The international meeting of young composers is a tradition which goes back to 2002 and was started by the composer Andris Dzen?tis and his companions. For the three first times the workshop took place in the Castle of Dundaga, which is connected to many legends, but now, for the second time already, it is being organized in Mazsalaca – a small town in the north of Latvia, next to the snaky river Salaca. The workshop is deliberately not being organized in cities – this is a possibility for technologically oversaturated and instantaneous demand-oriented people to feel themselves and to reconsider their spiritual values by being in simple or one could even say primitive conditions, by experiencing a modest and slow way of living. At the same time this one week is being dedicated to intense discussions, training, composing, presentations, individual training with lecturers, making new acquaintances, and enjoying the serene life.

The first four international workshops have gained a certain reputation both regionally and internationally and have gathered more than 50 participants from different corners of the world, 13 lecturers – internationally known composers from 7 countries.

THEME
Chamber music nowadays. Classics, innovation, aesthetics, boundaries.

LECTURERS
David Lang (USA)
Pär Lindgren (Sweden)
Richard Ayres (The Netherlands)

RESIDING MUSICIANS
Ensemble Aleph (France)
String quartet ReDo (Latvia)

PARTICIPATION IN WORKSHOP
In order to participate in the workshop the candidates have to prepare mp3 audio recordings (advisable length – 5 to 10 minutes) of two or three previously composed chamber music pieces (for two or more instruments), which, together with scores in digital format (pdf), a detailed CV and a photo, must be sent by e-mail to the workshop organizers until the 15th of February, 2010.

E-mail: dundagaworkshop@gmail.com

The examining commission, which is composed of lecturers and participants of ensemble Aleph, will evaluate the submitted materials and will choose 10 active workshop participants. The results will be published by the 15th of May, 2010.

According to the commissions’ decision five of the chosen participants will be asked to compose for the ensemble Aleph, the other five for the string quartet ReDo. These pieces will be performed in the gala concert.

The chosen participants will have to conclude and send the compositions to Aleph and ReDo no later than the 5th of July, 2010.

The pieces must be conceptually finished by then. The workshop will be devoted to working together with lecturers and musicians in order to sharpen up the details and introduce realistic modifications.

The internationally determined age limit is 35 years. However, the organizers prefer not to object if this limit is exceeded.

There are also 10 places intended for observers. In this case there is no need to participate in the competition to be able to join the workshop. The service will be equal and it will be possible to attend the group work sessions, however the observer’s compositions will not be performed as well as the active participants will always be prior when it comes to individual training.

PROCESS
During the nine days of the workshop every participant will attend private consultations with all lecturers, as well as present his/her music, take part in rehearsals, seminars and discussions. Each lecturer will read two lectures on current issues of contemporary music. The theme of the workshop is only the axis around which different discourses concentrate. The official theme is not obligatory, and participants are given maximal creative freedom. During the workshop all conditions for creative, individual work will be provided.

CONCERTS AND FREE TIME
Two concerts will take place during the workshop and both of the residing ensembles – Ensemble Aleph and string quartet ReDo – will perform compositions chosen by participants, by lecturers and music chosen by themselves. Every evening there will be an informal invitation for everyone to enjoy participants’ presentations.

PARTICIPATION FEE
For active participants

From Latvia – 150Eur
From Estonia, Lithuania – 200Eur
From other countries – 300Eur

For observers – (number of places is limited. Please, apply for this option duly)

From Latvia – 200Eur
From Estonia, Lithuania – 250Eur
From other countries – 350Eur

The participation fee covers expenses of accommodation, catering, transport (Riga – Mazsalaca – Riga) and lecturers’ work. All the participants will be settled in hostel-type apartments with partial accommodations, meals will be provided three times per day, coffee, tee and water will be provided all day long. International travel expenses as well as insurance are not included in the participation fee.

CONTACTS
More detailed information about the workshop upon request:
dundagaworkshop@gmail.com