se inscrie prin Sectiune sunt invitati sa trimita lucrari la dirotaru[AT]yahoo.com pana in data de 1 MARTIE 2023!

ISCM World New Music Days 2023
Johannesburg/Cape Town, South Africa
November 24 – December 3, 2023
CALL FOR WORKS

We are pleased to announce the official Call for Works for the International Society for Contemporary Music (ISCM) World New Music Days 2023. Members are invited to submit scores/projects for the festival, scheduled to take place in South Africa from 24 November – 3 December, 2023. For further information about the details of this Call for Works, contact the Festival Organizer by email via <wnmd2023sa@gmail.com>.

Submissions should be received via the relevant ISCM 2023 Submission Form no later than 11:59pm CET on 24 March, 2023. Late submissions will not be considered. The Submission Forms will be made available, and the links advertised on the ISCM website, from early February.

There are two ways for composers to submit scores for consideration:

​- If you are represented by a Member organization of the ISCM, your organization will issue a Call and you may submit your score to them for potential inclusion in the Official Submissions. Your Member organization will have their own deadline, prior to the deadline of this International Call.
– You may make an Individual Submission to the ISCM on your own behalf – see details below.

OFFICIAL SUBMISSIONS

Submissions from ISCM Member organizations must be submitted by the organization via the ISCM 2023 Official Submission Form. Please note, we can only consider submissions from Members who are in good standing (Annual Report for the year of 2021 completed and annual membership fee for 2022 paid). An official submission may not include a work by any composer whose work was performed during the 2022 World New Music Days in New Zealand.

For Sections and Full Associate Members of the ISCM, the official submission will comprise six works across at least four of the different Categories detailed in this Call for Works. For an official submission from Member organizations to be eligible, each of the submitted works must be eligible, the durations specified for each work must be accurate, and the submitted works correctly aligned with the relevant category. Assuming the submission is eligible and the ISCM member is in good standing, at least one of the submitted works will be presented during the 2023 ISCM World New Music Days.

For Affiliated Associate Members, an official submission will comprise up to three works. While there is no guarantee that one of the works will be selected, the organizer will strive to include them where possible.

INDIVIDUAL SUBMISSIONS

Individual Submission must be submitted by an independent composer or a composer’s authorized representative. Submissions should be submitted via the ISCM 2023 Individual Submission Form. An entry fee of €53.50 applies to Individual Submissions, payable at the time of submission by Paypal using the link provided on the ISCM website.

Individual submissions are not guaranteed a performance. Space in the festival for Individual Submissions is limited, but we will consider all submissions and perform those that can be included. Please promote this information via your networks.

IN GENERAL

Priority will be given to works shorter than 10 minutes in duration and composed after 2013, with highest priority given to works composed after 2018.

Only one work per composer may be submitted, either by Individual Submission or Official Submission.

It is possible to submit works in any of the categories that include dance, either alongside the music or performed by the musicians and/or singers themselves. While this might reduce performance opportunities, the organizers will do their best to give such works equal consideration with those that do not include dance. Other interdisciplinary works (i.e. including theatre or visual arts) are also possible and should be submitted in the category corresponding to their musical/instrumental necessities.

If you have questions about this Call, feel free to email the Festival Organizer via <wnmd2023sa@gmail.com>

By submitting works to this Call, composers are agreeing that if their work is selected for performance/presentation then they grant automatic permission for the ISCM performance/presentation of their work to be recorded, broadcast, and streamed from the website without additional financial liability to the ISCM or the Festival Organizers.

INFORMATION REQUIRED

Information required for each Work to be submitted is:

1.     The composer’s personal and contact information: Given names; Family name; Name as it should appear in the programme; Date of birth; Gender; full Mailing address; Phone no.; email address; website (if applicable).
2.     Work information: Title; Submission Category; Accurate duration; Year of composition; Statement of whether the work has been previously performed.

1. For categories 1-10, please submit a pdf of the score and a recording or MIDI realization.

For categories 11-16, please submit a project proposal, score, or lead sheet, soundfiles, and/or other material that will allow the selection panel to gain a clear understanding of the musical, and technical aspects and requirements of the work. (Especially in category 11, it would be ideal to submit a recording of the finished work.)
4.     Programme notes for the submitted work in English (maximum 100 words).
5.     Technical rider specifying all equipment necessary to perform the work.
6.     Short biography of the composer in English (maximum 100 words).
7.     High-resolution digital photograph of the composer.

