<\/p>\n
Department of Contemporary Music Interpretation was formed in 1990 by Professor Adam Kaczy\u0144ski. At that time, it was the first Department at all music academies in Poland that focused on the performance of contemporary music. Since its inception, it has been supported artistically and in other aspects by Poland’s first professional ensemble performing contemporary and avant-garde music – Ensemble MW2. The ensemble has participated in over 80 festivals in Europe, Asia and South Korea. It has presented the first performances of musical works by major contemporary composers from all over the world, and performed compositions by Polish artists, such as B. Sch\u00e4ffer, K. Moszuma\u0144ska-Nazar, E. Bogus\u0142awski, A. Walaci\u0144ski, K. Meyer, H. M. G\u00f3recki, M. Stachowski, K. Knittel and many composers of the younger generation.<\/p>\n
The teaching programme of the Department’s staff includes a course on contemporary music performance practice for students of the Instrumental Faculty. The contemporary music curriculum in the form of practical classes covers all major trends in the 20th and 21st century music, solo works, chamber music, as well as larger instrumental and vocal ensembles with a conductor. Contemporary musical notation, including graphic notation, new sound explorations, preparation of instruments, ideas on the borderline between music, instrumental theatre and happening are only some of the elements of contemporary performance workshop that is part of the classes.<\/p>\n
At the end of both semesters, all students attending the Department’s classes have to take public examinations in the form of concerts.<\/p>\n
The Department’s activities have given rise to the artistic careers of many acclaimed ensembles. They include Kroke, Motion Trio, Ara Ensemble and Krakow Percussion Duet.<\/p>\n
In addition to the teaching process, the Department carries out wide-ranging concert and academic activities relating to the music composition techniques and the performance of contemporary and percussion music. In the years 1993-2002, \u201cWrite & Play\u201d international music festivals were held, devoted to the contemporary music of various countries, such as Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the USA and many others. The teaching and research efforts have also resulted in CD recordings for a major label promoting contemporary music,\u00a0Vienna Modern Masters<\/em>. The records include compositions by D. Cope, T. Br\u00e4m, R. Haubenstock-Ramati, B. Lorentzen and A. Kaczy\u0144ski.<\/p>\n Since Professor Jan Pilch took over as head, the Department has also participated in the organisation of the International Percussion Festival \u201cSources and Inspirations\u201d and has been the initiator of cyclical projects, such as \u201cJazz at the Academy\u201d, Composition and Performance Workshops, master classes and seminars conducted by foreign lecturers (USA, Germany, Indonesia, UK, Italy, Spain). A project entitled \u201cMusical Coexistence\u201d – an international scientific session combined with workshops and concerts which took place in February 2010 – met with great interest from the listeners and participants, as well as with favourable reviews and opinions of the music community.<\/p>\n Between 2012 and 2014, the Department led an international project called ASTAPER in collaboration with the music academies of Valencia, Freiburg and Padua as well as the Higher School of Theatre and the Academy of Physical Education. The subject of the project was:\u00a0The fundamentals of anthropomotorics and stage presence techniques in percussion performance<\/em>. More than 10 concerts were given in the course of ASTAPER, and the entire project was documented in a publication containing the lectures as well as DVD recordings of concerts and workshops.<\/p>\n In the long history of the Department, lectures and master classes have been given, among others, by:<\/p>\n <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\n