The selected Polish artists will be able to work for more than eighteen months on creations inspired by Dick Higgins’ intermedia theory within the special edition of the Embedded workshops. The famous artist wrote in Statement on Intermedia (1966):
A composer is a dead man unless he composes for all media and for his world.
‘Intermedia’ is an interdisciplinary act of artistic collaboration; the selected artists will have the freedom to blur boundaries between text, sound and visual material by creating new music for violin, bass/alto flute, violoncello and keyboard with the additional use of simple auxiliary instruments, gadgets, toys and synthesisers.
Embedded is a programme defined by creative and professional artistic development of contemporary composers run by Sound and Music. It provides artists with long-term collaboration with various artists and leading British cultural institutions. The programme is financed by The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. The deadline for sending applications for the special edition of the programme is 5th March, 2016 (Friday) at 12:00 (GMT). One can find more precise information on the Sound and Music webpage.
Apartment House was created by the cellist Anton Lukoszevieze in1995. Under his direction it has become a venerable exponent of avant-garde and experimental music from around the World. Disregarding style, fashion and hip things, and forging nowhere with a Zeitgeistian zeal, Apartment House’s performances have included many UK and World premieres of music by a wide variety of composers. The Apartment House group is of a flexible instrumentation, allowing for a vast range of performance possibilities.
They are a regular feature on the European music scene and have even ventured as far as the USA, Russia and Australia. Their recordings and videos have been released onLMIC (George Maciunas Musical Scoring Systems), Another Timbre (Laurence Crane Chamber Works, James Saunders Assigned #15, Joseph Kudirka Beauty and Industry), Mere Records (Jennifer Walshe’s XXX Live_Nude_Girls!!!,) Cold Blue Music (Peter Garland String Quartets), Matchless Recordings (Cornelius Cardew Chamber Music). In 2012 they received the Royal Philharmonic Award for Outstanding Contribution to Chamber Music and Song. Their double album of music by Laurence Crane has received critical acclaim – described as “compellingly beautiful” by The Guardian. 2015-16 is the 20th year of Apartment House.
The Apartment House’s flexibility enables the band to create freely on a wide scope of activity. The band has also made many radio broadcasts for BBC Radio 3, Danish Radio, Swedish Radio 2, WDR Cologne, ORTF Austria, Radio France, Russia One, and Deutschlandfunk Berlin. Julia Haferkorn from Apartment House said:
Apartment House are very excited at the prospect of working with new Polish composers in collaboration with the excellent Sound and Music organisation. Apartment House's goal has always been to search out the new and Poland's cultural scene is a vibrant and developing area of new musical adventures.
Sound and Music is a British organization that takes care of new music. The institution is involved in supporting artists and composers’ artistic development, cooperation with cultural institutions, organization of music events and concerts, audience development, networking and educational activity. Sound and Music specializes in promoting composers and British artists by providing them with constant presence in the circle of international cultural occurrences. Ewa Bogusz-Moore from the Adam Mickiewicz Institute explained:
The Polska Music programme is about composers and creating a platform for their development and recognition. We are thrilled to join Sound and Music in launching the Polish edition of Embedded to introduce Polish artists to an international audience.
Polska Music actively supports performances of Polish classical and contemporary music by the leading international artists. As an originator of numerous stage productions and commissioner of new works and contemporary music, Polska Music supports many prestigious music events, festivals, and book publishers. The Polska Music programme was established in 2011 on the initiative of Adam Mickiewicz Institute, a national cultural institution meant to promote Polish culture abroad and active participation in the international cultural cooperation.
More information:
Author: Filip Lech, February 2016, translated by: Antoni Wiśniewski, February 2016