ULYSSES

Inspired by the journeys of classical musicians who travelled throughout Europe for the purpose of training and developing their practice, the ULYSSES network brings together eleven European institutions for the promotion and professionalization of young composers.

Collaboratory Paris

Gerald Preinfalk, saxophone, Robert Lepenik, electric guitar, Dimitrios Polisoidis, viola, Dieb13, electronic music
Pedagogical Advisor: Bernhard Lang,composer

„Writing on the Walls „
How to Expect the Unexpected: on Improvising, transcribing and score-writing

The lectures/workshops focus on reflecting the history and development of improvisation between the 90ties and the early 2000s; moreover the focus will be on the relationship between written scores and improvised music, and on projects, which tried to combine both;

  • 1 Improvising in the '90s: Free Rock, Coltrane, electronics
  • 2 Improvising in the 2000s: Computer improvisations, laptop Music
  • 3 Improvising in Loops: Loop Aesthetics
  • 4 Improvising with Machines: Loop generators
  • 5 Improvisation with Texts: Existing scores as starting points and limits of improvisation
  • 6 Series VI GAMES: Game – based pieces as synthesis of improvisation and written composition.

Every morning, Bernhard Lang will present the subject of the day. Afternoons will be dedicated to improv sessions held in small groups (1-4 participants) by the participants, based on concepts and strategies studied. The session will be recorded and then analyzed together before continuing with reflections that will lead to more work on improvisation/rewriting.

The workshop will conclude with a concert open to the public during ManiFeste,

Applications

Applicants must:

  • be born after January 1, 1990
  • not have participated in 2 previous ManiFeste academy workshops
  • be able to speak and understand English

Call for applications closed
Personal response by email: Tuesday, March 1, 2022

Applicants must create an account (or use an existing account) on the ULYSSES platform, complete their profile, and click "Apply" from the "MANIFESTE-2022 Collaboratory Paris - Improvisation Workshop" call page and then:

  • provide personal information (last name, first name, age, nationality, addresses, legal ID, ID photo that can be used by ULYSSES partners for access badges)
  • write a short biography (800 characters maximum) that may be used by IRCAM for concert programs
  • present 2 or 3 recent works and/or improv sessions they composed or performed (video, mp3 audio, and/or pdf score)
  • for composers on computers: an example of electronic patches or other elements they have created (please use a permanent url that is not password protected to share these elements)
  • submit a letter of motivation (1 page maximum) explaining why they wish to attend the workshop

Conditions

Registration fees: 300€
Fees due: Tuesday, March 15, 2022
The Academy does not provide any scholarships, nor reimburse travel or accommodation fees. Accepted applicants must find their own lodging.

Applicants selected to participate, but who are not able to do the following, will be excluded from the workshop:

  • attend the preparatory session (video conference) in April 2022
  • pay their registration fees by March 15, 2022 

Apply

Accepted applicants who do not respect the framework proposed by the pedagogical team or who are absent during the workshop, even partially, will have their participation automatically cancelled without possibility of appeal and without reimbursement of their registration fees.

Registration fees will be refunded if the academy is cancelled due measures in connection with COVID-19 restrictions. However, disruptions in transportation, health recommendations and quarantine, or testing requirements will be the responsibility of the applicant, who is responsible for making arrangements to meet the COVID-19 requirements both in his or her home country and upon arrival in France.

With the support of the ULYSSES network, supported by the European Union's Creative Europe program.

ULYSSES Percussion Ensemble

The ULYSSES Ensemble and the ULYSSES network took a step forward in 2017, focusing their efforts on young performers - as always, in the field of today's music. Every year, a new ensemble of young musicians living in Europe is formed and travels to several academies and festivals in the ULYSSES network.

2022 marks the first time that the ULYSSES Ensemble will be an ensemble entirely dedicated to percussion, and will travel from June to September from the ManiFeste Academy to the Time of Music Festival to the Gaudeamus Festival ending with the Warsaw Autumn Festival.

