How do I grow and develop as a musician in the Western musical environment?
(2023)
author(s): Fan-Qi Wu
published in: Research Catalogue
This research mainly analyses and discusses the process of cultural adaptation and cross-genre/culture integration- how the pipa was fused and adapted into Western ensemble settings through different projects as case studies. Besides, this study uses Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to analyze the changes in the author's mindset as a traditional musician and to explore the challenges and self-identity of being a minority in the larger community.
Furthermore, this study also discusses how the author consciously and unconsciously blends her cultural heritage with Western musical influences, which later helps her to develop her own musical language and voice.
The art of the violin in Verdiales
(2023)
author(s): María Estela Lastre Castillo
published in: KC Research Portal
Verdiales is the traditional music from Málaga, Spain, which is little known even within Spain. This research places verdiales in its historical and musical context looking at: the differences between styles, rhythm and harmony, and, most importantly, the role of the violin in this music.
As the main instrument in verdiales, the violin is played in a very different way than in classical music, since it is spontaneous music with a great deal of freedom for improvisation, disseminated purely by oral transmission, and with a particular technique which is suited to playing only this music.
Through the deep learning of verdiales, I have looked for different resources to face my daily practice issues in order to gain more flexibility and freedom in my way of playing. After trying several exercises and approaches in different parts of my practice, I have been self- documenting and verifying the improvement and effectiveness of certain methods, taking into account different aspects such as bow hold, ornamentation, and improvisation. As a result, I came to the conclusion that in order to achieve different results, it is necessary for more exploration and extremely different methods than the ones I have been using when practicing the violin
Creative Processes in Irish traditional music: a bodhrán-playing perspective
(2023)
author(s): Robert Brian Sheehan
published in: Research Catalogue
This is the web-based written component of an arts practice research project carried out from May to August of 2022 as part of the MA Irish Music Studies programme at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance (IWAMD) at the University of Limerick. The project set out to explore the broad topic of creativity within Irish traditional music through the embodied means of my own bodhrán playing. In particular, I set out to see to what extent the creative process of switching between ways of gripping the bodhrán stick (“grip switching”) could be embodied effectively in my bodhrán playing. As well as this written component, which contains multimedia elements such as video and music notation, this project is also presented as a thirty minute performance of traditional Irish music where I accompany an accordion player to demonstrate and explain some of the findings of my research.
Structures for Freedom: In-performance communication in Traditional musicians in Scotland
(2022)
author(s): Lori Watson
published in: Journal for Artistic Research
This exposition articulates tacit knowledge in processes associated with contemporary Traditional music practice in Scotland. Using a case study experiment and a series of workshop performances recorded in 2008, I examine the processes, communication and performance strengths of four leading Traditional and cross-genre creative musicians. In particular, examples of in-performance communication and collaboration emerge.
Searching for the Siren | Exploring contemporary vocal aesthetics
(2022)
author(s): Kristia Michael
published in: KC Research Portal
“Searching for the Siren” explores contemporary vocal approaches that mirror the aesthetics and the contemporary perception of defining the elements of Beauty. Specifically, three main thematics are researched: 1) The Folk Voice, which explores how folk elements and timbres enter in classical and popular music, 2) The Extended Voice, which describes the use of extended vocal techniques with reference to technical and physical aspects of timbral contrasts, vocal fry, scream and inhalation phonation, 3) The Absent, Transformed and Replaced Voice which occurred with the technological development. Ends with conclusions around the definition of the mythical creature of the Siren and its relation to the human voice. Every aspect includes personal views, works, performances and syllogisms.
Eon: Blurring lines on a small (time-) travel guitar
(2019)
author(s): Andreas Aase
published in: Research Catalogue
A simple reconfiguring of a mass-produced guitar results in an affordable and comfortable instrument that straddles the gap between the fiddle and the classical guitar. The instrument’s playability gives birth to a new set of eight guitar compositions with two main components throughout: Partly reworked versions of eclectic ideas from my youth decades ago, partly new melodies and improvisations inspired by Scandinavian traditions. A long-held desire for softer dividing lines and cross-bleed between disparate bodies of musical material is expressed in a process of composition, performance and recording that simultaneously redefines memory, dreams and connotations.
The artistic results constitute the primary text and will be represented as videos and sound clips throughout. The written text leads up to, and/or comments on, the artistic issues tackled in the videos.
Cross cultural meetings: Traditional music from Setesdal and world musicians
(2017)
author(s): Ingolv Haaland, Jeremy Welsh, Bjørn Ole Rasch
connected to: University of Agder, Faculty of Fine Arts
published in: Research Catalogue
The starting point for the project is a set of recordings by Norwegian folk-musicians of Norwegian folk-songs in the “stev og slåtte” (stave and tune) tradition of Setesdal in Agder. This source material was presented to musicians around the world in various studio sessions. The musicians did immediate responses after listening to a song, connecting to the music and establishing a dialogue. The purpose of this article is to document and provide insight into some of the processes in this artistic research project. The album FERD was released on Grappa Records 17.09.17 and a 70 minute film documentary will be released in 2018.
