The Contemporary Music Centre’s next Salon features jazz musician and composer Ronan Guilfoyle.

The event is part of CMC’s special programme to celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2006. As one of Ireland’s foremost improvisers, Ronan Guilfoyle will examine the advantages and the pitfalls of improvisation and composition: how are they the same and how are they different?

He will play examples from some of his own compositions which use improvisation. He will also demonstrate techniques on his instrument, the bass guitar. Works to be explored include Music for Soprano Sax and String Quartet; Music for Clarinet and String Trio; Sonata for Viola and Piano; Sonata for Violin and Piano and Simulacrum.

'As a jazz musician I find the process of improvisation a fascinating one. The prospect of writing a piece that will be different every time it is performed is irresistible,' says Guilfoyle.

Many of the questions typically raised by the use of improvisation in composition will be discussed. Are these two approaches to creative music-making complimentary, adversarial or both? How much freedom should the performer be given to shape the composition in real time? What techniques can composers use to include improvisation in their compositions?

Ronan Guilfoyle is one of Ireland's best known jazz musicians. He studied bass and improvisation with Dave Holland in Banff, Canada, and as a bass player he has performed extensively in Europe, Asia and the USA. He is director of the jazz department at Newpark Music Centre in Dublin and has taught extensively in many schools in Ireland and abroad and lectured on improvisation for the International Music Council of UNESCO. As a composer he has written music for theatre, television, film and numerous jazz ensembles as well as for orchestra and chamber groups. Awards include the Julius Hemphill Composition Award in 1997 for Devsirme. Ronan Guilfoyle was elected to Aosdána, Ireland's state-sponsored academy of creative artists, in 2003.

The Contemporary Music Centre's new music Salons have been taking place since October 2003 offering an opportunity to hear and discuss contemporary music in an informal atmosphere.

The performance takes place on Friday, 24 March 2006 from 6.30 – 7.30 pm in the Printing House adjacent to New Square in the Trinity College campus. Admission is free and discussions continue informally after the performance.

For details please visit the Calendar. Further information: Karen Hennessy, Promotion Manager, 01-673 1922 or email khennessy@cmc.ie

CMC’s Salon performances are made possible by the support of the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon. CMC would like to acknowledge the support of the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, in making the venue available.

Posted: 16 March 2006