On the research

Renata Silva Oliveira (Wind Band)

Title: European Female Wind Band Composers and their works

Research Question: Can shedding new light on women composers' contributions to the wind band and ensemble repertoire via the creation of a catalogue, the preparation of a critical edition, and the commission of a new work, to help encourage more Portuguese women to compose for this medium?

Grade for Research paper and presentation: Excellent

Motivation of the jury:
- Excellent Work on making and publishing a catalogue
- Excellent work on doing a critical edition of an unpublished work
- Very good work as commissioner of a new work by a female composer

David Azaglio (Composition)

The paper is an extremely interesting mixture of social and musical concerns around ideas of musical identity, the translation of musical practices from one culture to another and therefor very actual and in phase with whats happening in the world and in arts as well as in social political processes.

It is a profound and honest example of how relevant the subject of diversity is or should be in our practice and research. In this case, Ghanian to European and also European to Ghanian. This is an genuine and well researched paper that tried to come to grips with David's own musical heritage, his current musical environment and his exploration of the traditional Ghanian musical tradition, which he only embarked on once he came to The Netherlands.

It is the well documented observation of a young artist looking back to Africa from being exposed to european
education and cultural influence. The focal point of the paper revolveds around an exploration of 'groove', David's own quest to shift the weight on the differences on how a rhythm is felt. Investigations on notational aspects and how a composition, or more specifically, complex rhythmic patterns are communicated and absorbed by the musician formed for me the most interesting aspect of the research. Rather than a too quick cultural stereotype of how musicians in different cultures have a set 'DNA' in terms of musical priorities, it emphasizes the articulation of how the different musical social structures can influence how a composition is understood and interpreted. There is a lot of scope here for more research and hopefully this will also find its way into an original compositional approach in the future. The research is closely connected to David’s development as a composer and is a perfect basis and start for a further and deeper PhD study on this subject that thus far has not been researched intensively before.
The choice for this paper as an important research achievement and attitude is also a choice for opening doors wider to students coming from alienated cultures and showing them that we need their influence to keep ours alive and vital as well.