Episode 3: Extended Play - Mini opera and the secret lives of composers and music producers

Episode 3: Extended Play - Mini opera and the secret lives of composers and music producers

This extended edit of episode three of the podcast is presented by Stefanie Barschdorf and Simon Zagorski-Thomas. The production team were Stefanie Barschdorf, Maciej Kierzkowski, Gittit Pearlmutter and Simon Zagorski-Thomas. Our guests on this episode are Martyna Kosecka, a PhD candidate and research fellow at the Norwegian Academy of Music, Oslo, Paul Archbold, a composer of acoustic and electroacoustic works, a lecturer in electronic and produced music at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and a research fellow at the School of Advanced Studies, University of London and Samantha Bennett, a professor of music in the School of Music, College of Arts and Social Sciences at the Australian National University Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and Chair of the International Association for the Study of Popular Music. We start by discussing what kinds of general conclusions can be drawn from looking at individual cases studies in their various fields. The video about Martyna's project - "Mini-opera: on the dramaturgy of protest" - can be found on the C21MP.ORG website and here she discusses the process behind creating short operas and experimental theatre works that combine music, theatre, mixed media, and sociopolitical themes with a particular focus on women's lives in Iran, Poland and Norway. Paul discusses a series of video documentaries to be shared on the website which explore the work of several composers through interviews and documentary films about the rehearsal and performance of their work. Sam discusses her new Cambridge Element which is available open access for the first two weeks of May 2026 and thereafter by subscription or purchase on "Secrets and Revelations in Music and Audio Technology Cultures". She explores the culture of trade secrets in the world of audio production.

Episode 3: Mini opera and the secret lives of composers and music producers

The podcast is presented by Stefanie Barschdorf and Simon Zagorski-Thomas. The production team were Stefanie Barschdorf, Maciej Kierzkowski, Gittit Pearlmutter and Simon Zagorski-Thomas. Our guests on this episode are Martyna Kosecka, a PhD candidate and research fellow at the Norwegian Academy of Music, Oslo, Paul Archbold, a composer of acoustic and electroacoustic works, a lecturer in electronic and produced music at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and a research fellow at the School of Advanced Studies, University of London and Samantha Bennett, a professor of music in the School of Music, College of Arts and Social Sciences at the Australian National University Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and Chair of the International Association for the Study of Popular Music. We start by discussing what kinds of general conclusions can be drawn from looking at individual cases studies in their various fields. The video about Martyna's project - "Mini-opera: on the dramaturgy of protest" - can be found on the C21MP.ORG website and here she discusses the process behind creating short operas and experimental theatre works that combine music, theatre, mixed media, and sociopolitical themes with a particular focus on women's lives in Iran, Poland and Norway. Paul discusses a series of video documentaries to be shared on the website which explore the work of several composers through interviews and documentary films about the rehearsal and performance of their work. Sam discusses her new Cambridge Element which is available open access for the first two weeks of May 2026 and thereafter by subscription or purchase on "Secrets and Revelations in Music and Audio Technology Cultures". She explores the culture of trade secrets in the world of audio production.

Episode 2 Extended Play: Pete Townshend's synths, the balafon and the Relational Camerata

The podcast is presented by Stefanie Barschdorf and Simon Zagorski-Thomas. The production team were Stefanie Barschdorf, Maciej Kierzkowski, Luiz Mouro, Dan Pratt, Ashley Stein and Simon Zagorski-Thomas. Our guests on this episode are Maarika Autio, a PhD candidate at the University of the Arts, Sibelius Academy, Finland, Michael MacDonald from McEwan University, Edmonton, Alberta in Canada and Sarah Angliss, an Ivor Novello Award winning composer and sound designer working at the Augmented Instruments Lab at the Dyson School of Design Engineering, Imperial College London . They all talk about their relationship with practice research. Maarika talks about using her performance on balafon and electronics to explore ideas of cultural appropriation and creativity. Michael discusses his ideas for a 21st century Relational Camerata which will be a joint project with the research centre developing a contemporary version of the 16th century Florentine Camerata. Sarah was one of the ten participants in the C21MP Townshend Studio Research Challenge where they explored Pete Townshend's extraordinary collection of vintage and contemporary electronic musical instruments housed at the University of West London. The website presents videos from the Townshend Studio Research Challenge, one about Maarika's practice research and by Michael explaining some of the details about the plans for the Relational Camerata.

Episode 2: Pete Townshend's synths, the balafon and the Relational Camerata

The podcast is presented by Stefanie Barschdorf and Simon Zagorski-Thomas. The production team were Stefanie Barschdorf, Maciej Kierzkowski, Luiz Mouro, Dan Pratt, Ashley Stein and Simon Zagorski-Thomas. Our guests on this episode are Maarika Autio, a PhD candidate at the University of the Arts, Sibelius Academy, Finland, Michael MacDonald from McEwan University, Edmonton, Alberta in Canada and Sarah Angliss, an Ivor Novello Award winning composer and sound designer working at the Augmented Instruments Lab at the Dyson School of Design Engineering, Imperial College London . They all talk about their relationship with practice research. Maarika talks about using her performance on balafon and electronics to explore ideas of cultural appropriation and creativity. Michael discusses his ideas for a 21st century Relational Camerata which will be a joint project with the research centre developing a contemporary version of the 16th century Florentine Camerata. Sarah was one of the ten participants in the C21MP Townshend Studio Research Challenge where they explored Pete Townshend's extraordinary collection of vintage and contemporary electronic musical instruments housed at the University of West London. The website presents videos from the Townshend Studio Research Challenge, one about Maarika's practice research and by Michael explaining some of the details about the plans for the Relational Camerata.

Episode 1 Extended Play: The New Research Centre, Guitars and Improvisation

The podcast is presented by Stefanie Barschdorf and Simon Zagorski-Thomas. The Script Editor is Stefanie Barschdorf and the Technical Producer is Maciej Kierzkowski. The editors were Maciej Kierzkowski, Tommy Mitoraj, Gittit Perlmutter and Simon Zagorski-Thomas. Our guests on the first podcast are Jo Collinson Scott, a Reader at the University of the West of Scotland who also uses her artist name of Jo Mango, and Jamie Howell, who is just completing his creative practice PhD at the University of Southampton. Stefanie interviews Simon about the launch of the new research centre, this podcast and the Discord server. Jo has just been participating in our Creative Use of Guitar Tuning Research Challenge with nine other guitarists and talks about the process, the novel format and her Giant On The Bridge practice research project which premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe and is about to go on tour. Jamie discusses the composition, improvisation and performance work he undertook for his PhD using techniques drawn from DJ culture and EDM. The website presents videos from the international Research Challenge, one about Jamie's practice research and by Simon explaining some of the details about the future plans for the research centre.