Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Many Languages, One Soul; Balkan Clarinet Summit

02/24/2015
Balkan Clarinet Summit brings together local and international clarinet masters to combine, contrast, and mix the fascinating variety of the balkan clarinet playing with the interpretive culture of both classical and jazz traditions.

The clarinet is the most popular instrument in South Eastern Europe besides the violin, yet numerous divergent performance techniques have emerged from area to area.

Goethe-Institut Athina director Wolfgang Pöhlmann had the original idea which was then picked up by the Goethe-HQ in Munich. Claudio Puntin and Steffen Schorn were brought on board as musical directors.  Claudio then went on a two month search for the right artists, seeking local masters who are rooted in tradition but are still flexible enough to work with colleagues from different musical heritages.

The next step was to compile the repertoire for the project. Every musician provided 2 to 4 traditional pieces of their own compositions. Steffen and Claudio then made the arrangements for this unusual acapella formation. Rehearsals proved tricky at first as finding ways to balance and complement the varied means and ways of adaptation was an art in and of itself! The project then came together beautifully over 3 concerts in September 2012 in Athina, Braśov and Thessaloniki. The outstanding feedback led the group to hit the road for more concerts in December, performing  in Sofia, Beograd, Novi Sad, Sarajevo, Zagreb, Ankara, istanbul, izmir and again in Athina.

read more: https://www.storyamp.com/dispatch/12116/9NBloqWFV_ud81-exbeu2A?storyamp_track=4769

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