PROJECT PRESENTATION, 1st June 2013
Norwegian Artistic Research Fellowship Programme
"SINGING ON THE STAGE - WITH A PSYCHOPHYSICAL APPROACH"
Since 2009 I have investigated how a resource-oriented psychophysical approach can be used to enhance my development as a singer and, in addition, give basic input to staged music performances. This approach has been tested in all phases of the artistic progress - from conceptualization right through to actual performance. Various exercises have been put together in new ways, tested and integrated into the project. I have followed the schedule from the Project presentation 2009 and completed the six investigations that I set out to do. Each investigation was presented through a staged display, immediately followed by a dialogue with a selected group of interdisciplinary professionals.
CORE QUESTIONS
My core questions concerning the psychophysical approach have been following me through my work:
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Will psychophysical exercises contribute to liberating creative thought processes?
Which repertoire do I wish to perform? Why? How do I wish to stage it? -
Can the psychophysical approach contribute to a more subtle understanding of musical, textual, dramaturgical and theatrical content and structure of a work of art?
Which rehearsal methods do I choose? How do I prepare? How do work with instructors? -
Will psychophysical preparation contribute to better performances - musical and theatrical?
How do I preserve stage presence? How do I interact with the audience and other performers?
PSYCHOPHYSICAL APPROACH / BLIND ZONES
I have conducted six investigations with instructors from various areas and processed the feedback from the interdisciplinary resource group of professionals:
1st investigation: A STARTING POINT (October 2009 - January 2010) with Veselina Manolova (opera director) and Jan-Bjørnar Sture (pianist).
2nd investigation: INTERPRETATION AND TIMING (February 2010 - June 2010) with Kim Haugen (actor) and Gunnar Sama (pianist).
3rd investigation - VISUALITY, FOCUS AND ABSTRACTION (August 2010 - February 2011) with Stein Rokseth (designer), Bente Elisabeth Finserås (artist), Tony Totino (director and improviser), Einar Steen-Nøkleberg (pianist) and Kaja Glenne Lund (light designer).
4th investigation: CONCEPT AND STAGING (March 2011 - August 2012) with Henrik Hellstenius (composer), Bente Elisabeth Finserås (artist), Victoria Johnson (musician), Erlend Habbestad (musician), Hans-Kristian Kjos Sørensen (musician), Julia Strelchenko (musician) and Kaja Glenne Lund (light designer).
5th investigation: MENTALITY AND PRESENCE (September 2010 - December 2012) with Hans Henriksen (director).
6th investigation: MOVEMENT AND SPACE (April 2011 - May 2013) with Anne Grete Eriksen (choreographer), Bente Elisabeth Finserås (artist), Anders Vinjar (composer) and Sverre Randin (light designer).
I plan to divide the preparation for the final staged performance in 2014 in two additional investigations: A theoretical investigation (my artistic voice in a contemporary environment) - and an investigation on how to incorporate the aesthetic theory in a performance (is the proof in the pudding?).
PSYCHOPHYSICAL EXERCISES
Jan de Miranda (Gyrotonic Master Trainer) and Berit Heir Bunkan (psychologist and physiotherapist) have assisted me with resource oriented body examinations, exercises and training programs. They have given me various tools for a gradual transformation of posture and organization of movements in an integrated manner. This transformation is a useful approach towards personal and artistic enlightenment, and contributes considerably to a healthy development of a sustainable vocal technique, focusing on breathing, body awareness and self-knowledge, rejuvenating passive areas and releasing rigidness in a holistic context of body, mind, emotions, personality, vocal technique and musicality.
INTERNATIONAL CONTACTS
I have visited the researcher Johan Sundberg at The Department of Speech, Music and Hearing at The Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, and discussed several technical aspects on vocal technique and acoustics. I participated in a workshop with Linda Wise at the Roy Hart Centre in France, and discussed various aspects about performance, movements and vocal technique.
OSLO NATIONAL ACADEMY OF THE ARTS
Since I started in the Artistic Research Fellowship Programme, I have worked together with students and teachers at the National Academy of the Arts. I have given presentations of my research and participated in several workshops. Professionals from the Opera-, Theatre-, Dance- and Design faculties have been instructors and members of the resource groups.
