KARST DE JONG, presenter

ABOUT THE EVENT

CONNECTED IMPROVISATION – Sharing Stories Over Time and Distance

In our current practice, performing musicians are not often required to improvise. However, unlike the interpretation and performance of a composer’s idea, while improvising, one is telling his or her own story and communicates this to the audience. Think of it as real-time storytelling as opposed to reading from a book. Improvising together with others offers additional dimensions: the story becomes a conversation where communication between players is paramount. Considering the audience as additional participants creates an even more intriguing network: as active listeners they become part of the conversation, witnesses to the spontaneous interaction of the performers. This presentation will focus on a particularly modern challenge – where performers are connected over great distances via modern technologies. An audience is present on both sides. The philosophical question of ‘what is the present’ becomes apparent: our present is different from theirs. How do we manage the time delays and find creative ways of engaging everyone in the stories?

The Royal Conservatoire of The Hague and the YST Conservatory in Singapore share a history of experimentation through “connected improvisation”. Initially, these experiments began as a project within the New Audiences and Innovative Practices (NAIP) program, with 5 Conservatories connected simultaneously engaged with creative online improvisation. In 2018, we connected two groups of students in a shared module, resulting in a final online concert. In this presentation we would like to share some of the history of the connected improvisation projects, as well as realize a live online connection with The Hague, where a number of players of the European Chamber Music Academy (ECMA) will be present to play with students of from YST. During this exciting session, members of the audience will be able to observe and participate in the intricacies of the connected improvisation environment.

This performance is presented as part of Performers(‘) Present 2019: Telling Stories.

ABOUT THE SYMPOSIUM

Narratives – whether historical, political, or musical; whether fact or fiction – are inextricably bound to the ways we experience the world, and the art that translates these experiences.

In the decade since we began hosting the triennial Performers(‘) Present symposium, artistic research has been undergoing rapid and ground-shifting transformations, with the performer’s voice becoming ever more present. As with our previous symposia, Telling Stories seeks to address and evolve the kaleidoscopic issues facing 21st-century performers, as they reflect on their practice in the context of significant shifts in politics, communications and technology, and performance practice. 

Come join us and the artistic research community at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music from 23 – 26 October 2019, as we reflect on the power of music narratives and celebrate their narrators in Performers(‘) Present 2019: Telling Stories.

TICKETING INFORMATION

• Free admission.
• All event information is correct at time of print.
• Out of respect for other concertgoers, no children under 6 years of age will be allowed admission.