The ULYSSES Ensemble will be made up of 5 percussionists, accompanied by a percussionist from the Percussions de Strasbourg who will lead and guide the young performers throughout their journey.

Musicians MUST be present from Thursday, June 9 to Sunday, June 26, 2022, Tuesday, July 5 to Saturday, July 9, 2022, Wednesday, September 7 to Sunday, September 11 and Monday, September 19 to Thursday, September 22, 2022. Dates include traveling, rehearsals, concerts and travels back. No late arrivals or early departures, or absences during any of the required periods, or the musician's participation will be cancelled.

English fluency is required.

The "Stops"

Stop 1 – Percussions de Strasbourg
Thursday, June 9—Friday, June 17, 2022
Strasbourg (France)
Educational Advisors: Rémi Schwartz, Minh-Tâm Nguyen (Percussions de Strasbourg)

The young percussionists will be welcomed in Strasbourg, as part of the festival celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Percussions de Strasbourg. They will have the opportunity to attend performances of Iannis Xenakis' major works for an ensemble of percussions: Persephassa and Pléiades. They will then rehearse together the different pieces for their tour. They will work closely with the musicians from the Percussions de Strasbourg, more particularly with Rémi Schwartz, who will conduct them and accompany them throughout the different stops. They will work closely with young composers Mioko Yokoyama and James Alexandropoulos-McEwan, who have written two pieces especially for them, commissioned by members of the ULYSSES network. Program:

  • James Alexandropoulos-McEwan James new work for 6 percussionists and electronics (2022), 10 min, commissioned by Time of Music, Gaudeamus Festival, Warsaw Autumn Festival
  • Malika Kishino Sange (2016), 15 min
  • Per Nørgård Square and Round (1985), 10 min
  • Kazimierz Serocki Continuum (1965-1966), 12 min
  • Iannis Xenakis Métaux 14 min & Peaux 8 min, excerpts from Pléiades (1978-1979)
  • Mioko Yokoyama new work for 6 percussionists (2022), 15 min, commissioned by Time of Music, Gaudeamus Festival, Warsaw Autumn Festival

Stop 2 – ManiFeste-2022 Festival, The Academy
Monday, June 20—Sunday, June 26, 2022
Concert: Saturday, June 25, 2022
Paris (France)

  • Malika Kishino Sange (2016), 15 min
  • Iannis Xenakis Métaux 14 min & Peaux 8 min, excerpts from Pléiades (1978-1979)
  • Mioko Yokoyama new work for 6 percussionists (2022), 15 min, commissioned by Time of Music, Gaudeamus Festival, Warsaw Autumn Festival, World Premiere

Stop 3 –Time of Music Festival
Tuesday, July 5—Saturday, July 9, 2022
Concert: Friday, July 8, 2022
Viitasaari (Finland)

  • James Alexandropoulos-McEwan James new work for 6 percussionists and electronics (2022), 10 min, commissioned by Time of Music, Gaudeamus Festival, Warsaw Autumn Festival, World Premiere
  • Malika Kishino Sange (2016), 15 min
  • Per Nørgård Square and Round (1985), 10 min
  • Iannis Xenakis Métaux 14 min, excerpts from Pléiades (1978-1979)
  • Mioko Yokoyama new work for 6 percussionists (2022), 15 min, commissioned by Time of Music, Gaudeamus Festival, Warsaw Autumn Festival, Finnish Premiere

Stop 4 – Gaudeamus Festival
Wednesday, September 7—Sunday, September 11, 2022
Concert: Saturday, September 10, 2022
Utrecht (The Netherlands)

  • James Alexandropoulos-McEwan James new work for 6 percussionists and electronics (2022), 10 min, commissioned by Time of Music, Gaudeamus Festival, Warsaw Autumn Festival, Dutch Premiere
  • Per Nørgård Square and Round (1985), 10 min
  • Iannis Xenakis Métaux 14 min, excerpts from Pléiades (1978-1979)
  • Mioko Yokoyama new work for 6 percussionists (2022), 15 min, commissioned by Time of Music, Gaudeamus Festival, Warsaw Autumn Festival, Dutch Premiere

