The PLAYGROUND project is an expression of our curiosity. In the past we founded a contemporary music ensemble because, in the first place, we always want to find out what comes next, what’s in the air, what kind of a future can be discerned in today’s arts. We announced a call for scores addressed to composers from the world over in otder to meet different people and discuss with them what’s around us all and then give good concert performances together.
After the announcement late in 2021, several dozen entires came in, which meant several dozen hours of music to listen to, including every possible style. Then we revisited all of that with Åsa Åkerberg, Szymon Bywalec, and Ricardo Eizirik, to choose together a six-composer dream team. In June 2022 we held a couple of rather casual workshops in our playground, to gather again in August and September—these times to work on the new pieces effortfully and be able to present them to the public in their intended entireties.
The 2022 edition of PLAYGROUND culminated within the spaces of Poland’s two major festivals of contemporary music: Warsaw Autumn and Sacrum Profanum. The project was financed with the Ensemble Prize awarded by the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation.
released February 10, 2023
flutes Małgorzata Mikulska
clarinets Tomasz Sowa
saxophones Krzysztof Guńka
bassoon Aleksandra Krzak
violin / viola Paulina Woś, Bargara Mglej
cello Jakub Gucik
percussion Aleksander Wnuk
piano, sampler Martyna Zakrzewska
electronics Paweł Malinowski
record engineering Przemysław Kunda, Michał Warmusz
mixed and mastered by Przemysław Kunda
typesetting and design Tomasz Pilch, Blürbstudio
translated, edited, and proofread by Błażej Bauer
photograph Aleksandra Ołdak
coordination Olga Brewka
album sold within the statutory activities of the Spółdzielnia Muzyczna Association
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documentary:
youtu.be/YX7Pv6MGhYM
shot and edited by Aleksandra Ołdak
audio mixed and mastered by Jakub Gucik