Ensemble U:’s Co-Creation Workshop
What?
The idea behind the co-creation programme is to explore and develop a collaborative model in contemporary music creation, where the composer and the performers are “in the same boat” from the initial phase of the process all the way to the completion and premiere of the piece. Key emphasis is placed on getting to know one another, discussions, reflection and feedback, improvisation, and experimentation.
There will be three sessions over the course of the season. During the first session, initial ideas are introduced, discussed, reflected upon and improvised, and initial material and thoughts are gathered.
In the second session, composers are expected to present initial material. Diverse approaches to the score are encouraged: it can be traditionally notated, text-, graphic-, video- or action-based, or another type of score. Work continues with the generated material; the ensemble plays, feedback is given, discussions take place, and solutions are sought.
For the third session, composers are expected to present finished works, followed by rehearsals, refining details, and searching for final solutions. At the end of the third session, a public concert will be held.
A guest practitioner is also invited to each session to reflect on the process from their perspective.
Why?
The intention of this approach is to step away from the assembly line common in contemporary music, commission, score, rehearsal, premiere, oblivion, in order to establish much closer relationships between the composer and performers, allow quality time spent together, learn from one another, blur role boundaries, and create situations where it is not entirely clear who and where the author is.
Who?
The project is conducted by Ensemble U:, one of Estonia’s leading contemporary music ensembles. The ensemble features Tarmo Johannes (flute), Helena Tuuling (clarinet), Vambola Krigul (percussion), Taavi Kerikmäe (piano, synthesizer), Merje Roomere (violin) and Levi-Danel Mägila (cello). It is characteristic of U: to ask questions, search for the new, lean on the old, experiment, and dare to make mistakes.
A guest is also invited to each session to share their experiences and help reflect on the working process. For the first meeting, this will be composer Liisa Hõbepappel, who has previously worked with the ensemble in a similar manner.
For whom?
Three young composers from Europe (including Ukraine) born on 1 January 1991 or later take an active part in the project. U:/ECCM announced a call for applications, which generated exceptionally high interest: a total of 55 applications were submitted from across Europe.
Unfortunately, within the scope of this project, it is only possible to work at a sufficiently focused pace with three participants. The selected composers are:
Parham Behzad (IR/AT)
Sofus Preisel (DK)
Żaneta Rydzewska (PL)
All interested listeners and observers are welcome to attend.
When?
Work sessions will take place:
Session I, 14-15.11.2026
Schedule:
Sat 14.11
11.00 Welcome, introduction by Liisa Hõbepappel
12.00-13.00 Composer 1 session
13.30-14.30 Composer 2
16.00-17.00 Composer 3
17.00-18.00 Reflections
Sun 15.11
11.00-12.30 Composer 3
13.00-14.30 Composer 2
15.30-17.00 Composer 1
17.15-18.00 Reflections
Session II, 20-21.02.2027
Session III, 15-16.05.2027
The final concert of the project, presenting the completed works, takes place on 16 May 2027.
Where?
Estonian Centre for Contemporary Music, Pühavaimu 9, Tallinn
Contact
The series takes place within the framework of the Ulysses network, co-funded by the European Union.