OpenMusic: the creative process aided by computer

Project about computer aided composition and contemporary compositional techniques. Focus on software programmes OpenMusic and Max.

Conservatorium van Amsterdam & Nieuw Ensemble
November 2005 – May 2006
9 lectures, free admission

Curator lectures and workshops: Rozalie Hirs
Curator composition practicum: Joël Bons
Conductor: Lucas Vis

The use of advanced technology in contemporary composing is spreading fast internationally. However, conservatory education has hardly managed to catch up. In a unique project the Conservatory of Amsterdam and the Nieuw Ensemble will focus on this fascinating topic and bring the latest developments to the fore by presenting an in depth course on spectral music, analyses and OpenMusic.

The course will be combined with a composers’ practicum by the Nieuw Ensemble. The participating composition students will closely collaborate with the musicians of the Nieuw Ensemble while writing a work for its basic line up. All newly composed works will be premiered at the final concert, May 2006.

The project is designed by Rozalie Hirs and Joël Bons. Rozalie Hirs will present a series of lectures and workshops. Guest lectures will be given by the composers Tristan Murail and Marco Stroppa and two of the most renowned pedagogues of IRCAM (Paris): Mikhail Malt (OpenMusic) and Benjamin Thigpen (Max/Msp and Spat).

The 9 lectures are designed for composers, musicians and everyone else interested. The entire project runs from November 2005 through May 2006 and is globally divided into two blocks. Block I has a predominantly theoretical character and is devoted to gaining insight in the subject matter and programming methods. In block II the emphasis lies upon the employment of the acquired knowledge in practice, together with the musicians of the Nieuw Ensemble.

Lectures OpenMusic
03 Nov 05 lecture: general introduction to the course by Rozalie Hirs
10 Nov 05 lecture: introduction to OpenMusic
24 Nov 05 lecture: Audiosculpt/what is sound?
15 Dec 05 guest lecture: Mikhail Malt (Ircam), the creative process
12 Jan 06 lecture: timbre as harmony, harmony as timbre
19 Jan 06 lecture: the music of Tristan Murail
16 Feb 06 guest lecture: Marco Stroppa on sound synthesis and OMChroma
23 Mar 06 guest lecture: Benjamin Thigpen on Max/Msp
15 May 06 guest lecture: Tristan Murial about his music and compositional techniques

Location: Conservatory of Amsterdam, room tba, Time 17.00 Hrs
Van Baerlestraat 27 Amsterdam tel: 020 527 75 50
www.conservatoriumvanamsterdam.nl