creative (mis)understandings - Methodologies of Inspiration by Zheng Kuo

This project aims to develop transcultural approaches of inspiration (which we regard as mutually appreciated intentional and reciprocal artistic influence based on solidarity) by combining approaches from contemporary music composition and improvisation with ethnomusicological and sociological research. We encourage creative (mis)understandings emerging from the interaction between research and artistic practice, and between European art music, folk and non-western styles, in particular from indigenous minorities in Taiwan. Both comprehension and incomprehension yield serendipity and inspiration for new research questions, innovative artistic creation, and applied follow-ups among non-western communities. The project departs from two premises: first, that contemporary western art music as a practice often tends to resort to certain degrees of elitism; and second, that non-western musical knowledge is often either ignored or merely exploited when it comes to compositional inspiration. We do not regard inspiration as unidirectional, an “input” like recording or downloading material for artistic use. Instead, we foster artistic interaction by promoting dialogical and distributed knowledge production in musical encounters. Developing interdisciplinary and transcultural methodologies of musical creation will contribute on the one hand towards opening up the—rightly or wrongly supposed—“ivory tower of contemporary composition”, and on the other hand will contribute towards the recognition of the artistic value of non-western musical practices. By highlighting the reciprocal nature of inspiration, creative (mis)understandings will result in socially relevant and innovative methodologies for creating and disseminating music with meaning. The methods applied in the proposed project will start out from ethnographic evidence that people living in non-western or traditional societies often use methods of knowledge production within the sonic domain which are commonly unaddressed or even unknown among western contemporary music composers (aside from exotist or orientalistic appropriations of “the other”). The project is designed in four stages: field research and interaction with indigenous communities in Taiwan with a focus on the Tao people on Lanyu Island, collaborative workshops in Vienna, an artistic research and training phase with invited indigenous Taiwanese coaches in Vienna, and feeding back to the field in Taiwan. During all these stages, exchange and coordination between composers, music makers, scholars and source community experts will be essential in order to reflect not only on the creative process, but also to analyse and support strong interaction between creation and society. Re-interaction with source communities as well as audience participation in the widest sense will help to increase the social relevance of the artistic results. The University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (MDW) will host the project. The contributors are Johannes Kretz (project leader) and Wei-Ya Lin (project co-leader, senior investigator) with their team of seven composers, ten artistic research partners from Taiwan and six artistic and academic consultants with extensive experience in the relevant fields.

back to Wolfgang's and Chiao Hua's island

Detailled Information to the Movie

1. Geographic information and visual impressions of the island of LANYU

2. People and rites

• Preparations for the house launching ritual

• The Tao private

Field research (Liebhart/Chang), Presbyterian Church, Iraraley Participation in the service. The newly built church in Irarley Village can accommodate over 150 people. This time 30 believers took part in the Mass. There was no priest, just a lay preacher who bilingual (Chinese/Tao) worship. Everything, sermon, prayers, songs were played in both languages.

3. Music education work with children and adolescents (selection)

Workshop series 1 to 3 - Elementary School (August 14 - 16)

Liebhart - introductory and communication games with music and rhythm

1. Talking and listening: The participating 6 girls and 3 boys aged between 4 and 8 years

learn through simple gestures when to speak or listen.

2. Name game: Whoever gets the ball gives his name and throws the ball to the next a.s.o.

3. The body as an instrument: Creating timbres and rhythms with different parts of the body.

At the beginning, all kids are still very cautious and reserved. During the course of this unit

however, the situation relaxes and the trust of the kids gained more and more.

P. Guo - movement games

1. Imitate animals: represent your favourite animal (with piano accompaniment)

2. Imitate body movements: 1 kid shows something, the others imitate

3. Calming game with piano accompaniment: Kids lie on the floor, Liebhart improvises

sounds on/in the piano. After that, kids are interested in how sounds can be created in the piano.

Lin - performance/improvisation

1. Kids should represent themselves with body language/sounds.

2. Some kids represent something, the others can freely invent a story.

3. Playing the rhythm with your own name or body-generated sounds (clapping,

stamp etc.). Note: This game turned out as the least implemented by these kids. This may be due to the age of the kids or their decreasing concentration.

Kretz - Sound Painting (body language with music)

A slightly modified group of 7 girls is trying to implement musical tasks out of the conductor’s signs. Note: This unit went very well. All kids accepted the technique of sound painting very positively.

Workshop series 4 to 7 - Junior High School (August 19 - 22)

P. Guo - Dance Videos, Movement Analysis, Body Movements

Through exercises such as imitating animals, body regions (extremities, neck, back and abdominal muscles) are individually trained. The body-movements should be tuned to the respective, mood-changing music.

Chang/Liebhart - introductory/name games, music & communication

At the beginning a simple naming game (remembering the name, changing places, certain order), then two more orders with different balls, ultimately all orders being combined.

Kretz - Basic knowledge of electronics

Effects such as loop, freeze, delay, reverb etc. are explained interactively and by the kids tried and applied creatively. Own small samples are created.

Gryllus - Introduction to “Sound Painting” (SP)

First the kids are introduced to the art of SP first and then interactively encouraged to act as a "sound painter" as soon as possible.

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