Microtonal Music Studios Presents Transcending Scales with Dylan Rodgers and a screening of a new piece for violin and video and talk about his Sizuku microtonal technique with Dr. Ryo Sugiyama.

17.00 Dylan Rodgers explores the intricacies of the Arab modal system (i.e. maqam) in this lecture-demonstration, featuring traditional pieces, improvisation and an original composition by Dylan Rodgers on the oud and ney. Drawing from both a theoretical and practical understanding of Arab modal theory, this presentation delves into the many ways in which the performance of maqam musics transcend the very concept of musical scale.
19.00 Dr. Ryo Sugiyama will premier his new 20 minute piece N-M-H for violin and movie. To preface the piece he will discuss his Sizuku microtonal way and violin techniques.

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Dylan Rodgers is a recent graduate from the University of California, Santa Barbara’s Ethnomusicology program. Throughout his studies of various global musical traditions, Dylan has remained an avid composer and sonic experimentalist. As a multi-instrumentalist, Dylan performs regularly on the guitar, oud, saz, drums and synthesizers. Situating himself at the crossroads of the traditional and the avant-garde, Dylan’s work draws upon aspects of rock, folk, classical and electronic music. Since 2020, his research and experimentation have primarily been centered around the consolidation of microtonality and guitar performance. In 2022, Dylan was awarded funding by the American Musical Instrument Society for the creation of four different experimental microtonal guitars; his article ‘The Microtonal Guitar: Liberating the Guitar From the Confines of 12-Tone Equal Temperament’ details the various aspects of this project. Presently, Dylan is in the process of composing a series of electroacoustic studies centered around the intersection of harmonic polyrhythm and extended just intonation.

Dr Ryo Sugiyama, born in Nagano, Japan, studied music at Aichi University of the Arts (Aichi, Japan) and completed the doctoral degree (Doctor of Music) in field of violin performance, microtonal research, and composition. In recent years, he has composed and performed his original works, especially for violin with other instruments and sounds.

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Microtonal Music Studios Research and Study Programme Exhibition and Event Week
09.05.-19.05.2024

Performance Schedule:
09.05.- Paul Devens
16.05.- Stéphane Clor solo Rhizome
17.05.- Dylan Rodgers // Dr. Ryo Sugiyama
18.05.- Tianjun Li // Lucía Hinojosa Gaxiola

Participating artists:
Nemat Battah, Melik Turunen, Noah Jordan, Stephen Webb, Dylan Rodgers, Rebecca Minten, Jacob Elkin, Dr. Ryo Sugiyama, Tianjun Li (aka. Timjune Lee), Juulia Haverinen.

Visiting Artists:
Paul Devens, Lucia Hinojosa Gaxiola, Linda Sormin
Microtonal Music Studios is a project directed by Timo Tuhkanen
The first Microtonal Music Studios Research and Study program exhibition and event week explores the practices of participating student practices through voice and text, image, microtonality, instrument making, and performance. As well as an installation the week contains discussions, concerts, and performances from all participants.