Research Catalogue

Performance philosophy is still something of a ‘wild frontier’ where fundamental questions can be re-posed concerning the nature of wisdom and love, life and truth. For if love and wisdom are not co-extensive with verbal communication, then philosophy may be legitimately pursued by performative means. In this session the participants aim is to enact and unfold a set of trajectories rather than describe or 'define' their work in words alone. Passion and grief are disruptive currencies. Passion and grief not only seem un-necessary for biological life, they frequently threaten it. Yet a life lived without them would seem impoverished. Whether one views these turbulent affects as parasites, invaders, or as the engines of higher culture, they inhabit philosophy as an ineradicable black-market haunts all states and empires. We aim to consider this under-zone on its own terms, weaving theory with demonstrations of transferable techniques for cross-disciplinary research.

This is the shape that my temporary virtual studio had during NPP –New Performative Practice MA SKH Uniarts, Stockholm–.

We left Eden Performed by Marius Igland Group Musicians: Sebastian Grüchot Violin Trygve Rypestøl Sax Bjørn Rønnekleiv Clarinets Marius Igland Guitar Espen Grundetjern Bass Trygve Tambs-Lyche Drums Production Camera Andi Gyberg Lights design Andi Gyberg Sound Engineer Espen Grundetjern Consultant Espen Grundetjern Producer Marius Igland Editor Marius Igland Mix/master Marius Igland Music All compositions and arrangements by Marius Igland Timestamps: 0:14 - Prologue 3:18 - I - A different Animal 11:55 - II - Exploring 19:15 - III - Ambience 27:55 - IV - Water 32:59 - V - Anthropocen 41:07 - VI - Chronophobia 48:31 - VII - Forward we go 53:12 - VII - Returning This production was shot live in Kristiansand, Norway 12th of May, 2024

SONIC EQUITY This exposition investigates questions of inclusion, equity, and decolonisation through the central voice of the Brazilian berimbau. Drawing on the approaches of artistic research, musical case studies are employed to investigate the core concepts, including the solo berimbau work of Adriano Adewale, as well as duo dialogues between Adriano Adewale on berimbau and Nathan Riki Thomson on double bass, seen through the conceptual lens of third space. Findings emerge in terms of uncovering and reimagining the unique, experimental sonic possibilities of the berimbau and the ways they can be utilized for artistic expression in both solo and duo playing. Through shining a light on the unique possibilities of the berimbau, questions arise in terms of why this instrument and its interconnected traditions have not been given equal space and value within higher music education, highlighting the need for institutions to continually reassess their policies through the lens of decolonisation. The artistic investigations further reveal issues related to the need for equity in music and music education, pointing towards a decolonised future where marginalized instruments such as the berimbau are given space and valued equally alongside all forms of musical expression. This connects back to the fundamental human need to be seen, acknowledged, and valued in our world, which is a commonality we can perhaps all relate to. Key words: berimbau, equity, decolonisation, interculturalism, higher music education, third space.

The difference in embodiment experience when transitioning from one piano to another is highly complex, not to mention the transition from a modern piano to a 19th-century historical piano, as playing techniques were also different. As the modern piano is very different from 19th-century keyboard instruments such as the fortepiano, it can be difficult for a modern pianist to understand the techniques used in the 19th century, and why. While it may be impossible to perfectly reconstruct the playing of 19th-century pianists, this study focused on the process of reimagining the 19th-century playing techniques on historical instruments from the perspective of a 21st-century pianist which will help develop understanding towards the potential roles and impact of these techniques, recognize the connections between instruments and techniques, as well as their influence on my playing as a pianist-researcher. Through this artistic practice, the feedback and observations from these experiences in the form of reflection logs were used to uncover the roles and effects of these techniques. This exposition will discuss a performer-researcher’s experience with references to the current literature, demonstrate how these techniques help narrow the gap between the modern and period instruments, especially in terms of touch and control, and investigate the effects of the artistic practice on dynamics and phrasing. Video clips of performances on both modern grand piano and historical instruments such as the fortepiano will also be included to better demonstrate the different approaches.

This exposition refers to arts-based research on simultaneous performative walking and singing practice in a changing environment. The act of walking is put in the context of landscape and singing representing two aspects of relation to the environment – inner and outer landscape. The object of research is traditional and authorial songs and their bodily and sensual interconnection with the process of experiencing landscape. This experience is gained with a group of artists and environmentalists who have over the course of more than a year repetitively walked through the landscape of the natural park Prokop Valley in Prague and its adjacent urban areas. Qualitative research is taken within the project “Walking as a liquid constant in urban space and landscape”. The method of data collection uses mental maps, inspired by the concept of Kevin Lynch, as a means of documentation. The exposition has three parts 1) the opening video essay, 2) Opus caementicium, autoethnographic reflection of the site, where the project takes place, and 3) Fugue of the vanishing world – an essay on the musical aspect of the project. Chapter titles are inspired by musical terminology that has content connotations in the text or mirrors the structuring of text and musical compositions.