Happy New Ear

For many musicians in the field of classical concerts, cross-media design tools in compositions or in the staging of concerts are still unfamiliar, while current composers already use digital media and XR techniques as a matter of course. This leads to increasingly problematic situations in the preparation and realisation of rehearsals and concerts, which can be avoided through good preparation, introduction and sensitive communication. The composers Prof Michael Beil and Prof Brigitta Muntendorf have therefore conceived a project that researches, develops and discusses this topic with various professional partner institutions, artists and students at the Cologne University of Music and Dance. Funding was successfully obtained from the Foundation for Innovation in University Teaching for a period of four semesters, which will enable composition commissions, more complex rehearsal processes and a publication, among other things.

In HELLERAU, eight students from the Beil and Muntendorf classes will develop compositions for the musicians of the Asasello Quartet that are designed for solo or ensemble constellations in combination with 3D audio techniques.