The course is open to professional percussionists, conservatory students of all levels, chamber music ensembles dedicated to the contemporary repertoire, composers, multimedia artists, improvisers and instrumentalists of all kinds, with no age limits and interested in participating in an experience of sharing and deepening dedicated to percussion in today’s music. 

Contemporary Percussion Gathering is a collective call to share one’s own path and projects, a migratory flow towards a place of encounter and exchange, a moment of insight into one’s own identity and past: there are no limits of age, experience, vision, size, all percussionists and artists are invited to participate and study, to (further) discover the music of the present.

An integral part of the course will be lectures and workshops, curated by Lorenzo Colombo, Stanislas Pili and Alessandro Perini, which will be followed by moments of collective discussion, and which will deal with some of the most topical aspects related to percussion in contemporary music:

• Analysis of the latest compositions for percussion and other media such as light, video and electronics.
• Sound installations and new creations of musical theatre 
• From Cage to today, analysis of the main composing trends in percussion pieces 
• Extended techniques, theatrical performances and post-instrumental practices
• Application of analogue and digital electroacoustic devices on percussion instruments
• New lutherie between sound art and composition
• Electromechanical devices, Arduino microcontrollers

Another aspect of the Contemporary Percussion Gathering consists in the presentation by the participants of their own artistic projects (individual or group), which can be analysed and discussed with the curators of the event and all the participants. The presentations may include the performance of one or more pieces for solo or ensemble, the performance and/or description of one’s own creation, whether it is a written piece or an improvised performance, or the discussion of a topic related to contemporary music chosen by the participant.

In addition, during the course participants will work in ensemble, addressing new multimedia compositions and performance installations. 

For composers, CPG includes not only lectures and presentations of their own projects, but also the opportunity to work individually with composer Alessandro Perini on the artistic and compositional, but also technical, constructive and logistical aspects of their projects.

During the six days of CPG there will be concerts and performances by Lorenzo Colombo, Stanislas Pili, Collettivo_21, and a final concert where solo and ensemble pieces prepared by the participants will be presented.

Finally, in addition to the lessons, presentations or lectures organised, there will be convivial and informal moments in which to discuss the topics that emerge from the meetings in an atmosphere of sharing and mutual listening.

Seven days dedicated to exploring, studying and sharing the classical guitar in the hills of Alto Monferrato, with lessons from great masters, convivial moments of exchange and concerts.

Lessons with Andrea Dieci will focus on the interpretation of the solo repertoire and will aim to improve listening skills, promote understanding of the musical material through analysis and historical-stylistic contextualisation, and develop performance skills, both interpretive and technical. It will also be possible to attend the course as a duo or in small ensembles. Participants will also have the opportunity to attend a seminar dedicated to the interpretation of Renaissance and Baroque music and a workshop on ensemble music held by Massimo Lonardi.

Massimo Lonardi’s study seminar is aimed at guitarists who wish to explore the issues of interpretation of Renaissance and early Baroque repertoire (original for Renaissance lute, vihuela and archlute) on the modern instrument. There will be individual lessons, group lessons on Renaissance theory and repertoire analysis, and ensemble music lessons based on compositions (original or belonging to the vast repertoire “for all sorts of instruments”) proposed by the students or provided by the teacher before the beginning of the course.

Meetings will also be organised with luthier Mario Grimaldi, with the opportunity to ask questions and try out his instruments (both restored originals and his latest creations).

During CdM San Michele’s week dedicated to the guitar, a specific course will be held by Massimo Lonardi on Renaissance and Baroque lute, vihuela and archlute practice. The course will take place in parallel with the classical guitar course led by Andrea Dieci, promoting a comparison and exchange between lutenists and guitarists, early music and classical repertoire, immersed in the nature and history of the Alto Monferrato Ovadese, with convivial moments and concerts.

The study seminar is addressed to lutenists who wish to deepen the issues of interpretation of the Renaissance and early Baroque repertoire for Renaissance lute; there will be individual lessons, group lessons of Renaissance theory and analysis of the repertoire, and lessons of ensemble music based on compositions (original or belonging to the vast repertoire “for all sorts of instruments) proposed by the students or provided by the teacher before the beginning of the course.

The course is open to all string quartets already formed and to chamber groups (also with piano) wishing to deepen their knowledge of the classical and contemporary repertoire; the course is also open to individual instrumentalists who will form new chamber ensembles during the course. Lessons will focus on the interpretation of the chamber music repertoire and will aim to promote the understanding and performance of musical materials through analysis, listening and historical-stylistic contextualisation. 

The aim of the course is to create an opportunity for the students and young professionals enrolled to share music in a context immersed in natural beauty and studying in depth, with the opportunity to perform in a public concert, included in the Foresty International Music Festival season, the music worked on with Aldo Campagnari.

There will also be convivial and informal moments in which to talk about the topics that will emerge from the lessons, in an atmosphere of sharing and mutual listening.

The workshop is addressed to all musicians (instrumentalists and singers) interested in free improvisation, active in any musical field, of any technical, stylistic and idiomatic background, of any age and with any kind of training, preferably with a good level of technical-instrumental mastery.

The course will focus on the practice of free improvisation, mainly in small chamber formations; the participants, following Joëlle Léandre’s guidance, will form extemporaneously small variable-geometry ensembles whose improvisations will be the starting point for a shared reflection.

