Episode 4: Marimba Performance, 2027 C21MP Conference and the Social Dimension of Song Writing

Episode 4: Marimba Performance, 2027 C21MP Conference and the Social Dimension of Song Writing

Our guests on this episode are Márton Gábor Szives, a percussionist, researcher and teacher at the Doctoral School of Arts of the University of Pécs, supported by the Hungarian Academy of Arts, Wellington Gordon, the chair of the 2027 C21MP Conference, a bassist, audio engineer and educator at the Commercial Music programme at Florida State University, and Remy Haswell-Martin from the University of West London and Adam Martin from the University of Huddersfield, co-authors of a forthcoming Element in the 21st Century Music Practice series on "Creative Interactions in Collaborative Songwriting". We start by discussing the developments in contemporary Marimba performance technique that led Márton to his current PhD and he discusses that process of collaboration with ten composers in which he explored these new techniques for them as a way to stimulate their ideas for new compositions. Wells Gordon participated in the first C21MP conference and will be talking about hosting the 2027 conference at Florida State University and how we're going to be exploring Music and the Extended Mind. Remy and Adam discuss some of the social factors that affect collaborative song writing - looking at them from a phenomenological and affect theory perspective to explore both the positive and negative emotions that can have an impact on collaborative song writing. This episode was presented by Stefanie Barschdorf and Simon Zagorski-Thomas. The production team were Stefanie Barschdorf, Luiz Mouro, Maciej Kierzkowski, Gittit Pearlmutter and Simon Zagorski-Thomas - with a special thanks to Gittit for getting the edit ready on time.

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.