SUBMISSION CATEGORIES:

1. SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (with or without soloist[s]) max. 3 fl. (of which 1 alto flute and 1 piccolo are possible), 3 ob. (of which 1 cor anglais is possible), 3 clar. (in Bb or A, with 1 bcl. possible), 3 bsn. (of which 1 contrabassoon is possible), 4 hrn., 3 tpt., 2 tbn. (of which 1 bass tbn. is possible), 1 tuba, 3 perc. (of whom 1 player can perform on timp.), 1 hrp., 1 pno. and/or electric kbd., string orchestra

2. CHAMBER ORCHESTRA 13 musicians or more drawn from the following: 1 flute (incl. piccolo, alto flute), 1 oboe (incl. cor anglais), 1 clarinet (incl. bass clarinet), 1 bassoon (incl. contrabassoon), 1 horn, 1 trumpet, 1 trombone, 1 tuba, 2 pianos and/or keyboards, 1 harp, 2 violins, 1 viola, 1 cello, 1 contrabass, 2 percussion*(see below), live electronics (mono or stereo only), voice(s) (up to 2, male or female)

3. LARGE CHAMBER ENSEMBLES 8-12 musicians drawn from the following: 1 flute (incl. piccolo, alto flute), 1 oboe (incl. cor anglais), 1 clarinet (incl. bass clarinet), 1 bassoon, 1 horn, 1 trumpet, 1 trombone, 1 tuba, 2 pianos and/or keyboards, 1 harp, 2 violins, 1 viola, 1 cello, 1 contrabass, 2 percussion*(see below), live electronics (mono or stereo only), voice(s) (up to 2, male or female)

4. MEDIUM CHAMBER ENSEMBLES 5-7 musicians drawn from the following: 1 flute (incl. piccolo, alto flute), 1 oboe (incl. cor anglais), 1 clarinet (incl. bass clarinet), 1 bassoon, 1 horn, 1 trumpet, 1 trombone, 1 tuba, 2 pianos and/or keyboards, 1 harp, 2 violins, 1 viola, 1 cello, 1 contrabass, 2 percussion*(see below), live electronics (mono or stereo only), voice(s) (up to 2, male or female)

5. STRING QUARTET (2 violins, viola, cello)

6. BRASS QUINTET (or trio or quartet) drawn from the following instruments: horn, 2 trumpets, trombone, tuba

7. TRIOS OR QUARTETS drawn from the following instruments (one of each): flute (incl. piccolo, alto flute), clarinet (incl. bass clarinet), alto saxophone, violin, viola, cello, contrabass, piano, accordion, percussion*(see below), voice(s) (up to 2, male or female)

8. DUOS drawn from the following instruments (one of each): voice (male or female), flute (incl. piccolo, alto flute), oboe (incl. cor anglais), clarinet (incl. bass clarinet), bassoon (incl. contrabassoon), alto saxophone, horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, violin, viola, cello, contrabass, piano, accordion, guitar, percussion*(see below), live electronics (up to 4 channels – no fixed-media electronics as these should be proposed in category 11)

9. SOLOS of the following instruments: voice (male or female), flute (incl. piccolo, alto flute), oboe (incl. cor anglais), clarinet (incl. bass clarinet), bassoon (incl. contrabassoon), alto saxophone, horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, violin, viola, cello, contrabass, piano, organ, harpsichord, accordion, guitar, percussion*(see below), live electronics (up to 4 channels – no fixed-media electronics as these should be proposed in category 11)

10. CHOIR SATB, a cappella or with piano accompaniment. The choir that is likely to perform most pieces consists of 22 singers; divisi possible (2 per voice); sub-groupings (such as female voices only, etc.) are possible.

11. ELECTRONIC MUSIC WITH FIXED MEDIA (acousmatic works, fixed media alone, or fixed media plus up to 2 performers of any instrument listed in categories 8 or 9, or supplied by composer) (up to 8 channels/speakers).

12. COMPOSER-PERFORMER on any instrument supplied or brought by the performer, or on an instrument provided by the venue (possibilities are piano, vibraphone, marimba). For electronic composer-performers, a p.a. system (up to 8 channels/speakers) will be provided.

