The ULYSSES Network supports young composers with co-commissions.
In this framework,  three partners within the Ulysses Network: IEMA (International Ensemble Modern Akademie), impuls (Verein zur Vermittlung zeitgenössischer Musik) and Gaudeamus decided to co-commission English composer Alex Paxton to create a new piece for the IEMA Ensemble. Paxton, nominated for the Gaudeamus Award 2022 and recent winner of the prestigious Ernst von Siemens Composers Prize, wrote a new work for the IEMA Ensemble: Scrunchy Touch Sweetly to Fall.

The first part of the project takes place in Frankfurt in April at IEMA, and is about “try-out” and “input” under the guidance of the experienced members of Ensemble Modern. Following the first period in April, the second step includes further rehearsals of the newly written pieces and finally three public concerts, including:

#1 World premieres of pieces written for the IEMA Ensemble at impuls Academy and impuls Festival in Graz (AT) on 27. July 2023, and participation in the academy’s activities (more info here)

Programme at impuls:

Zara Ali Isolation Forest (2023, world premiere)

Maria Vincenza Cabizza Deadline: 2028 (2023, world premiere)

Adrian Mocanu Kiovia: esplorazioni delle tenebre (2023, world premiere)

Alex Paxton Scrunchy Touch Sweetly to Fall (kite and finger fun) (2023, world premiere)

#2 Two performances on Sept. 8 at Gaudeamus in Utrecht (NL) and participation in other  activities offered by the Gaudeamus Festival.

Programme at Gaudeamus:

Artun Çekem  This Person Does Not Exist

Adrian Mocanu   Kiovia: esplorazioni delle tenebre

Alex Paxton   Scrunchy Touch Sweetly to Fall (Kite n Finger run)

#3 A third performance in Frankfurt/Main (DE) at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Frankfurt (HfMDK) on September 19.

IEMA-Ensemble 2022/23
Phoebe Bognár flute | Jeanne Degos oboe | Drew Gilchrist clarinet | Tobias Krieger trumpet | Michael Martinez trombone | Ying-Chen Chuang percussion | Jaroslav Novosyolov piano | Miria Sailer violin | Miho Kawai viola | Clara Franz violoncello | Riverton Vilela Alves double bass

Tim Abramczik sound director

Xizi Wang conductor

Alex Paxton