Wroclaw, May 20, 2016 – Partendo (2015) for countertenor and ensemble by Swiss composer Oscar BIANCHI (born 1975) and Langedes ülespoole, taeva kaarjasse kaussi (falling up into the bowl of sky), by young Estonian composer Maria Kõrvits (born 1987) are the works selected by radio music producers participating in the 63rd International Rostrum of Composers (IRC) held in Wroclaw, from May 16 to 21, 2016. A flagship programme of the International Music Council, the IRC took place for the first time in its history in Poland, co-organised by Polish Radio and the National Forum on Music.
Pursuing its mission to promote contemporary music creation through broadcasting for over sixty years, the annual Rostrum has this year again strengthened its role as one of the most important “rendez-vous” for professional exchange between radio producers. Its overall objective remains fostering the exchange of performances of contemporary music between broadcasting organisations. For example, works chosen at the preceding Rostrum (2015) were given some 700 broadcasts by participating networks as well as affiliates of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
Since 2015 the IRC is part of a larger project co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union: Rostrum+ which aims to rethink the ways in which contemporary music connects with audiences through radio network by exploring new strategies to develop audiences, promote new music, enhance the skills of radio professionals and inspire cooperation between musicians, higher music education institutions and broadcasting companies throughout Europe and beyond.
The Rostrum opened its doors to the general public with some new activities such as IRCSound, a listening session installed in the lobby of the National Forum on Music where inhabitants of Wroclaw and visitors of the National Forum on Music were invited to discover Rostrum works. Interested persons could also attend the IRCLab, which saw Polish composer Jagoda Szmytka discussing with Polish Radio presenters about “The Voice(s) of Polish Radio”. Moreover, students from the Wroclaw Academy of Music attended the listening sessions and exchanged with delegates about the music presented.
The 2016 Rostrum gathered representatives from 27 national radio networks from four continents, which presented 55 works composed within the five years preceding the Rostrum. 15 of these works were by composers under the age of 30. Evert van Berkel, recording producer for P2 live at the Swedish Radio, chaired the sessions. After the listening sessions, the assembly of delegates selected and recommended the most distinctive works in two categories: general and “young composers under 30”. These and other works will be presented in concerts and broadcast after the Rostrum by the participating and other interested radio stations.
In the general category, Partendo (2015) for countertenor and ensemble by Swiss composer Oscar BIANCHI (born 1975) was selected by the delegates as most outstanding. The work was presented by Swiss Radio (RTS).
Vitality, pulsing rhythms, and virtuosity are the hallmarks of the music created by Bianchi, who reveals a sensible interest in new phrasings and new ornamentations, something to be expected from someone whose ears are finely attuned to the music from all corners of the globe. The central topic of this work is ‘leaving’ (‘’partendo’’ is the Italian word for ‘leaving’ ). How do we leave existing physical and intellectual places, and relatedly how can we part formerly embraced personal and historical identities? How do we select what we want, need, and wish to bring along with us and what we should, must leave behind us? What is relevant for our future as individuals and as collective groups to be brought, preserved and defended? What is actually the scale of values that we are unknowingly developing thanks to the act of ‘leaving’, ‘parting ways’?
In the “young composers” category, the work selected as most worthy for worldwide broadcasting was Langedes ülespoole, taeva kaarjasse kaussi (falling up into the bowl of sky) for symphony orchestra (2016) by young Estonian composer Maria Kõrvits (born 1987). The composition was commissioned by the 2016 Estonian Music Days Festival. Focusing on the new works by Estonian composers, the annual event’s central theme this time was “Green Sound?”. For Maria Kõrvits, the aforementioned subject expresses itself in the perpetual cycle of germination and decay, accompanying us all throughout our lives. Most probably the same process goes on inside of us – what becomes outdated, decays, and out of the decay fresh sprouts emerge. It’s important to pay attention to this process and not to forget that everything is in a constant state of change and renewal. “Falling up into the bowl of sky” is first and foremost associated with a process of disintegration, with certain fragility, with new growths springing from decay.
In addition to the selected works, 13 other works (see list further) were recommended for broadcasting and concert presentation after the Rostrum by the participating and other interested radio stations.
The results of this year’s Rostrum were announced at a press conference held at the National Forum of Music on May 20. Oscar Bianchi will receive a joint commission from Radio France and IMC while Maria Kõrvits will benefit from a special Rostrum+ commission and residence programme in Sweden offered by IMC and Swedish Radio.
Thanks to the synergy with the European Forum on Music organized by the European Music Council, Rostrum delegates joined music professionals from European music networks and organisations to share knowledge, views and experiences on various aspects of the Forum theme “Musical Homelands: New Territories”. The Forum programme included an interview with Polish composers Andrzej Kwieciński (selected young composer in 2014) and Jagoda Szmytka.
During their stay in Wroclaw, Rostrum delegates had also the possibility to enjoy programme parts of the Music Electronica Nova festival and in particular the performance of the Ensemble Intercontemporain, which performed a work by Agata Zubel, selected composer of the 2013 IRC.
The International Music Council (IMC) is the world’s leading membership-based professional organisation dedicated to the promotion of the value of music in the lives of all peoples. IMC’s mission is to be the voice of music, to develop sustainable music sectors worldwide, to create awareness about the value of music, to make music matter in all social fabric, and to uphold basic music rights in all countries.
IMC’s network is present in 150 countries on all continents, with national music councils and international, regional and national music organisations as well as specialised organisations in the field of arts and culture. IMC members of honour are chosen among the world’s outstanding professionals, educators, performers and composers. Through its members, IMC has direct access to over 1000 organisations and 200 million persons eager to develop and share knowledge and experience on diverse aspects of musical life.
GENERAL CATEGORY
SELECTED WORK Oscar BIANCHI (Switzerland) Partendo
RECOMMENDED WORKS
| Ülo Krigul | Estonia | „Vesi ise“ („Water is“) |
| Anabella Enrique | Argentina | Cuando la luna descendia a la terra |
| Peter Kerkelov | Bulgaria | Time études |
| Svetlana Maraš | Serbia | Dirty Thoughts |
| Petr Cígler | Czech Republic | Daily Patterns |
| Sebastian Rivas | France | Esodo Infinito |
| Pasquale Corrado | France | Autoritratto con Quartetto |
| Therese Birkelund Ulvo | Norway | Shadows and Shields, for clarinet and orchestra |
| MariaKõrvits | Estonia | „langedes ülespoole, taeva kaarjasse kaussi“ („falling up into the bowl of sky“) |
| Cristian Marina | Sweden | Four on Five |
| Juan Pablo Nicoletti | Argentina | Qhapaqkunap |
COMPOSERS UNDER 30 CATEGORY
SELECTED WORK
Maria Kõrvits (Estonia) Langedes ülespoole, taeva kaarjasse kaussi („falling up into the bowl of sky“)
RECOMMENDED WORKS
| Guadarrama Ramírez José Andrés | Mexico | Yugen |
| Supponen Lauri | Finland | Ti-ti-uuu |