CMtNWT - Improvisation Ensemble
This programme is called Contemporary Improvisation through Non-western Techniques (CItNWT) within the jazz department. The course is addressed at performers who want to attain a broader view of rhythmical and structural fields. The rhythmical concepts of polyrhythm, polypulse and irregular groupings used in South India, provide a very flexible method with which the student can experiment, without trying to copy Karnatic music. All the topics are re-structured to enable the student to work only
CMtNWT - Reading Ensemble
This approach addresses the problems that may arise in many contemporary music pieces by, for example, Xenakis, Boulez, Elliot Carter, Ferneyhough, Ligeti as well as more recent composers. The main goal is to provide rhythmic information that will help the student to achieve a higher degree of accuracy and confidence. South Indian classical music not only makes use of one of the most complex rhythmical systems but, in addition, has very clear and practical teaching and exercise methods.
Composers
This programme revolves around microtonal concepts and rhythmical complexities derived from the theory of South Indian classical music (Karnatic music) in order to use them within a western contemporary context. The final goal for the student is to achieve a higher degree of understanding of these concepts and its subsequent utilisation in today's music and never to merely copy the Karnatic tradition.
Combining the following Karnatic concepts with western concepts of orchestration, counterpoi
The programme Contemporary Music Through Non-western Techniques is intended for students from both classical and jazz departments, and structured for Performers and Composers.
For Performers this programme is directed at performers of all instruments (western and non-western), and organised in an ensemble situation. It consists of two different approaches: the Reading and the Improvisation ensembles.
In both cases, the number of students in an ensemble will be between 4 and 7 and will meet for the entire academic year. The duration of the total programme is one to four years. Every year the student will decide whether he/she will continue into the next.
For Composers, this programme revolves around concepts and techniques derived from the theory of South Indian classical (Karnatic) music in order to use them within a western contemporary context. The final goal for the student is to achieve a higher degree of understanding of these concepts and its subsequent utilisation in today's music and never to merely copy the Karnatic tradition. Combining the following Karnatic concepts with western concepts of orchestration, counterpoint and polyphony is a must within the programme.
photo by Elisabeth Melchior