13. JAZZ and/or IMPROVISING ENSEMBLE: Instrumentation should be drawn from the following list: voice (male or female), flute, oboe, clarinet (incl. bass clarinet), bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, violin, viola, cello, contrabass, piano, accordion, guitar, percussion*(see below); additional instruments include: saxophone (up to two players – soprano, alto, tenor, baritone possible), electric keyboards, electric guitar, electric bass guitar, various African or Latin percussion, steel pan, drum set, live electronics (up to 4 channels).

14. SOUND INSTALLATIONS to be shown in gallery spaces or other environments, or outside. It should be possible to set up and tear down the installation within 20 minutes each. Installations with more complex setups will be accommodated where possible; the Festival Organizers can be contacted in case of questions.

15. COLLABORATIONS WITH AFRICAN TRADITIONAL MUSICIANS: African musicians usually do not read scores; it is possible to develop music and learn it by rote, but also to develop new notation systems or in some cases use existing ones. Each such collaboration will require its own approach and strategy for development. Please submit a written project description. If you know (a) musician(s) you would like to collaborate with, let us know; if not, describe your ideas and we will try to match you with (a) collaborator(s). In order to rehearse and perform the music, it may be necessary to attend the festival in South Africa and to arrive several days prior to the festival’s opening. Smaller numbers of musicians will make projects easier to realize – duos or trios are ideal. Possible African instruments can include, but are not limited to, lesiba, sekhankula/mamokhorong, Southern African musical bows (uhadi, umrhubhe, umqangala, xitende, etc.), guitar played using African techniques, timbila, Southern African marimba, balafon, amadinda, endongo, djembé, kora, mbira, kalimba, drums from various Southern African locations. Electronics and voice(s) can be included in these collaborations.

16. MARIMBA ORCHESTRA: Compositions for youth or professional ensembles consisting of Southern African marimbas (n.b., this is not the Western concert marimba, but a single-row instrument usually with “white notes” plus the f#) of different sizes. Ensembles usually consist of 4 voices, soprano, tenor, baritone, bass, each played by multiple musicians. Please submit a score or get in touch with the Festival Organizers to discuss instrument details.

*for works including percussion, it should be noted that, while instruments used in the standard symphonic repertoire are available (timpani, snare drums, tom toms, marimba, vibraphone, xylophone, glockenspiel, triangle, tubular bells, etc.), locating more unusual percussion instruments might be challenging. In some cases, it may be necessary for the composer to provide such instruments, either by sending them via courier or by attending the festival and bringing the instrument. NewMusicSA will liaise with the composer should there be problems locating necessary instruments. In addition to standard orchestral percussion, a wide variety of African traditional percussion instruments is available, as well as Southern African marimbas, which are neotraditional (not traditional!) instruments from Zimbabwe and South Africa that are usually diatonic with “white notes” plus the f#.

ARTISTIC TEAM

Lukas Ligeti, Artistic Director
Ignacio Priego, Administrative Director
Diale Mabitsela, Chair, NewMusicSA
Camron Andrews, Staff Member, NewMusicSA
David Lephoto, Staff Member, NewMusicSA
Aviwe Matandela, Staff Member, NewMusicSA
Sinenhlanhla Mdiya, Staff Member, NewMusicSA
Adeyemi Oladiran, Board Member, NewMusicSA
Chesney Palmer, Board Member, NewMusicSA
Nonku Phiri, Board Member, NewMusicSA
Marvin Weavers, Staff Member, NewMusicSA

MERIDIAN International Music Festival – 17th edition – ATLAS

November 6-13, Romania

Sound maps, imaginary and real routes, a vending machine with travel souvenirs, concerts, conferences, an online audio-visual installation, a reality show with a lecture-lecture, electronic music, a 3D animated film with music from 13 countries, improvisation on a bicycle, a concert-lecture and a guide with sound luggage, multimedia events, postcards with imaginary music and a parking lot in the heart of jazz – these are the events prepared for the 17th edition of the MERIDIAN International Festival, one of the most important new music festivals in the country, which will take place from 6 to 13 November 2022 under the theme “ATLAS”, in Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, Craiova, Constanța, Ploiești, Pitești and Iași.

For 2022, the year in which the International Society for Contemporary Music (ISCM) celebrates its centenary, MERIDIAN proposes the theme “ATLAS”, oriented around the concept of JOURNEY – either through different parts of the globe or through different aesthetic trends and tendencies.

