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ShareMusic& Performing Arts was recently in Glasgow to take part in the international festival Nordic Music Days, where our ensemble Elefantöra performed and offered a unique musical performance. Nordic Music Days is a respected platform for contemporary music, bringing together musicians and composers from across the Nordic region and Scotland. It is one of the world's oldest festivals of contemporary Nordic music and sound and was founded in 1888 by the Nordic Composers' Council (NCRC).
This year the festival focused on cultural and societal connections between the regions,and as part of the festival's programme of concerts and seminars, ShareMusic participated both on stage and in conference talks on the future of accessible music making.
Elefantöra's concert was held in the New Auditorium at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, an impressive venue perfectly suited to the diverse repertoire. Elefantöra performed innovative pieces that explore the aesthetics of sound in digital environments, drawing on experiences from the pandemic, when much of our communication took place via Zoom. The works are created by composers Rosanna Gunnarson and Jesper Nordin and Finnish folk musician Osmo Hakosalo. The work by Osmo Hakosalo combined electronic elements with traditional Finnish kantele playing, giving the audience an experience of Nordic folk music in a new, contemporary context. The concert was made even more memorable when artist Jenny Soep live-cartooned Elefantöra during their performance, creating abeautiful portrait of the ensemble.
In conjunction with the festival, the Nordic Music Days Conference was held, which focuses on the future of music making and accessibility issues in arts and culture. Here, ShareMusic's artistic director Sophia Alexandersson participated in a workshop on accessible composition and co-creation. This workshop brought together composers from different backgrounds to explore methods and strategies for inclusive music making.
Sophia and MuseIT partners John Turner and Ruaraidh Osborne from X-systems also presented a paper describing our work on the project, the progress we have made, and the techniques and methods we use for the Remote Performance Platform - a digital platform for accessible remote music making. Participants also experienced how John's brainwaves generated music using EEG technology, converting his brain activity into sound.
Sophia reflects on Nordic Music Days and the conference as a platform for unique insights and fruitful collaborations:
- It was really inspiring to participate in so many parts of the festival and meet people from so many different places. It was great to listen to new music and gain insight into interesting projects! The fact that Elefantöra also had the opportunity to play for a new audience and make valuable contacts for the future felt both fun and rewarding.
One of the highlights of our time in Glasgow was attending a concert with Drake Music Scotland, where they performed seven pieces composed by different Nordic composers. We got an inspiring insight into how they use electronic and digital instruments on stage, and how these techniques enable musicians with different abilities.
After the concert, we also had the opportunity to meet the musicians and exchange experiences and ideas.
In summary, it was a fantastic experience to participate in Nordic Music Days, which offered countless creative encounters and exciting insights.
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