Among the various points of interest of the course will be extemporaneous composition, the relationship between composition and improvisation, the instrumental techniques and relational dynamics used during improvisation, the form and its ongoing management, and political and philosophical themes. The course is generally organised in study days of six hours of improvisation in small groups divided between morning and afternoon.

In addition to the organised lessons, there will be convivial and informal moments in which to talk about the topics that emerge from the meetings in an atmosphere of sharing and mutual listening.

[…] And we’ll work, play, create music, we’ll talk about life, sounds, jazz, free, noise, poetry, Europe, Usa, painting, politics, forms, structures, and of course composition!! […]

Joëlle Léandre

The Guitar Masterclass is aimed at young guitarists interested in exploring the repertoire of the 20th and 21st centuries and experimenting directly with new techniques and scores. The Masterclass will include the presentation of some important works of the contemporary repertoire, working through individual lessons and moments of common reflection on one’s own repertoire. An integral part of the Masterclass will be a Guitar Interpretation Workshop of new compositions for solo guitar curated by Elena Casoli and composer Giorgio Colombo Taccani. The aim of the Workshop is to work closely with the composers participating in the same Workshop and in the Masterclass held by Giorgio Colombo Taccani, developing together new works for guitar composed by the participants in the Masterclass, but also focusing on common moments of reflection and investigation. Under the guidance of the teachers, the relationship between composer and performer will be examined, as well as the relationship between sign and interpretation, or other topics that may interest the participants, in an atmosphere of dialogue and transversal interaction, working on the development of new pieces for guitar.

The organisation of the course includes a selection process, after which pairs of guitarists and composers will be formed. Each composer enrolled in the course will write a piece for solo guitar, entrusted to each guitarist; the organisation will then put each composer in contact with a guitarist to exchange drafts and ideas, so that the piece can be finalised in a profitable manner during the Masterclass. During the five days of the course it will be possible to work not only on an in-depth study of the repertoire of the 20th and 21st centuries, but also to have the opportunity to collaborate with a composer in the creation of a new work for guitar, following the path from the commission to the first public performance, in a concert to be held during the last day of the Masterclass by Foresty International Music Festival.

A live recording (audio and video) of the concert will be made, which will be given to each composer and guitarist and (by prior agreement with them), published on the social pages and website of CdM San Michele and Foresty International Music Festival. In case you would like to make further recordings at CdM, see the “After Masterclass” section.

The residency at Casa San Michele and in the neighbouring village (Montaldeo) will offer the possibility to share ideas and experiences of our artistic activity also in our free time.

The Composition Masterclass is addressed to all composers who wish to present their works to Giorgio Colombo Taccani, discussing topics ranging from the most technical aspects to reflections on writing and contemporaneity, with particular attention to the analysis and in-depth study of some of the most representative pieces of the 20th and 21st centuries.

An integral part of the Masterclass will be a Workshop on composition for solo guitar, curated by Giorgio Colombo Taccani and Elena Casoli. The aim of the Workshop is to work in close contact with the guitarists participating in the same Workshop and in the Masterclass held by Elena Càsoli, developing together new works for guitar, composed by the participants in the Masterclass, but also focusing on common moments of reflection and investigation. Under the guidance of the teachers, the relationship between composer and performer will be examined, as well as the relationship between sign and interpretation, or other topics that may interest the participants, in an atmosphere of dialogue and transversal interaction, working on the development of new pieces for guitar.

The organisation of the course includes a selection process, after which pairs of guitarists and composers will be formed. Each composer attending the course will write a piece for solo guitar, entrusted to each guitarist; the organisation will then arrange for each composer to be in contact with a guitarist to exchange drafts and ideas, so that the piece can be finalised in a profitable way during the Masterclass. During the five days of the course it will be possible not only to present one’s own work (for any ensemble) and work with the teacher, but also to have the opportunity to collaborate with a guitarist in the creation of a new work, following the path from the commission to the first public performance, in a concert to be held during the last day of the Masterclass by Foresty International Music Festival.

A live (audio and video) recording of the concert will be made, which will be given to each composer and guitarist and (by prior agreement with them), published on the social pages and website of CdM San Michele and Foresty International Music Festival. In case you would like to make further recordings at CdM, see the “After Masterclass” section.

The residency at Casa San Michele and in the neighbouring village (Montaldeo) will offer the possibility to share ideas and experiences of our artistic activity also in our free time.

Sharing music, experiences gained during one’s artistic career and considerations about repertoire, piano interpretation, study methodology and the future of the performing arts. To share a magical space, immersed in the beauty of nature and equipped with all comforts, a brand new piano room equipped for professional sound recordings, spacious rooms with a view and even a SPA. This will be the philosophy behind Piano Symposium, a three-day workshop reserved for a small group of pianists: an opportunity to work closely with two young and established artists, winners of international prizes and authors of prestigious recordings, but above all enthusiastic about sharing what they have learned (and continue to learn) through in-depth study with outstanding teachers and a concert activity in full swing.

The course is open to pianists of all ages and repertoire predilections. The pieces indicated at the time of enrolment will be studied individually, observing the technical, stylistic and interpretative aspects. There are no maximum limits on the amount of repertoire to be proposed: it will be agreed with the teachers on which pieces to focus particular attention; the minimum limit is fifteen to twenty minutes of music.