-Geen Nederlandse vertaling beschikbaar-
Thursday 21 & Friday 22 November 2024
10:00-17:00 with lunch break
KCB, Kleine Zavel 5, room 140
No registration needed for audience
Active participants (KCB students only) need to register via matthias.heyman@ehb.be
The classical composer Olivier Messiaen (1908–92) heard in colors. With his synesthetic ear, he devised an ingenious system of modes of “limited transposition” and their polymodal combinations, which he used to compose his melodies and harmonies. Messiaen’s ideas have fascinated jazz performers for some time, but Bo van der Werf was the first to conduct a systematic study on how they could translate organically into jazz practice.
Being an improvising musician, his research is based on real-life situations. He developed practice-based methods for applying Messiaen’s ideas and materials in a jazz context. They are accessible to all experienced improvising musicians interested in enriching their vocabulary. Last year, van der Werf presented his “Messiaenic” methods during the Jazz Research Day. This year it is time to put theory into practice.
During this two-day workshop, van der Werf will briefly present the core concepts of his research, after which he will explore them together with students on their instruments. Polymodality, disjoint subsets, axis systems, closed and open circuits, relations to the tonal system…: these terms might sound arcane now, but van der Werf will make them concrete. From theory to practice, in real-life situations. Join us and don’t forget to bring your instrument (backline will be provided)!
P.S.: Can’t wait to learn all about van der Werf’s research? Visit his website.
Baritone saxophonist and composer Bo van der Werf is a well-established figure on the Belgian jazz scene. He is a founding member of OCTURN and was the baritone saxophonist of the Brussels Jazz Orchestra for almost three decades. He is also active in bands such as Lidlboj and composes for films, dance performances, and contemporary classical ensembles. Bo is a lecturer of music theory and analysis at the Royal Antwerp Conservatoire and has successfully defended his PhD project on applying Messiaen’s musical systems in jazz last year at LUCA School of Arts – Leuven.