The festival includes a special event dedicated to the ISCM Centenary, “Sounds to Go (Around the World)” – a 3D animated film with electronic music selected from 13 national sections of ISCM, created by visual artist Alexandru Claudiu Maxim and curated by composer and performative artist Irinel Anghel (ISCM Romania ExCom). The film will premiere in Bucharest, in the opening day of MERIDIAN-ATLAS (November 6, The Opera and Multimedia Studio of UNMB, 8 p.m.), being subsequently screened in Iasi (November 8, UNAGE Studio Hall, 5 p.m.) and in Cluj-Napoca (November 10, the ANMGD Studio, 7 p.m.).

The selected works for “Sounds to Go (Around the World)” are:

ISCM Romania | Irinel Anghel – “Entering the Metaverse on High Heels. In search of Marilyn Monroe”, world premiere

ISCM Austria | Alisa Kobzar – “rechtschreibung”

ISCM Faroe Islands | Lasse Jæger – “Killin’ Kind”

ISCM Serbia | Svetlana Maraš – “Two kinetic studies: Kinetic study no.1”

ISCM Beijing | QI Mengjie (Maggie) – “The Road to Krakow”

ISCM Switzerland | Sachie Kobayashi – “Jeux.1.11 – Les cieux roulent des yeux”

ISCM USA | Eric Moe – “leave but don’t leave me”

ISCM Vlaanderen | Valery Vermeulen – “Mikromedas”

ISCM Taiwan | Fang-Wei Luo – “Sound of Desolation”

ISCM Holland – Nieuw Geneco | Danny de Graan – “Geometric Vibrations”

ISCM Croatia | Ivana Kiš – “Galijot”

ISCM Latvia | Linda Leimane – “Cadavre Exquis III”

ISCM Sweden| Paulina Sundin – “Med lekande kval”, Patric Simmerud – “The Scream and Beyond”

Among the guests of the “ATLAS” edition, we find leading names of the international contemporary music scene, such as the wind quintet V COLORIS (Denmark), BLACK PAGE ORCHESTRA (Austria), the ensemble PROFIL (Romania), the piano and electronics duo “contemporary piano currents” – Junko Yamamoto and Oliver Sascha Frick (Germany), flutists Ion Bogdan Ștefănescu (Romania) and Alessandra Rombolà (Italy/Norway), contemporary music and dance group INTER-ART, Duo ASPERA – accordion and piano (Italy), ensemble ATEM, ensemble AD HOC, percussion ensemble GAME, duo Stefan Doniga (piano) and Diana Jipa (violin), Trio LARSON, Trio MOZAIC (Romania), Trio PYTHIA with a concert for piano six hands (Greece), ensemble COULEURS, ensemble devotioModerna, ensemble ARCHAEUS, ensemble ARS SUBTILIOR, mezzo-soprano Claudia Codreanu and pianist Diana Dembinski-Vodă, pianists Adriana Toacsen and Andreea Bratu, Constantin Basica (electronics, bicycle), Olga Berar (violin), percussionist Irina Rădulescu, composer and performer Cătălin Crețu, organist Dan Racoveanu, and the trio of improvisers Andrei Petrache (piano, SFX), Mihai Balabaș (violin, SFX) and Sorin Romanescu (guitar, SFX) – Romania.

In addition to chamber/electronic/multimedia concerts, “ATLAS” will include:

– The audio-video installation “Music of the Hours”, featuring music by the late iconic Romanian composer Octavian Nemescu, a 12-hour journey-ascension from midnight to midnight, broadcast online on the festival’s YouTube channel at the opening of ATLAS (November 6, 00:00).

– Musicological conferences in Bucharest and online paying homage to leading Romanian and international composers by Valentina Sandu-Dediu, Olguța Lupu, Bianca Țiplea-Temeș, Petruța Măniuț, Octavia Dinulescu, Matthias Kranebitter, Oliver Sascha Frick.

– An interactive art installation, ART MACHINE, in the space of the National University of Music in Bucharest, organized in partnership with the group Pastila Roz

– A journey-concert through various spaces of the NUMB, imagined and coordinated by composer and performer Irinel Anghel, that will lead the audience through 5 musical stops for 2 hours, including a fortress, a mountain top, a train station, an island, a volcano, a sound market, a fortune-teller in imaginary music postcards and many more surprises with the aid of 5 musicians and 10 performers (November 12, 5 p.m.).

