The Vibrating Drum - developing a practice for the modern percussionist

Ingar Zach

Over the last 60 years, contemporary percussionists have been investigating the potential of their instruments beyond established classical techniques, making use of a variety of preparations and techniques, additional electronic amplification and manipulation, and alternative setups. In my artistic research project The Vibrating Drum, I apply my background as a percussionist working in various experimental disciplines towards a consideration of how the vibrating speaker (the transducer) can be used to produce sustained sounds. Over the course of my project, I have assembled a haptic system comprising vibrating speakers in contact with the drum skin, small amplifiers, and iPads, that allows me to create and develop new artistic works for percussion. My methodology entails giving a series of solo concerts, where I present different versions of the setup and material from my ongoing research. I have also introduced my material in collaborative projects and explored how vibrating material interacts with specific acoustic spaces. To produce my formal artistic results, I edited and structured the recorded material, which resulted in two solo albums, a video installation, and a final concert. The aim of this research is to broaden my own practice and to offer a tool for modern percussionists, composers, educators, and others for whom my research and approach would be relevant in the future.

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Publications and concerts 2020 to 2023

I have participated in a number of publications during the research project. On the four albums below, I contribute with my percussion, including different configurations of the set-up with the vibrating speakers.

Ingar Zach/Michele Rabbia - Musique pour deux corps (SOFA589)

Linus + Økland/Van Heertum/Zach - Light as never (ASPEN #014)

Kjell Bjørgeengen & Chris Cogburn - Fear of the object (SOFA587)

Kim Myhr - Sympathetic Magic (HUBRO)

Below is a list of concerts that I have participated in during the artistic research project. It was important for me to continue my concert activity during the research period to maintain contact with my field in order to be able to contextualize the research and at the same time draw inspiration and knowledge from outside of the research environment. These concerts have helped to shape and inform the project as I have tried to understand how to integrate and expand the sonic palette with the haptic system within already existing projects and to initiate new projects.

Concert activities 2020-2023.