PRACTICE AND TEACHING
In the research period I have tested my findings during 150 concerts/opera performances in Norway, Sweden, Germany, England, France, Russia and Japan. I have also worked with the psychophysical approach giving 200 singing lessons, and teaching groups of singers from The Oslo Philharmonic Choir.
SUPERVISORS
My supervisors are Henrik Hellstenius (professor/composer) from the Norwegian Academy of Music and Anne Grete Eriksen (professor/choreographer) from the Oslo National Academy of the Arts. I have also included the philosopher Are Bjærke as a supervisor to discuss various literature and the formulation of the process in a contemporary cultural context and to work on the findings and the changes of my attitude. A public lecture will conclude the 7th investigation: SELF CRITIQUE, and the dialogue with the resource group and the supervisors will help me to select key elements for further reflection.
SCHEDULE 2013-2014
During the remaining time of the Artistic Research Fellowship Programme I will continue training and working with instructors (including the choreographer Sølvi Edvardsen) to prepare the final performance. Based on my work with instructors, the notes, recordings and footage from the investigations and the feedback of the resource group, issues have been crystallized - addressing my blind zones and exposing my various limitations. My aim is to transform the psychophysical approach into appropriate artistic expressions. In 2014 I will present a performance that will be the basis for the final evaluation of my Fellowship Programme. The conceptualization, the preparation and the rehearsals will constitute the 8th investigation: SINGING ON THE STAGE, and the dialogue with the instructors and the resource group will contribute to point out essential qualities to be aware of during the final performance, and will be of special interest for the final critical reflection.
Resource persons so far in this project have been:
Are Bjærke (Philosopher/Art Critic)
Hild Borchgrevink (Author/Musicologist/Art Critic)
Berit Heir Bunkan (Physiotherapist, Master's degree in psychology, Dr. philos.)
Aksel-Otto Bull (Director)
Toril Carlsen (Musician/Opera singer)
Morten Cranner (Director)
Juni Dahr (Actor)
Rasmus Dugstad (Musician/Singer)
Sølvi Edvardsen (Choreographer)
Anne Grete Eriksen (Professor/Dancer/Choreographer)
Bente Elisabeth Finserås (Artist)
Guro Giske (Artist)
Rolf Inge Godøy (Professor/Composer)
Erlend Habbestad (Musician/Cello player)
Kim Haugen (Actor)
Henrik Hellstenius (Professor/Composer)
Hans Henriksen (Professor/Director)
Leif Hernes (Choreographer)
Lars Erik Holter (Director)
Victoria Johnson (Musician/Violin player)
Cecilie Broch Knudsen (Artist)
Gisle Kverndokk (Composer)
Mette Kaaby (Musicologist)
Eve Marie Lund (Author/Translator)
Kaja Glenne Lund (Light Designer)
Gro Løvdahl (Musician/Viola player)
Veselina Manolova (Opera Director)
Jan de Miranda (Dancer/Master Trainer in Gyrotonic)
Trond Halstein Moe (Musician/Opera singer)
Bibbi Moslet (Dramaturge)
Kristin Norderval (Singer/Composer)
Tore Kierulf Næss (Philosopher/Art critic)
Natallia Papova (Musician/Piano player)
Ingunn Rimestad (Dancer)
Stein Rokseth (Designer)
Carsten Stabell (Musician/Opera singer)
Julia Strelchenko (Musician/Piano player)
Elizabeth Svarstad (Dancer/Choreographer)
Hans-Kristian Kjos Sørensen (Musician/Percussion player)
Gunnar Sama (Musician/Piano player)
Guri Skeie (Dramaturge/Producer)
Synne Skouen (Musician/Composer)
Einar Solbu (Musician/Dean)
Merete Sparre (Physiotherapist/Communicologist)
Jan-Bjørnar Sture (Musician/Piano player)
Johan Sundberg (Musicologist/Researcher on Music Acoustics)
Maureen Thomas (Writer/Director/ Developer/Dramaturge)
Lasse Thoresen (Musician/Composer)
Tony Totino (Improvisator/Director)
Tyra Tønnesen (Director)
Anders Vinjar (Composer)
Linda Wise (Actor/Director)
Helene Wold (Musician(/Opera singer)
Susanne Øglænd (Director)
Njål Sparbo, 2013