The MERIDIAN Festival has been organized annually since 2005 by UCMR – Union of Composers and Musicologists of Romania through the Romanian National Section of ISCM.

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Cultural project funded by the Ministry of Culture and the Romanian Cultural Institute.

Partners: National University of Music in Bucharest, Goethe-Institut Bucharest, Art&Co Association, Sound Borders Association, Art Music Denmark, Artivistas, Ministry of Culture in Greece, ARFA, CCRMA (Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics – USA), National Academy of Music “Gheorghe Dima” in Cluj-Napoca, The “Ion Vidu” Art High School in Timișoara, the “Oltenia” Philharmonic in Craiova, the Pitești Philharmonic, the “Paul Constantinescu” Philharmonic in Ploiești, the “George Enescu” National University of Art in Iași, the “Jean Constantin” Multifunctional Educational Centre for Youth in Constanța and the “Teodor T. Burada” in Constanta, Pastila Roz, Norsk jazzforum, Music Norway.

Media partners: Radio România Muzical, Radio România Cultural, CIMRO, BookHub.ro, Zile și Nopți, Actualitatea Muzicală

Hărți sonore, trasee imaginare dar şi reale, un automat cu suveniruri de călătorie, concerte, conferințe, instalație audio-vizuală online, reality show cu lectură-ruletă, muzică electronică, un film de animație 3D cu muzică din 13 țări, improvizație pe bicicletă, concert-ocol şi o călăuză cu bagaj sonor, evenimente multimedia, cărți poştale cu muzică imaginară şi o parcare în miez de jazz – iată evenimentele pregătite de cea de-a XVII-a ediție a Festivalului Internațional MERIDIAN, unul din cele mai importante festivaluri de muzică nouă din țară care se va desfăşura între 6 şi 13 noiembrie 2022 sub tema „ATLAS”, la Bucureşti, Cluj-Napoca, Timişoara, Craiova, Constanța, Ploieşti, Piteşti şi Iaşi.

Pentru 2022, an în care Societatea Internațională pentru Muzică Contemporană (ISCM) aniversează un centenar de existență, MERIDIAN propune tema „ATLAS”, orientată în jurul conceptului de CĂLĂTORIE – fie prin diverse părți ale globului, fie prin diverse curente şi tendințe estetice.

Printre invitații ediției „ATLAS” întâlnim nume de marcă ale scenei internaționale de muzică contemporană, precum cvintetul de suflători V COLORIS (Danemarca), BLACK PAGE ORCHESTRA (Austria), ansamblul PROFIL, duo-ul de pian şi electronics „contemporary piano currents” – Junko Yamamoto şi Oliver Sascha Frick (Germania), flautiştii Ion Bogdan Ștefănescu şi Alessandra Rombolà (Italia/Norvegia), grupul de muzică şi dans contemporan INTER-ART, Duo ASPERA – acordeon şi pian (Italia), ansamblul ATEM, ansamblul AD HOC, ansamblul de percuție GAME, duo-ul Ștefan Doniga (pian) şi Diana Jipa (vioară), Trio LARSON, Trio MOZAIC, Trio PYTHIA cu un concert pentru pian la şase mâini (Grecia), ansamblul COULEURS, ansamblul devotioModerna, ansamblul ARCHAEUS, ansamblul ARS SUBTILIOR, mezzosoprana Claudia Codreanu şi pianista Diana Dembinski-Vodă, pianistele Adriana Toacsen şi Andreea Bratu, duo-ul Constantin Basica (electronics, bicicletă) și Olga Berar (vioară), percuționista Irina Rădulescu, compozitorul şi performerul Cătălin Crețu, organistul Dan Racoveanu, precum şi trio-ul de improvizatori Andrei Petrache (pian), Mihai Balabaş (vioară, electronics) şi Sorin Romanescu (chitară, electronics).

În afară de concerte camerale/electronice/multimedia şi conferințe muzicologice, „ATLAS” va include:

– Instalația audio-video „Muzica Orelor”, cuprinzând muzici ale regretatului compozitor-iconic Octavian Nemescu, o călătorie-ascensiune de 12 ore de la miezul nopții spre miezul zilei, difuzată online pe canalul de YouTube al festivalului, în deschiderea ediției ATLAS.

