Composition of graphic and sonic works through the improvisers' co-creation

Laura Toxvaerd

Taking my compositions as a point of departure, the project investigates the improvisers’ co-creation in the compositional process. The composer (in this case, me) explores how improvisers’ ideas can be integrated into the development of the compositions, and explores what impact the integration has on the works of art. In the project, graphic scores are being designed, through the means of which I am seeking to bring forth new aesthetic forms of expressions. Along the way in this project, I have created new compositions that came to be drawn out as scores, which were continually adapted and re-arranged on the basis of the improvising musicians’ concert performances of the existing compositions. The working method could be characterized as an iterative artistic developmental process, which shuttled back and forth between my own compositional work, together with the design and elaboration of the graphic scores, and videotaped rehearsals and performances of my compositions with the collaborating musicians.

Overview and results

Reflections

On methods

1st round - process concert

2nd round - album: Comp. Part 2

Context

Public project presentations

3rd round - album: Comp. Part 1

Public project presentations

Peer reviewed:

09.09.2016 Presentation at the international conference ”Doctors in Performance”, Royal Irish Academy of Music LINK
2016 ”Komposition af grafiske og soniske værker gennem improvisatorers medskabelse” in Haugland, A.G. (ed.) Kunstnerisk Udviklingsvirksomhed - antologi 2016. Frederiksberg: The Royal Danish Academy of Music
18.11.2015 Presentation at the international symposium ”Unfolding the Process”, Norwegian Academy of Music, The Arne Norheim Center for Artistic Research

Reviews:

The New York City Jazz Record: selected as 'honorable mentions - new releases 2016', 2 x 'recommended new releases' (Oct. & Dec. 2016) and reviewed (Febr. 2017) LINK

Jazz Journal (Jan. 2017) A Jazz Noise (Jan. 2017) LINK Jazzmosaïek (Sept. 2016) Lira (Sept. 2016) LINK Jazz Special (Sept. 2016) LINK JazzNyt (Aug. 2016) LINK salt-peanuts (July 2016) LINK Weekendavisen (July 2016) LINK

Other:

Aug. 2017 US tour with performances of the project's graphic scores. New York City concert video LINK & concert preview in Chicago Reader LINK
Summer 2017 Royal Danish Academy of Music: Compositions - 18 Graphic Scores exhibited at the library
May 2017 DownBeat: Artist portrait and interview with description of the project LINK
05.11.2016 Participant in the panel of discussion, presentation and concert (& co-arranger) at the Danish artistic research network’s Artistic Research Festival, Royal Danish Academy of Music
Oct. 2016 DownBeat: Project mentioned in an article about Copenhagen Jazz Festival LINK
Sept. 2016 The New York City Jazz Record: Project mentioned in an article about Copenhagen Jazz Festival LINK
20.05.2016 Presentation at the conference ”Musikpædagogik – opgaver og udfordringer”, DPU, Aarhus University LINK
13.04.2016 Presentation at the Rhythmic Music Conservatory consisting of at trio concert, lecture about the project’s artistic choices/methods, critical response from internal and external opponents, discussion with the opponents and questions from the audience. In addition release of the project’s book Compositions – 18 Graphic Scores LINK
17.03.2016 The double concert Laura Toxvaerd Compositions in Jazzhouse, Copenhagen, where the majority of the project’s graphic scores were performed by two different ensembles
March 2016 DownBeat: Interview in an article about the record label ILK LINK
Feb. 2016 New York University, Dept. of Music & Performing arts: Research visit to Prof. David J. Elliott
Feb. 2016 Jazzhouse&Global Magasin: Interview and graphic scores shown LINK
12.11.2015 Presentation of preliminary research results at the Danish artistic research network’s seminar at Schæffergården
Oct. 2015 Artistic Research Forum, Kristiansand, Norway: Nordic guest
09.07.2015 Second process concert, 5e i Kødbyen
05.05.2015 First process concert, Rhythmic Music Conservatory LINK
April 2015 The European Platform for Artistic Research in Music Conference in Graz, Austria: Participant
March 2015 Supervisors’ Seminar & Norwegian Artistic Research Spring Forum in Asker, Norway: Nordic guest
March 2015 RMC’s website, interview LINK
2015-2016 Continuous blogging and video clips on RMC’s website, example LINK

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