Research Catalogue

an international database for artistic research

• 3. Internal publication Research published in this issue are only for internal circulation within the Royal Conservatoire, The Hague.
• 2. Royal Conservatoire Investigations Royal Conservatoire Investigations
• 1. Master Research Projects All research in KC

• Music in Terezín under the German occupation during the Second World War (2022) author(s): Lola Ramirez Limited publication. Only visible to members of the portal : KC Research Portal
  A new perspective on role of music in Theresienstadt ghetto: an exploration of the meaning and significance of music in extraordinary circumstances, through the prism of the under-searched case of the ghetto-camp. Terezín, or Theresienstadt was a ghetto, or a transit camp where jews were held during the Second World War. Established by the Schutzstaffel (SS organisation) in 1941, it is in the fortress town of Terezín, on the territory of the Protectorate of Bohemia-Moravia, occupied by the Third Reich on the remains of the former Czechoslovakia. Known for its propaganda, the so called “model-ghetto” was the site of unique musical and cultural activities. Between 1941 and 1945, the music performances were flourishing despite the hunger, diseases, brutality, and fear of deportation. After visiting Terezín myself, this exposition is the result of months of research and investigations on the role of music not only in Terezín, but also in our lives. After a more historical first part where the role of music in the ghetto is analysed and described, the second part is a reflexion on our role in the musical world but also in the society as young artists. Inspired by the artists of Terezín, I try to understand how to give a meaning to our performances. What do we want to tell, or not, our audience about our performance program, and what difference can it make? Finally, the last part is a description of my project, directly impacted by this research. This research is a call to reflect on our duty as artists to pass on history and to make sure everyone remembers, but also a search for meaning.
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• Research on the Implementation of Spoken Word Media on String Instruments. A Research Exposition by Zachary Hamilton (2022) author(s): Zachary Hamilton Limited publication. Only visible to members of the portal : KC Research Portal
  Research on the Implementation of Spoken Word Media on String Instruments or How to Play Hip Hop on a Fiddle A Research Abstract by Zachary Hamilton This research explores how spoken word media, namely hip hop, slam poetry, and musical comedy, can be effectively implemented on string instruments. The exposition is divided into four sections. The first section explores the background for the research, including my existing interest in the topic and covers I had already made. This section includes interviews with established figures in the hip hop/string instrument space. The second section explores various artists’ existing work in this area. It begins with a broad overview of the existing canon and history of hip hop on string instruments, and continues with an in-depth analysis of three artists in this space. This section uses defined criteria such as rhythm, pitch, timbre, and others, to analyze various attempts at recreating spoken word music on string instruments. Section three is an examination of my attempts at recreating spoken word media on string instruments. It begins with a brief overview of my previous covers, and continues with an in-depth analysis, using the criteria as defined in section two, of my covers “Kanye Rant” by Bo Burnham, as well as Biggie Smalls’ “Big Poppa”. The research concludes with an evaluation of whether or not my covers were successful and why. This section then expands outward to provide a rough guide for how to create spoken word media on string instruments effectively. The exposition concludes with a brief exploration of how one could successfully create original compositions in such genres on string instruments.
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  The Mysterious Joe Henderson (2022) author(s): Lam ChakSeng Limited publication. Only visible to members of the portal : KC Research Portal
  The purpose of this research is to delve into the performance of the great jazz tenor saxophone Joe Henderson, and to understand his uniqueness in different aspects of his performance. Henderson’s playing style is diverse, his sound can be identified quickly, he is the most unique and prominent one in my favorite saxophonist list. In my opinion, Henderson showed his peak performance in the trio period, what he showed is a very complete himself. In the research, I will focus on learning Henderson’s improvisation approach in his trio performance period, on the harmony, melody, rhythm he created on the instrument, in-depth study of Henderson’s, I hope to discover his mystery from here, to improve my performance by exploring his way of thinking.
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• How the Degree To Which Instrumentalist and Composer Work Together Affects the Compositional Process, the Composition and the Final Performance (2022) author(s): Stef Van Vynckt published in: KC Research Portal
  This research focuses on the compositional process from the point of view of the performer. It examines the extent to which collaborations with composers have an effect on the composition and subsequent performance. More specifically: how do compositions in which you, as an instrumentalist, were involved during the composition process compare to compositions where this was not the case? How does the relationship with the composer contribute to the final performance?
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• The Rhetorical Trumpeter (2022) author(s): Caleb Wiebe Limited publication. Only visible to members of the portal : KC Research Portal
  In this research exposition, I investigate how a rhetorical approach in an experimental setting can influence the learning of the baroque trumpet. Music in the 17th and 18th centuries was composed in a rhetorical style and called on the performer to actively bring the composer’s music to life. The sound-oriented and consistency-driven goals that today’s modern orchestral trumpet players strive to attain often leads to a way of playing that differs from the musical expressivity that is required in the baroque trumpet repertoire. The aim of this research is to begin to build a bridge between the two approaches.   The first part looks at the origin and meaning of rhetoric and explores how it can serve as inspiration when approaching repertoire of the baroque trumpet. The second part consists of a brief history of the trumpet during the 17th and 18th centuries; current practices of the modern orchestral trumpeter; and ways to connect the two. The third part provides a summary and analysis of a workshop series that I created and led for students at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague that explores the relationship between speech and music. This research provides insights for both baroque and modern trumpeters and teachers on how to increase musical expressivity in the baroque trumpet repertoire.
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• Flow, The Optimal Experience (2022) author(s): Francesco Siri published in: KC Research Portal
  In this research I would like to investigate the psychological aspect related to the practice of a musical instrument, going deeper into the experience of the flow state that the musician can live intensely. It is a state of mind of complete absorption in what one is doing. The process started by reading and informing myself as much as possible through books, articles, and personal experience. Based on these I created a strategy of work and exercises that would help me to be more focused and inside the music both in my studies and especially in my performances. I prepared two questionnaires to be filled in after the performances: 1) Personal Questionnaire 2) Group of critical friends To check whether the strategy I had been using over the last few months was helping me to achieve my goal or not. From the results of the two questionnaires until now, I can deduce the most effective and useful aspects of the strategy I implemented. It is also interesting to see how the suggestions of critical friends are similar to the "criticism" I made myself in the personal questionnaire. Over the last few weeks while analysing my latest performances and the results of the questionnaires, I have realised an increase in pleasure in playing and concentration on the task to do, which was not always present before I started this work. I am quite convinced that whatever strategy you want to use, you need patience to see over time if it really works.
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