Stop 5 – Warsaw Autumn Festival
Monday, September 19—Thursday, September 22, 2022
Concert: Wednesday, September 21, 2022
Warsaw (Poland)

  • James Alexandropoulos-McEwan James new work for 6 percussionists and electronics (2022), 10 min, commissioned by Time of Music, Gaudeamus Festival, Warsaw Autumn Festival, Polish Premiere
  • Malika Kishino Sange (2016), 15 min
  • Kazimierz Serocki Continuum (1965-1966), 12 min
  • Mioko Yokoyama new work for 6 percussionists (2022), 15 min, commissioned by Time of Music, Gaudeamus Festival, Warsaw Autumn Festival, Polish Premiere
  • Iannis Xenakis Métaux 14 min & Peaux 8 min, excerpts from Pléiades (1978-1979)

Applications

Applicants must:

  • be born after January 1, 1990
  • reside in Europe (no travel outside Europe will be covered)
  • be able to speak and understand English

Call for applications closed
Personal response by email: Tuesday, March 1, 2022

Applicants must create an account (or use an existing account) on the ULYSSES platform, complete their profile, and click "Apply" from the "ULYSSES Percussion Ensemble 2022" call page and then:

  • provide personal information (last name, first name, age, nationality, addresses, legal ID, ID photo that can be used by ULYSSES partners for access badges)
  • write a short biography (800 characters maximum) IN ENGLISH that may be used by ULYSSES partners for concert programs, indicating at the beginning their full name, date of birth, and nationality
  • submit a CV IN ENGLISH with their full name, date of birth, nationality, contacts, and photo in the header
  • submit a list of the contemporary repertoire they have already performed (solo pieces, ensemble and orchestra pieces)
  • submit a letter of motivation IN ENGLISH explaining why they wish to join the ULYSSES Ensemble with their full name, date of birth, nationality, contacts, photo (pdf)
    • For the presentation:
      presentation: the applicant presents themselves briefly in English (mp4 video or YouTube link)
    • work#1, work#2, work#3: the applicant plays 3 works among those proposed in the imposed list (mp4 video or YouTube link)
    • work#4: the applicant plays a piece of their choice (mp4 video or YouTube link). If possible, please attach the score of the work (pdf)

List of required works

Candidates must present 3 of the works listed below:

  • work #1 Iannis Xenakis Rebonds B (1987-1988), 6 min, Salabert – Paris
  • work #2 Malika Kishino Monochromer Garten III (2011), 9 min, Edizioni Suivini Zerboni - Milano OR Per Nørgård I-Ching - 3rd Movement - "The Gentle, The Penetrating" (1982),  6 min, Wilhelm Hansen - Copenhagen
  • work #3 Pierre Jodlowski Time&Money - Part 1 - The Cube (2004), 4 min, (a table can be used as an instrument)

Conditions

Applicants selected to participate:

  • Must be available on all stops, i.e., Thursday, June 9 through Sunday, June 26, 2022, Tuesday, July 5 to Saturday, July 9, 2022, Wednesday, September 7 through Sunday, September 11, and Monday, September 19 through Thursday, September 22, 2022. Dates include traveling, rehearsals, concerts and travels back. No late arrivals or early departures, or absences during any of the required periods, or the musician's participation will be cancelled.
  • All travel (within Europe only), accommodation (single room in a hotel or apartment to be shared, depending on the stops), meals (restaurant, catering or payment of a per diem/stipend, depending on the stops) will be paid for.
  • Must be able to understand and express themselves in English.
  • Have no registration fee to pay.

With the support of the ULYSSES network, supported by the European Union's Creative Europe program. In coproduction with Percussions de Strasbourg, Time of Music, Gaudeamus Festival, Warsaw Autumn Festival.