A Future In The Past

Theodore Parker

A Future In the Past is a research project engaging with the application of methods from Historically Informed Performance and Media Archeology towards problems found in the practice of Live Electronic music. In doing so the project sought to expose lost discourses in the medium as viewed from the performer’s perspective. Three pieces by composer Udo Kasemets were chosen as case studies. All compositions were originally written and performed prior to the 1990’s boom in digital processing. Each case study explores themes related to Liveness, Audience Interaction, and Hyper Instruments. In developing the historical context for each work several strategies were undertaken. Kasemets’ archives were reviewed at the University of Toronto, performers of the original pieces were interviewed, and investigations into period specific instruments were conducted. Additionally, Kasemets’ own published writings were used to reference his aesthetic ambitions as well as for comparison with his contemporaries. Rehearsals were carried out with The Estonian Electronic Music Ensemble, where the historical data and performer experiences were combined to create an individual interpretation for each composition. These interpretations were then presented to an audience and alongside contemporary issues currently debated in Live Electronics

Ensemble EMA

Formed in 2017, the Ensemble of the Estonian Electronic Music Society (EMA) is dedicated to playing electronic chamber music. The ensemble comprises six musicians – Doris Hallmägi, Ekke Västrik, Mihkel Tomberg, Taavi Kerikmäe, Tarmo Johannes and Theodore Parker. The group aims to transcend technological restraints and promote sensitive musicianship, responding to each other through keen listening; making full use of all the incredibly rich sonic possibilities offered by electronic instruments. The Ensemble of the Estonian Electronic Music Society has been lauded for their flexibility and musicality, which, in the case of electronic music, can easily be lost among the switches and sliders. The range of available instruments varies from Buchla and Serge synthesizers to laptop-based live-electronics. The ensemble has performed at festivals such as AFEKT, ISCM World Music Days / Estonian Music Days, Üle Heli, Tallinn Music Week etc.

The Ensemble’s activities extend beyond the preparation and presentation of electronic music for concert going audiences. EMA Juures was a series of public residencies occurring in 2020 and 2021 aimed at presenting the various nuts and bolts involved in working with electronic music for composer’s interested in expanding their sonic pallets. Members of the ensemble have also been part of the working group behind the mini electronic music festival Sirakas, which promotes the diversity of stylistic trends found in Live Electronic Music. Lastly, in 2023 the ensemble hosted a series of events titled Laupäevad EMAga which presented lectures associated with themes concerning human interactivity through electronic instruments.

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