THE POETICS OF A MULTIPHONIC LANDSCAPE

Torben Snekkestad

The project is an artistic research project focusing on the saxophone􏰁s ability to produce multiphonics (multiple sounds on an instrument considered monophonic). It is a personal artistic exploration into the process of unfolding the poetics of these complex sonics and a reflection over the process, methods and the creation of an album trilogy, consisting of acoustic solo music recorded during the research period. The main question I have been asking myself during this project has been: What happens if the raw musical material, in the creation of a set of solo saxophone works, is based on the multiphonics only and what this material in itself suggest – possibly independent of any stylistic affiliation?  My main objective was to examine why the saxophone’s multiphonics have such a captivating effect on me. How could I possibly explore their intrinsic qualities and unfold the poetic potential in them? By the same token, my ambition was to find a suitable artistic context for this enamored relationship that so heavily has stirred the waves of my imagination. In the reflection text on the project, I disclose how some unexpected paths during this pursuit revealed themselves. From sprouting interest toward underwater soundscapes, to the making of a hybrid instrument called reed-trumpet; and how my personal catalog of multiple sounds found its place, not in a public pdf-document or book release, but in a German wooden archive box. I relay in what way I began to take on the intrinsic qualities of the multiphonics and the reason why an oscillation between artistic intention and action is so pivotal for an improviser. To make sure that the project had this focus at all time I sat up a dogma that contains a list of eight fundamental criteria that manifest the intentions and structure as well as sharpen the working methods.

Introduction 1. Entering the Landscape 2. Exploring the Territory 3. The Reed Trumpet 4. Influences 5. Solo 6. Trilogy 7. Epilogue 8. Appendix

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Appendix

Supervisors

Internal supervisor at Norwegian Academy of Music: Ivar Frounberg External supervisor: Evan Parker

Text writing supervisor: Eivind Buene

Further supervising: in a mix of talks, discussions, lessons or music performance with important peers in my field: John Butcher, Nate Wooley, Bjørn Kruse, Peter Evans, Agusti Fernandez, Lotte Anker, Rolf Erik Nystrøm, Søren Kjærgaard, Thomas Strønen, Jacob Anderskov, Karsten Fundal, Hans Peter Stubbe Teglbjærg, Koichi Makigami, Benjamin Dwyer, Barry Guy, Franziska Schroeder and more.

Activity:

Live concerts as part of the project 2013-2016

28 solo concerts in Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Japan, USA, Austria, Spain, Ireland and England.
Duo concerts nationally and abroad with: Barry Guy, Koichi Makigami, Peter Evans, Paal Nilssen-Love, David Whitwell, Thomas Strønen, Peter Bruun, Augusti Fernandez, Nate Wooley, Hans Peter Stubbe Teglbjerg, Michiyo Yagi, Maja S.K. Ratkje.
Composition collaboration, workshop and concerts with composer Hans Peter Stubbe Teglbjerg. Various international tour activities with my trio: The Living Room (w/ Thomas Strønen and Søren Kjærgaard) in Japan, Spain, England, Norway and Denmark. Concerts with Barry Guy “Blue Shroud” ensemble in Germany, Poland and Switzerland Several workshops and concerts as a soloist with ”The Norwegian Wind Ensemble” in Norway. Live concert recording with The Living Room & Barry Guy in Copenhagen. Concert with research fellows Per Zanussi and Morten Qvenild. Performances in various ensembles from the creative music community in Copenhagen.

Participation in the Norwegian Artistic Research Programme `s mandatory parts:

Participation in four mandatory seminars 2012-2014

Research Fellowship Seminar # 1 - Introduction seminar - Artistic Research 8-10 October 2012 - Soria Moria Konferranse Hotell, Oslo

Research Fellowship Seminar # 2 - Critical Reflection 15-17 January 2013 - Voksenåsen, Oslo

Research Fellowship Seminar # 3 - Ownership, copyright and third-person relations 21 & 22 Maj 2014 - Voksenåsen, Oslo

Research Fellowship Seminar # 4 – Project development 2 & 3 June 2014 - Rica Hotel Gardemoen, Gardemoen

Participation in research fora 2012-2015

Artistic Research Forum 20-21 October 2012 - Bergen

Artistic Research Forum 20-21 March 2013 - Voksenåsen, Oslo (presentation)

Artistic Research Forum 21-23 October 2013 - Trondheim

Artistic Research Forum 25-26 March 2014 - Voksenåsen ,Oslo (presentation)

Artistic Research Forum 21-23 October 2014 - UiT Norge Arktiske Universitet, Tromsø

Artistic Research Forum 17 -18 March 2015 - Holmen Fjordhotel , Asker (presentation)

Project specific part:

Norwegian Academy of Music (NMH):

5 internal presentations at NMH (2012-2015)
Participation in NMH’s - Jazz Department meetings.
Participation in internal KUST courses by Ole Lützow–Holm, Sten Sandell, Ivar Frounberg, Åsa Unander-Scharin, Eivind Buene & ”Max msp” course with research fellow Christian Blom.
Teaching at NMH: supervisor for bachelor students and individual lessons for other students. Masterclasses for saxophonists, ensemble workshops in improvisation, guest teacher at InterCcourse, and leading an ensemble week project (ending with a large student ensemble concert )
Soloist with ”Norwegian Academy of Music’s Percussion Ensemble” Participant in Fred Frith’s project on NMH’s jazzfestival Serendip. Solo & duo concert in NMH’s concert series: RAW:

External activities:

Presentation at RMC in Copenhagen for employees in the research department
Presentation at KUV symposium for NMH, University of Gothenburg and RMC
Presentation, workshop & solo-concert at Universität für Musik und Darstellende Kunst - Graz
Presentation, workshop & solo-concert at Royal Academy of Music Århus/Aalborg in Århus
Presentation, workshop & solo-concert at “Scandinavian Saxophone Festival” in Århus.
Presentation & solo-concert at “Musikkens Hus” - Sønderho (dk)
Presentation & solo-concert at Sonic Arts Research Centre - Queen's University Belfast
Presentation & solo-concert at Middlesex University - London

Introduction 1. Entering the Landscape 2. Exploring the Territory 3. The Reed Trumpet 4. Influences 5. Solo 6. Trilogy 7. Epilogue 8. Appendix

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