Η Τέχνη του ΜανέΓιάννης Διονυσίου
25 March 2023
Εφέ: ένας γνωστός άγνωστος κόσμοςΓιάννης Αναστασάκης
28 March 2023
Musical Workshop οn Makam Improvisation (Taksim)
Coordination: Μichalis Kouloumis
Duration: 30 hours
Language: English, Greek
25 - 31 August
(25.8 welcome date / 31.8 departure date)
One of the most serious challenges a musician deals with is composing and performing a taksim. Issues such as structure, musical flow and phrasing development, choice of intervals and playing style are among those improvisers are concerned about when it comes to playing a taksim.
Violinist, improviser and composer Michalis Kouloumis visits the Music Village for a second consecutive year and invites us to dive into the world of makam music and the art of makam improvisation.
Participants will have the opportunity to play taksims by studying its different roles in musical practice.
- Introduction to a song or a classical composition
- Epilogue to a ritual Mevlevi Ayin suite
- Interlude / climax / miyan (rhythmical or not) in a dancing tune
- Taksim as a composition
At the same time, Michalis Kouloumis will focus on the melodic progression (seyir) and intervals on specific makams, through the performance of instrumental tunes and compositions from the Aegean Sea, Asia Minor, Cyprus, Constantinople as well as by contemporary composers. Various examples of taksims played on different instruments will be heard too.
Moreover, participants will learn how to use the studied repertoire as a necessary toolbox for the creation of motifs, rhythmic improvisations and taksims.
Finally, emphasis will be given on the different techniques taking place in a taksim, such as melisma (çarpma), glissandos and vibratos, motifs, sequences and stereotypical phrases.
Requirements
- Previous experience on makam improvisation (taksim).
- Basic level of sight reading (5-line staff).
- The workshop is aimed for all musical instruments that can perform microtones.
Michalis Kouloumis
Born in a musical family in Cyprus, the violinist and composer Michalis Kouloumis developed a strong musical background and sensitivity from his early years. He studied European classical violin, but his personal pursuits led him to the musical traditions of the Orient and especially that of the Eastern Mediterranean.
He graduated with ‘Distinction’ from the Department of Greek Traditional music of the Philippos Nakas Conservatory in Athens, being a disciple of violinist Yorgos Marinakis. During the same period, he completed his undergraduate studies at the Department of Physics, University of Athens.
In 2013, he obtained his MA of Music in Violin Performance (Taksim in Ottoman Classical music) from Codarts, University for the Arts (Netherlands). Michalis Kouloumis was the first alumnus in Codarts to receive the ‘10/10 Excellence in Performance’ prize.
He participated in violin workshops led by Nedim Nalbantoğlu and Baki Kemancı, ‘Ottoman Classical music’ workshops led by ney masters Kudsi Ergüner and Ömer Erdoğdular as well as ‘Makam Composition’, ‘Rhythmic Improvisation’, ‘Sound Recording and Production’ and ‘Turkish Makam music’ led by Ross Daly, Harris Lambrakis, Efren Lopez and Murat Aydemir respectively.
He performed on stage and recorded with some of the most important representatives of the Mediterranean music scene: Ross Daly, Jordi Savall, Kudsi Ergüner, Nana Mouskouri, Gabriel Yared, Sokratis Sinopoulos, Efren Lopez, Dine Doneff, Thimios Atzakas, Harris Lambrakis, Chronis Aidonidis, Manos Achalinotopoulos, Zohar Fresco, Waed Bouhassoun, Jose Manuel Leon, among others.
Performance highlights include: Royal Albert hall (UK), Union Chapel London (UK), King’s Place London (UK), Onassis Cultural Centre Athens (GR), Sommerton Festival (DE), Brighton Fringe Festival (UK), Palace of Arts Budapest (HU), Katara Festival Qatar (QA), WOMAD (UK), Mawazine Festival Rabat (MAR), Sharq Taronalari Festival Samarkand (UZB), Bimhuis Amsterdam (NL), Alhambra Concert Hall Paris (FR), Muziekpublique (BE), Festival Abbaye de Fontfroide (FR), Sydney festival (AU), Pafos17 European Capital of Culture (CY), WOMEX Showcase Canary Islands (ES).
Michalis Kouloumis’ personal discography includes his debut album ‘SOIL’ (2014), ‘EPHEMERA’ (2017) as well as ‘DISPLACED DREAMS’ (2023).
Michalis Kouloumis is a visiting teacher at Codarts, University for the Arts in Rotterdam, specialized in Violin, Makam Theory and Improvisation as developed in Ottoman classical and Greek traditional music.
In recent years, he discovered his passion for medium and long-distance running.
Ελληνικά 
English