– „Sounds to Go (Around the World)” – un film de animație 3D cu muzici electronice selecționate de la 13 secțiuni naționale ale SIMC / ISCM, realizat de artistul vizual Alexandru Claudiu Maxim

– Conferințe muzicologice la Bucureşti şi online omagiind compozitori români şi internaționali de marcă, susținute de Valentina Sandu-Dediu, Olguța Lupu, Bianca Țiplea-Temeş, Petruța Măniuț, Octavia Dinulescu, Matthias Kranebitter, Oliver Sascha Frick.

– O instalație artistică interactivă, ART MACHINE, în spațiul Universității Naționale de Muzică din Bucureşti, organizată în parteneriat cu grupul Pastila Roz.

Festivalul MERIDIAN este organizat anual din 2005 de către UCMR – Uniunea Compozitorilor şi Muzicologilor din România prin Secțiunea Națională Română a ISCM (International Society for Contemporary Music) – snr-simc.org.

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Proiect cultural finanțat de Ministerul Culturii şi Institutul Cultural Român.

Parteneri: Universitatea Națională de Muzică din Bucureşti, Goethe-Institut Bucureşti, Asociația Art&Co, Asociația Sound Borders, Art Music Denmark, Artivistas, Ministerul Culturii în Grecia, ARFA, CCRMA (Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics – SUA), Academia Națională de Muzică “Gheorghe Dima” din Cluj-Napoca, Liceul de Artă “Ion Vidu” din Timişoara, Filarmonica “Oltenia” din Craiova, Filarmonica Piteşti, Filarmonica “Paul Constantinescu” din Ploieşti, Universitatea Națională de Artă “George Enescu” din Iaşi, Centrul Multifuncțional Educativ pentru Tineret “Jean Constantin” din Constanța şi Centrul Cultural Județean Constanța “Teodor T. Burada” din Constanța.

Parteneri media: Radio România Muzical, Radio România Cultural, CIMRO, BookHub.ro, Zile şi Nopți, Actualitatea Muzicală

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Echipa de organizare a festivalului:

Diana Rotaru (director artistic), Irinel Anghel (consultant artistic), Gabriel Mălăncioiu, Alexandru Ștefan Murariu, Constantin Basica (membri ai comitetului executiv SNR-SIMC), Costin Aslam, Silviu Deaconescu

Director executiv: Ana Achim

Director tehnic Bucureşti: Dan Bujor

Grafică: Simona Fitcal

Responsabil financiar: Cristina Stancu

The ISCM Romanian Section is happy to announce the selected works to be included in the SOUNDS TO GO (around the world) audio-video project in November 2022. We have received submissions from 12 Member Sections of the ISCM and the results are as follows:

ISCM Austrian Section | Alisa Kobzar – “rechtschreibung”

ISCM Beijing Section | QI Mengjie (Maggie) – “The Road to Krakow”

ISCM Croatian Section | Ivana Kiš – “Galijot”

ISCM Faroe Islands Section | Lasse Jæger – “Killin’ Kind”

ISCM Flemish Section | Valery Vermeulen – “Mikromedas”

ISCM Latvian Section | Linda Leimane – “Cadavre Exquis III”

ISCM Netherlands Section | Danny de Graan – “Geometric Vibrations”

ISCM Serbian Section | Svetlana Maraš – “Two kinetic studies: Kinetic study no.1”

ISCM Swedish Section | Paulina Sundin – “Med lekande kval”, Patric Simmerud – “The Scream and Beyond”

ISCM Swiss Section | Sachie Kobayashi – “Jeux.1.11 – Les cieux roulent des yeux”

ISCM Taiwan Section | Fang-Wei Luo – “Sound of Desolation”

ISCM USA Section | Eric Moe – “leave but don’t leave me”

The jury was comprised of composers Diana Rotaru (President of the ISCM Romanian Section), Irinel Anghel, Constantin Basica, Gabriel Mălăncioiu, Alexandru Murariu (Executive Committee).

SOUNDS TO GO (around the world) is a project organized by the ISCM Romanian Section in order to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the ISCM | The International Society for Contemporary Music, the biggest network with members from around fifty countries, devoted to the promotion and presentation of the music of our time. The project is also included in the ISCM Collaborative Series.

SOUNDS TO GO (around the world) will be a video creation that will be premiered during the 17th edition of MERIDIAN International Festival – ATLAS (November 6-13, 2022 – Romania). Video artist Alexandru Claudiu Maxim will generate an imaginary map of the world including sonic samples from around the globe. Project curator will be Irinel Anghel.