The TransVariations project, funded by the EEA Grants Bilateral Relations Fund, focused on the use of innovative technological approaches to explore the relationship between artistic creation and interpretation in the context of Western classical music.
The projet main goals were:
- to promote the (re)creation of past artistic works and the production of new artistic outputs using contemporary languages based on experimentation with technological interfaces
- to provide the testing and improvement of new technologies related to artistic creation according to their applicability, pertinence and functionality in the interaction between technological interfaces and musical creation
- to reshape the idea of expressivity in music through the interaction between human performative actions and technological feedback
- and to disseminate new resources, technological tools and practical related strategies for artistic interpretation and creation.
Through an applied outlook, the initiative explored the possibilities of modern timbral shaping in the context of Western-Art piano repertoire using feedback and adaptive processing methods as modes of experimentation. This way, new artistic products are created advocating a rupture with the contemporary paradigm of representation in the European Western-Art Music.
The collaboration encompassed 4 work-periods between April 2023 to December 2024 and involved 3 of the most important institutions in Portugal and Norway: The University of Aveiro (UA), the Porto Polytechnic Institute (IPP) and the Norges Teknisk-Naturvitenskapelige Universitet (NTNU). Outputs included artistic research oriented deliverables (technological resources, performances and a digital album) and scientific oriented deliverables (articles, seminars, workshops, and a colloquium). The initiative exerted a significant geographical influence across three urban centers and their respective surrounding regions: Trondheim (Norway), as well as Aveiro and Porto (Portugal).
The planned activities, encompassing diverse formats such as workshops, colloquia, and performances, were structured to engage both specialized audiences (e.g., researchers affiliated with the initiative, as well as professionals from artistic and technological domains) and broader public audiences. The continuation of the cooperation is already a reality, evidenced by the significant number of invitations received for concerts associated with the final artistic output; invitations for lectures, classes, and informational sessions about the project; the dissemination, impact, feedback, and requests generated by the Digital Album; and the ongoing development of a new project as a continuation of this one—with a greater emphasis on transdisciplinary in association with artistic production. Finally, the collaborative exchange between Portugal and Norway made a substantial contribution to the fields of artistic practice, creative production, and technological innovation.
The initiative played a central role in fostering knowledge production and dissemination regarding the use of innovative technological interfaces in artistic creation within Portugal. The outcomes of this initiative were twofold: 1) enhancing Portugal's competitive edge in artistic research: by leveraging cutting-edge creative production methods, the initiative positioned Portugal more competitively in the global Artistic Research landscape; and 2) empowering Artist-Researchers: the activities enriched artist-researchers with access to advanced tools and methodologies, enabling them to refine their practices and expand their research capabilities.
By equipping artists with cutting-edge resources and methodologies, the initiative contributes to strengthening their competitive standing on an international stage. Further information about the project, its results, and outputs can be accessed here.