maciej fortuna

MUSIC FOR TRUMPET AND PIPE ORGAN

Program

The concept of this multimedia concert for a trumpet and a pipe organ accompanied by visuals has been inspired by the earliest preserved Polish medieval tropes. This jazz-oriented combination of a trumpet and a pipe organ that draws on the musical tradition of the Polish medieval era is an artistic event without precedent. The core of the concert’s program are arrangements of medieval tropes, i.e. works stemming from liturgical tradition, as well as original compositions by Maciej Fortuna evocative of the medieval period. The program had its premiere on the 28th of April 2016 at La Madeleine Church in Paris. Both the musical as well as the visual side of the concert received a warm reception from the French public and the critics alike.



Inspiration

Maciej Fortuna’s years-long interest in medieval music resulted in the making of the album Tropy by Fortuna/Dys released in 2013. The release was considered among the best jazz albums of 2013 and received critical acclaim from prominent Polish jazz music reviewers. It was also the first album to be released in co-operation with the label DUX (Fortuna/Dys – Maciejewski Variations DUX 1151).



Baptism 966

The 1050th anniversary of the Baptism of Poland brought on a variety of projects combining several different art forms, including music, theatre, and visual arts. The anniversary draws attention to the Polish culture of Middle Ages and, besides its cultural dimension, holds great educational potential. The celebrations commemorating this historic event at the Royal Art Festival in the Gniezno Cathedral held on the 30th of July 2016 included a premiere performance of the unique Baptism 966 program that combines a trumpet, a pipe organ, and a jazz sextet.



Visuals

The visuals - which include liturgical-themed images processed by means of animation techniques – were created based on and in harmony with the musical component of the performance and they form an integral part of the event. The motion on screen corresponds with the music, while thanks to the use of specialised equipment the two components – the sound and the visuals – create a harmonious blend, even in the improvised parts of the concert.



Artists

Maciej Fortuna

Polish trumpeter, jazz composer and music producer. He is one of the most active Polish jazz trumpeters of the young generation. His works include several entirely original releases, such as Solar Ring, Jazz by Maciej Fortuna Trio, Zośka by Maciej Fortuna International Quartet, and many others. In 2014, he received the City of Poznań Artistic Award for ‘outstanding international achievement in jazz music supported by critical acclaim in Poland and internationally’.


Fortuna performs with his bands all around the world. His artistic work is a constant exploration of new musical paths, creating his own language of musical expression and expanding the sound palette of his instrument. He also experiments with live electronics and electronic sound processing. He currently teaches as an Assistant Professor at the Ignacy Jan Paderewski Music Academy in Poznań. He also runs his own record label: Fortuna Music


www.fortuna-music.com

www.maciejfortuna.pl


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Marek Smoczyński

pipe organist; he studied at the Frederic Chopin University of Music under Józef Serafin and Jarosław Wróblewski, and at the Lübeck Academy of Music (Germany) under Arvid Gast.


He pursues an active artistic career and participates in numerous master classes both in Poland and abroad, his teachers being e.g. Ludger Lohman, Joachim Grubich, Wolfgang Zerer, Michael Radulescu, Julian Gembalski, and Martin Schmeding.

VJ Pillow (Paweł Wypych)

he debuted as a VJ in 2010 at ‘We Want You’, a series of electronic music events, which he also co-organised. The following year he co-formed an audio-visual duo Steve Nash & VJ Pillow that performed at various festivals and art events, such as the International Poster & Typography Festival 4. PLASTER, presenting original sound and visual material. Being an enthusiast of electronic music, he participated in many events of the kind, where he presented his work side by side with a number of outstanding artists. In 2011, he started working for a label We Are Your Music Mate as a graphic designer responsible for the label’s brand, as well as chief VJ.