Transcribing Johann Sebastian Bach's Lute Music for Guitar Bouzouki
(2015)
author(s): Andreas Aase
connected to: Norwegian Artistic Research Programme
published in: Journal for Artistic Research
Johann Sebastian Bach's lute suites were probably written on the harpsichord, and are commonly performed on the guitar. This project examines the possibilities and limitations in transcribing one suite for a four-course, fifth-tuned instrument in the cittern/octave mandolin family, while preserving supposed interpretation practices from Bach's era and/or from Scandinavian traditional music. The final artistic result may or may not express these traits. The audiovisual examples aim to express problems of interpretation, and suggestions for their solutions in the cases where they are specific to my instrument. I will attempt to contextualise the process through introducing various strands of research and the observations of others.
The discussion commences at a point where I have produced a suggestion for a transcription, as I embark from the premises laid out in the previous paragraph and ask, Is it possible to create an edition of Johann Sebastian Bach's Lute Suite BWV 997 for my instrument? Deriving from this question, I simultaneously ask, Which methods and contexts can I employ to make the artistic outcome convincing for myself, as well as for an audience familiar with this music?
A Play With Traditions
(last edited: 2024)
author(s): Ingfrid Breie Nyhus
This exposition is in progress and its share status is: visible to all.
"A Play with Traditions - interpreting and performing between folk and pianism" is an artistic research doctorate project by pianist Ingfrid Breie Nyhus, at the Norwegian Programme of Artistic Research & the Norwegian Academy of Music 2011-2016.
Ingfrid Breie Nyhus is a performer within classical and contemporary interpretation and folk musical tradition. In this project, she explored musical possibilities in the tension field between art music's and folk music's performance traditions. She investigated similarities and differences in the traditions, and let them intertwine in her piano playing. This exposition is the reflection of the project, on artistic processes, contexts and considerations.
This exposition articulates tacit knowledge in processes associated with contemporary Traditional music practice in Scotland. Using a case study experiment and a series of workshop performances recorded in 2008, I examine the processes, communication and performance strengths of four leading Traditional and cross-genre creative musicians. In particular, examples of in-performance communication and collaboration emerge.open exposition comments (0)
“Searching for the Siren” explores contemporary vocal approaches that mirror the aesthetics and the contemporary perception of defining the elements of Beauty. Specifically, three main thematics are researched: 1) The Folk Voice, which explores how folk elements and timbres enter in classical and popular music, 2) The Extended Voice, which describes the use of extended vocal techniques with reference to technical and physical aspects of timbral contrasts, vocal fry, scream and inhalation phonation, 3) The Absent, Transformed and Replaced Voice which occurred with the technological development. Ends with conclusions around the definition of the mythical creature of the Siren and its relation to the human voice. Every aspect includes personal views, works, performances and syllogisms.open exposition comments (0)
A simple reconfiguring of a mass-produced guitar results in an affordable and comfortable instrument that straddles the gap between the fiddle and the classical guitar. The instrument’s playability gives birth to a new set of eight guitar compositions with two main components throughout: Partly reworked versions of eclectic ideas from my youth decades ago, partly new melodies and improvisations inspired by Scandinavian traditions. A long-held desire for softer dividing lines and cross-bleed between disparate bodies of musical material is expressed in a process of composition, performance and recording that simultaneously redefines memory, dreams and connotations. The artistic results constitute the primary text and will be represented as videos and sound clips throughout. The written text leads up to, and/or comments on, the artistic issues tackled in the videos.open exposition comments (0)
The starting point for the project is a set of recordings by Norwegian folk-musicians of Norwegian folk-songs in the “stev og slåtte” (stave and tune) tradition of Setesdal in Agder. This source material was presented to musicians around the world in various studio sessions. The musicians did immediate responses after listening to a song, connecting to the music and establishing a dialogue. The purpose of this article is to document and provide insight into some of the processes in this artistic research project. The album FERD was released on Grappa Records 17.09.17 and a 70 minute film documentary will be released in 2018.open exposition comments (0)
"A Play with Traditions - interpreting and performing between folk and pianism" is an artistic research doctorate project by pianist Ingfrid Breie Nyhus, at the Norwegian Programme of Artistic Research & the Norwegian Academy of Music 2011-2016. Ingfrid Breie Nyhus is a performer within classical and contemporary interpretation and folk musical tradition. In this project, she explored musical possibilities in the tension field between art music's and folk music's performance traditions. She investigated similarities and differences in the traditions, and let them intertwine in her piano playing. This exposition is the reflection of the project, on artistic processes, contexts and considerations.open exposition comments (0)