Improvisation symposium highlights work from
Post-vernacular project
The CETL’s recently launched Post-vernacular Musics project began to disseminate its work at the end of December 2007, through a symposium entitled ‘Improvisation: Tradition and Innovation’ held 12–14 December. This formed part of an ongoing series of explorations entitled ‘Music and Machines’, developed in conjunction with Newcastle University’s Culture Lab.
True to the CETL’s inclusivist mission, the symposium, drew together exponents across a range of musical genres and other art forms. Participants shared perspectives from jazz, Indian classical music, church organ playing, dance, movement, and contemporary free improvisation. The topic was explored in practice and in theory through a series of formal and informal presentations, workshops and performances.
Key among the contributors were a number of postgraduate students who are rapidly expanding our understanding of practice-based research, and whose engagement in the event marked an important part of their professional development. Presentations were also given by staff from Newcastle University and national and international visitors.
Participant Will Edmondes said: ‘I learned so much… All the sessions and all the performances were highly stimulating and engaging and it was a real privilege to be associated with it. Two real highlights for me were the Hindustani gig and My Little Pop Group’s 3-parter that closed the week out – all the week's talk converting into utterly convincing practice before our eyes and ears!’
The event was organised by Bennett Hogg, who leads the PVM project, and David Clarke, Director of CETL; a large part of the event management was undertaken by Music postgraduate Merrie Snell. Another postgrad. student, Mark Self, documented the entire symposium on video, and added this to his expanding library of music films accessible on the website MusicFimBroth. To see events from the symposium go to http://musicfilmbroth.com/shows.html, click on ‘Shows’, ‘Seminars’ and ‘Workshops’, and then on events labelled ‘Music and Machines’.
