100K

For Immediate Release

Jazz Musician Ronan Guilfoyle in Action

15 March 2006

What are the advantages and the pitfalls of improvisation and composition? How are they the same and how are they different? Jazz musician Ronan Guilfoyle demonstrates and discusses improvisation and composition in the Contemporary Music Centre's new music Salon. This takes place on Friday, 24 March 2006 from 6.30pm-7.30pm, in the Printing House, Trinity College, Dublin.

Ronan 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 Ronan.

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 a composer use to include improvisation in their compositions?

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 Centre celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2006 and the Salon series is part of a wide-ranging programme of events.

The Contemporary Music Centre is Ireland's national archive and resource centre for new music supporting and developing the work of composers throughout the Republic and Northern Ireland. It engages in a programme of development work to promote new Irish music at home and abroad.

Admission is free. Further information from Karen Hennessy, Promotion Manager, The Contemporary Music Centre, 19 Fishamble Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 8. Tel : 01 673 1922 Email: khennessy@cmc.ie web site www.cmc.ie

The Contemporary Music Centre is supported by the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon.

Note for Editors

Ronan Guilfoyle
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.
www.ronanguilfoyle.com

(biography © Contemporary Music Centre, Ireland)