UPCOMING: Belonging - Ensamble Studio 6 + Jonas Kocher
October 19-22, 2019 Subotica, Belgrade, Kragujevac
Contemporary Music Collective Studio6, in collaboration with Jonas Kocher (Switzerland), realized three concerts from 19-22 of October in Subotica, Belgrade and Kragujevac. The project,Belonging - Ensamble Studio 6 + Jonas Kocher, brought together musicians from Serbia and Switzerland, with the aim of exploring what it means to be a musician today in different cultural contexts, such as Switzerland and Serbia? Are they equal inhabitants in the global and digital world of today, or are they shaped by the specificities of different spaces? How do these spaces affect the development and creative work of musicians and their values, and what relationships within the arts and music can develop between these countries? The concert program presented two premieres: Serbian "All Your Worlds" by Sonja Mutic, and Switzerland's "Echoes and Perspectives" by Jonas Kocher. Each of them represents the voice of new music, in which the authors focus on aspects such as open form, improvisational tasks, silence and electro-acoustic musical aesthetics. In addition to Mutić and Koher, the ensemble will also perform Jurg Frey's “Fragile Balance”, as well as Ernő Király's “Actiones”, which this year marks the centenary of his birth. Apart from geographical origin, the issue of belonging was also touched by the fact that all composers on the program were active in different disciplines, media and diverse stylistic practices, not only in the field of written contemporary music. Where do these personalities belong, with their practices? Are they "just" composers, interdisciplinary artists, improvisers or "just" musicians? In fact, are all these divisions and categories relevant in today's global context? The program was performed by the musicians of the Studio6 ensemble: Bojana Pantović, violin, Nenad Marković, trumpet, Milana Zarić, harp, Vladimir Blagojević, accordion, Kaja Farszky, percussion, Svetlana Maraš, electronics, with the artistic direction of Jonas Kocher.
The concerts were financially supported by the Ministry of Culture and Information of Serbia, Pro Helvetia and the Nicati-de Luze Foundation.
Concerts:
October 19th at 8pm Kosztolányi Dezső Theater (Dez Kostolani), Subotica, as part of the 11th Jazziré Festival
October 20 at 8pm Balkan Cinema, Belgrade, within the exhibition STAYING HERE WITH YOU (curated by Esther Maria Jungo and Ksenija Samardžija), organized by the Saša Marčeta Foundation
October 22 at 8pm Hall of the First Gymnasium of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, organized by the Association Convivium Musicum
Program: Sonja Mutić: “All Your Worlds” Jonas Kocher: “Echoes and Perspectives” Jurg Frey: “Fragile Balance” Ernő Király: “Actiones”
Jonas Kocher Jonas Kocher is a Swiss sound artist and accordion player active on a large number of contemporary art-music-social platforms, with a focus on process work, volatile situations and musical improvisation. He collaborates on a number of international projects, with independent European musicians such as Axel Dörner, Jacques Demierre, Gaudenz Badrutt, Hans Koch, with Tomaž Grom, Radu Malfatti, Irena Tomažin, Kasper T. Toplitz, Christof Kurzmann, Michel Doneda and many others. As a sound artist, he has realized works that cover genres of musical theater, installation and concert pieces. As an accordion player and as a composer, he has performed at a number of contemporary festivals such as Météo Mulhouse in France, Music Unlimited in Austria, Cerkno Jazz Festival in Slovenia, Konfrontationen in Austria, Unerhört in Switzerland, Music Festival Bern, Goethe Institute Improv fest in Moscow, Biennale in Zagreb, Irtial Festival in Beirut, Sonic Circuits in Washington, Art Biennale in Greece, etc.