18.09.20 – Concert with Ingar Zach/Michele Rabbia @ Festival Artescienza in Rome/Italy.
25.09.20 – Solo concert and presentation @ Museo Vostell Malpartida in Caceres/Spain.
17.10.20 – I.Z. w/Circles @ Royaumont festival in Asnieres-sur-Oise/France.
24.10.20 – I.Z. w/Axel Dörner, Mark Solborg & Christian Skjødt @ Nordische Botschaften in Berlin/Germany.
25.10.20 – I.Z. w/Axel Dörner, Mark Solborg & Christian Skjødt @ Trapholt Museum in Kolding/Denmark.
03.11.20 – Dans les arbres @ NyMusikk Innlandet Gjøvik/Norway.
01.02.21 – I.Z. w/Circles @ Teatro Salmanazar in Epernay/France.
13.02.21 – I.Z + Ruben Machtelinckx, Nils Økland, Thomas Jillings, Niels Van Heertum @ CC Ter Dilft in Bornem/Belgium. (streaming)
12.03.21 – I.Z. “The Vibrating Drum I” @ NMH in Oslo/Norway.
25.03.21 – Dans les arbres @ Walter/Brussels streaming concert from NMH in Oslo/Norway.
09.05.21 – I.Z. w/Kim Myhr You | me @ Trondheim Jazzfest in Trondheim/Norway.
19.08.21 – w/Kim Myhr Sympathetic Magic @ Oslo Jazzfestival in Oslo/Norway.
20.08.21 – Huntsville @ NyMusikk Vestfold in Tønsberg/Norway.
14.09.21 – Ingar Zach + Ensemble Musikfabrik @ NyMusikk Bergen/Norway.
15.09.21 – Ingar Zach + Ensemble Musikfabrik @ NyMusikk Trondheim/Norway.
18.09.21 – Ingar Zach + Ensemble Musikfabrik @ Ultima festival in Oslo/Norway.
22.09.21 – Huntsville @ Nesodden Jazzklubb/Flasken in Nesodden/Norway.
25.09.21 – Skremt Kunst (Alessandra Rombola/Andrea Giordano/Ingar Zach) @ Musikk i Sentrum in Tønsberg/Norway.
12.10.21 – Ingar Zach + Ensemble Musikfabrik @ Saal in Cologne/Germany.
14.10.21 – I.Z & LINUS + Van Heertum/Økland @ 30CC Wagehuys in Leuven, Belgium.
15.10.21 – I.Z & LINUS + Van Heertum/Økland @ Handelsboers in Gent, Belgium.
16.10.21 – I.Z & LINUS + Van Heertum/Økland @ Ter Dilft in Bornem, Belgium.
26.10.21 – Dans les arbres @ Blowout/Cafe Hærverk in Oslo/Norway.
28.10.21 – I.Z. “The Vibrating Drum II” @ Levinsalen/NMH in Oslo/Norway.
13.11.21 – I.Z. with Lisa Dillan @ Improverk/Cafe Hærverk in Oslo/Norway.
17.11.21 – I.Z. w/Jennifer Torrence & Ane Marthe Sørlien Holen ” The Vibrating Drum III” @ Majorstua Church i Oslo/Norway.
25.11.21 – I.Z. w/Kim Myhr YouIMe @ The Next Festival in Bratislava/Slovakia.
26.11.21 – O3 @ Wien Modern/Comprovise 3 in Vienna/Austria.
27.11.21 – I.Z. w/Kim Myhr YouIMe @ RingRing Festival in Belgrade/Serbia.
06.12.21 – Concert with Ingar Zach/Michele Rabbia @ Radio France in Paris/France.
11.12.21 – Dans les arbres @ Ausland in Berlin/Germany.
17.12.21 – I.Z. w/Circles @ Festival Jazz au Fil de l’Oise in Gonesse/France.
03.02.22 – I.Z. w/Circles @ Festival Sons d’hiver, Cité internationale in Paris/France.
03.03.22 – Dans les arbres @ Neubad in Luzern/Switzerland.
04.03.22 – Dans les arbres @ Stadtgarten in Cologne/Germany.
05.03.22 – Dans les arbres @ KM28 in Berlin/Germany.
22.03.22 – I.Z. “The Vibrating Drum IV” @ Levinsalen, NMH in Oslo/Norway.
10.04.22 – LINUS + Økland/Van Heertum/Zach @ Vossajazz in Voss/Norway.
12.04.22 – Mythical Jockey (I.Z., Kim Myhr, Eivind Lønning) @ Blowout in Oslo/Norway.
29.04.22 – Duo with Kenneth Karlsson & solo vibrating speakers @ Only Connect/Munch in Oslo/Norway.
06.05.22 – I.Z. “The Vibrating Drum V” @ Lindemansalen, NMH in Oslo/Norway.
13.05.22 – Collaboration with Karin Hellqvist, Heloisa Amaral, Natasha Barrett @ Stockholm Concert House in Stockholm/Sweden.
03.05.22 – Solo concert, The Vibrating Drum @ Grønland Kirke in Oslo/Norway.
10.06.22 – Participation in Australian Art Orchestra Hand to Earth project @ Boulez Saal in Berlin/Germany.
15.06.22 – Mythical Jockey (I.Z., Kim Myhr, Eivind Lønning) @ Fundació Juan Miró in Barcelona/Spain.
18.06.22 – I.Z. w/Kim Myhr Sympathetic Magic @ Ljubliana Jazz Festival in Ljubliana/Slovenia.
25.06.22 – I.Z. w/Marl Solborg, Susana Santos Silva & Lars Greve @ Copenhagen Jazz Festival in Copenhagen/Denmark.
23.08.22 – I.Z. w/Kim Myhr Sympathetic Magic @ Meteo Festival in Mulhouse/France.
19.10.22 – Concert with Ingar Zach/Michele Rabbia @ Non-figurativ musikk in Tønsberg/Norway.
20.10.22 – Concert with Ingar Zach/Michele Rabbia @ F.eks/Café Mir in Oslo/Norway.
23.10.22 – Concert with Ingar Zach/Michele Rabbia @ Enjoy Jazz/Heidelberg in Germany.
04.11.22 – I.Z. w/Robert Seaback presenting The Vibrating Drum/The Semiotics of Virtuality at Levinsalen/NMH in Oslo/Norway.
16.11.22 – Ingar Zach/Michele Rabbia @ Casa del Jazz in Rome/Italy.
20.11.22 – Ingar Zach/Michele Rabbia @ Area Sismica in Forli/Italy.
15.12.22 – Labfield (I.Z., Giuseppe Ielasi, David Stackenäs) @ Fylkingen in Stockholm/Sweden.
17.12.22 – Ingar Zach/Michele Rabbia @ KM28 in Berlin/Germany.
20.12.22 – I.Z. w/Philip Zoubek, David Stackenäs & Jonas Kocher @ The Loft in Cologne/Germany.
30.12.22 – I.Z. w/Alessandra Rombolà, Francesco Massaro & Warshadfilm @ Festival Avvisamenti in Bisceglie, Italy.
18.03.23 – Dans les arbres @ Skoklefall kirke in Nesodden/Norway.
25.03.23 – I.Z. The Vibrating Drum presentation/concert @ NMH in Oslo, Norway.
29.04.23 – Solo concert The Vibrating Drum & with O3 @ CentroCentro in Madrid/Spain.
04.05.23 – Ingar Zach/Peder Simonsen/Jo David Meyer Lysne @ NyMusikk Trondheim/Norway.
12.05.23 – Ingar Zach, Kim Myhr, Caroline Bergvall, Quatuor Bozzini @ Maijazz/Tou Scene in Stavanger/Norway.
19.05.23 – Ingar Zach/Etienne Nillesen/Riccardo LaForesta @ NMH in Oslo/Norway.
21.05.23 – Ingar Zach/Etienne Nillesen/Riccardo LaForesta @ Vestafor in Rosendal/Norway.
25.05.23 – I.Z. w/Kim Myhr Sympathetic Magic @ Alice in Copenhagen/Denmark.
27.05.23 – Ingar Zach solo concert and presentation @ Numacircuit23 in Tenerife/Spain.
29.05.23 – I.Z. w/Kim Myhr Sympathetic Magic @ Festspillene i Bergen, Norway.
08.07.23 – Ingar Zach w/Alessandra Rombolà & Francesco Massaro @ Asilo in Naples, Italy.
02.08.23 – Ingar Zach. w/Kim Myhr Sympathetic Magic @ Olavsfestdagene in Trondheim, Norway.
14.09.23 – The Vibrating Drum concert @ Levinsalen, NMH/Ultima Festival in Oslo, Norway.
27.09.23 – Dans les arbres @ IGNM in Bern, Switzerland.
19.10.23 – Ingar Zach w/Jan Bang, Arve Henriksen, Dzijan Emin and FAME's Institute Orchestra @ Skopje Jazz Festival/Macedonia.
21.10.23 – Ingar Zach w/Kim Myhr Sympathetic Magic @ Jazz Jantar in Gdansk, Poland.
28.10.23 – Dans les arbres @ Improverk in Oslo,Norway.
31.10.23 – Fear of the object with Ingar Zach, Kjell Bjørgeengen, Inga Margrete Aas, Aimée Theriot-Ramos @ Kunstnernes Hus in Oslo, Norway.

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Ingar Zach - The Vibrating Drum - developing a practice for the modern percussionist - 2024