YOUNG ENSEMBLES: DECODER – IMPULS
The ULYSSES Network supports several emerging European ensembles, programming concerts where a new repertoire is promoted, thanks to commissions and reruns. Founded in 2011 in Hamburg, Decoder Ensemble is one of the most innovative and unpredictable representatives of the international new music scene. For Decoder, cross-genre collaborations are as much part of its profile as pursuing a broad musical spectrum ranging from experimental instrumental music and multimedia set-ups to performance and conceptual art. The musicians of the ensemble are proven specialists in the field of contemporary music, and the majority also work as composers. Thus, instead of the usual separation of production and interpretation, fluid exchanges is their first priority.
In 2023, impuls hosts Decoder as ULYSSES Young Ensemble in Residence at its Academy and Festival. Decoder coaches young composers, sound and multimedia artists, actors, dancers, instrument designers and instrumentalists selected from a Call for Projects and leading to a final Workshop-Concert on July 30th.
Additionally, Decoder members Leopold Hurt (e-zither, conducting and composition) and Jonathan Shapiro (percussion) lead workshops that focus on their instruments.
Decoder Ensemble. Photo: Richard Stöhr/Lorin Strohm
Carola Schaal clarinet | Jonathan Shapiro percussion | Andrej Koroliov piano, keyboards | Leopold Hurt (e-)zither | Sonja Lena Schmid cello | Alexander Schubert preparation of sound design | Stefan Troschka (as guest) sound design
Date and venue: 30 July 2023, MUMUTH, Lichtenfelsgasse 14, 8010 Graz
Programme:
Severin Dornier (*1993) flux (2023, world premiere)
Julia Constance Wiger-Nordås (*2001) Torn (2023, world premiere)
Liepa Vozgirdaitė (*2001) cOUnTdOwNs (2023, world premiere)
Leopold Hurt (*1979) selections from: Dissociated Press, for ensemble and playback (2017-2021, Austrian premiere)
DP – Input 3, for percussion
DP – Input 1, for clarinet
DP – Input 2, for cello
DP – Output 2, for clarinet and cello
DP – Substitute 1, for e-zither
DP – Input 4, for piano
DP – Final, for ensemble
The three works by Dornier, Wiger-Nordås and Vozgirdaitė are the results of a Call for Scores as well as workshops and rehearsals for the participating composers with the Decoder Ensemble at the impuls Academy Graz. Leopold Hurt’s “The Dissociated Press Cycle” began in 2017 as a work-in-progress. The instrumentation of the compositions ranges from solo pieces with electronics to septet – specially conceived for the characteristic line-up of the Decoder Ensemble.
Workshop: Drum set in Contemporary Music for composers and percussionists with Jonathan Shapiro
Date and venue: 28.7.2023, MUMUTH, Lichtenfelsgasse 14, 8010 Graz
In his workshop Jonathan Shapiro, percussionist of the Decoder Ensemble, gives an insight into the history of the drum set and its use in contemporary music. Not only topics such as the exploration of extended playing techniques and sounds or the expansion with additional instruments, objects and electronics are addressed, but also the discourse on current directions in contemporary music using the drum set. In addition, Jonathan Shapiro presents excerpts of pieces on the drum set. Participants are also invited to perform pieces for drum set themselves or to bring along corresponding compositions.
Workshop: E-Zither for composers and instrumentalists with Leopold Hurt
Date and venue: 28.7.2023, MUMUTH, Lichtenfelsgasse 14, 8010 Graz
Leopold Hurt, composer as well as member of the Decoder Ensemble as conductor and with electric zither, introduces participants to the e-zither instrument in this workshop. He also gives numerous practical tips on setups, notation, traditional and advanced playing techniques.
Read more about the Special Programmes at impuls here.