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Ola Tomek Worshop Photo

Led by Aleksandra Kotecka and Tomasz Wierbowski (of Teatr ZAR)

Join two master teachers in an exploration of polyphonic singing and performance.

August 25, 2018        

10:00am-4:00pm

Limited Capacity!

Bootleg Theatre

2220 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90057

The workshop introduces three-part polyphony, basing on the various musical scales of Georgian music, both folk and religious, and making use of various musical formulas. Through a selected set of exercises formed during more than ten years of both teaching and learning experience of the leaders, it will aim at developing what can be called a sense of polyphony. Working on a steady breathing, voice emission and color, as well as on close listening during singing – not only to each of the three parts being sung simultaneously, but to the whole vertical aspect of the music performed at the given moment, results in obtaining such a quality of sound, where each of the individual voices disappears in the whole of a given harmony and can be no longer made out. Polyphonic music taken in this approach is a tool for enhancing the focus and improving the quality of presence of a performer. The type of sensitivity which the workshop intends to develop brings about, first and foremost, the ability to listen: in the literal sense – to the sound created at the given moment, as well as in the more general one, helping recognize the exact qualities of the given performative situation as a whole.

The workshop intends to focus on harmony, rather than melody, treating harmony as means of objective expression. Music will be treated as a platform for building a particular understanding between the participants, as well as their unique common experience.

The workshop is intended for actors and performers, people who already have a musical and singing experience, those who value music as important in their lives, as well as those who are yet to discover this.

The workshop fee is $150. Payable in advance thru the link below.

https://ghostroad.secure.force.com/ticket

Checks can be sent to P.O. Box 2323 Culver City, CA 90230 payable to The Ghost Road Company. There is very limited capacity for this workshop, which is a rare opportunity to experience the singular work of these artists.

There will be a mid-workshop break and it is recommended that you bring something to eat, as there are not many places nearby to get food. You should also bring water and wear clothes you can move in, as well as layers if you are prone to be cold. You must arrive no later than 9:45am to check in. There is street parking but give yourself enough time to find parking that is not limited in terms of hours.

Instructors:

Ola

Aleksandra Kotecka – member of Teatr ZAR since 2004. Involved in the creation of the performances Gospels of Childhood, Cesarean Section, Anhelli. The Calling, and Armine, Sister. MA in Russian philology at The University of Wrocław, graduated also in film and television production studies in Warsaw, as well as a post-graduate school for audio-visual producers. Author and co-author of music for films as well as several theatre productions in Poland and USA. Creator of the music studio Foxterrier Production. Works on Georgian polyphonic singing – both during field expeditions and as part of her own research. Together with Tomasz Wierzbowski and Krzysztof Paździora conducts an in-depth project with the Georgian musical material, which was initiated by a work session with Malkhaz Erkvanidze in June 2014. Within her main field of interest there is also the music of orthodox Christianity, which she encountered in Lviv, Saint Petersburg, and Supraśl. She shares with the effects of her work during workshops. Plays the cello and practices yoga. With the project Armine, Sister, she has broadened her experience by Persian and Armenian modal music.

Photo by Tobiasz Papuczys.

 

Tomasz Wierzbowski, photo Magdalena Mądra

Tomasz Wierzbowski – member of Teatr ZAR since 2005. Actor and musician in the performances Gospels of Childhood, Cesarean Section, Anhelli. The Calling, and Armine, Sister. MA in English at the Wroclaw University, author of the Polish translation of Nikos Kazantzakis’ Report to Greco, as well as a publishing series presenting translations of works dedicated to music entitled 3/2. Author and co-author of music for short films, as well as theatre productions in Europe and USA. Together with Aleksandra Kotecka he works in the Foxterrier Production music studio. Greatly interested in Georgian polyphony which he first acquainted during Teatr ZAR’s expeditions to Tbilisi and Svaneti. Together with Aleksandra Kotecka and Krzysztof Paździora conducts an in-depth project with the Georgian musical material, which was initiated by a work session with Malkhaz Erkvanidze in June 2014. In the project Armine, Sister he has broadened his vocal experience through the work with modal music, which has in turn enriched his approach to polyphony. Learns to play the kanoun under the tuition of Aram Kerovpyan.

Photo by Magdalena Madra

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