#5 Maya Shenfeld, guitarist/composer/writer
The Darmstadt Summer Course for New Music offers an excellent writing course for participants. Israel-born, Berlin-based guitarist/composer/writer Maya Shenfeld shared her thoughts on her experience with the writing course and her vision as a composer-performer.
- How is your experience in the writing course?
It's been really fun. Our job is to go to all the concerts and talk to people. In the first week they emphasize writing and the second week we learn about making radio shows/podcasts. Our tutor Anne Hilde Neset has been a huge inspiration for me. She doesn't tell us what to do specifically. What to write about and who to interview are totally up to us. I’m interested in the whole concept of "composer-performer", so I wanted to interview David Helbich and I am interested to see the workshop by Jennifer Walshe. I hope to explore further about the dichotomy between composers and performers who step out the box and push the boundaries. I would also like to know how to bring music and visual arts close together.
- Do you consider yourself a performer-composer?
I think I am — as much as I understand this medium. This is a medium that is less defined. There is this cliché image of "genius" composer who writes grand pieces for orchestra or the cliché image of "virtuoso" performer. I come from this traditional background — I am a highly classically trained guitarist. But I have been composing the past few years doing video projects, sound pieces, and also electronic music outside of the classical music world. Living in Berlin gives me so much inspiration and many opportunities. People ask me to write music for their projects and instead of saying “No, I’m not a composer,” I took the opportunity and began being involved in the scene as a composer.
It's been really fun. Our job is to go to all the concerts and talk to people. In the first week they emphasize writing and the second week we learn about making radio shows/podcasts. Our tutor Anne Hilde Neset has been a huge inspiration for me. She doesn't tell us what to do specifically. What to write about and who to interview are totally up to us. I’m interested in the whole concept of "composer-performer", so I wanted to interview David Helbich and I am interested to see the workshop by Jennifer Walshe. I hope to explore further about the dichotomy between composers and performers who step out the box and push the boundaries. I would also like to know how to bring music and visual arts close together.
- Do you consider yourself a performer-composer?
I think I am — as much as I understand this medium. This is a medium that is less defined. There is this cliché image of "genius" composer who writes grand pieces for orchestra or the cliché image of "virtuoso" performer. I come from this traditional background — I am a highly classically trained guitarist. But I have been composing the past few years doing video projects, sound pieces, and also electronic music outside of the classical music world. Living in Berlin gives me so much inspiration and many opportunities. People ask me to write music for their projects and instead of saying “No, I’m not a composer,” I took the opportunity and began being involved in the scene as a composer.
- What attracted you to become a performer-composer?
I’m always very curious and I always like learning. Interpreting music and studying the instrument at such a specialized level is great art itself. But I needed more. I always liked literature, photography and other art forms. I needed to do different things.
- What does the act of “writing” mean to you?
Writing is one of the most important tools one can have. For me, I can understand music better through writing and it is a way to intensify the experience. For example, If you sit in a concert knowing that you have to write about the concert, you would be more focused and listen for the details.
I don’t come from this background. I didn’t study musicology. That’s exactly why I wanted to challenge myself with writing. There are many issues in the classical music education that I wanted to talk about. I realize that one of the best ways to do so is to write about it so that I can share my thoughts with other people in different media.
- What's your motivation for you to write?
I support women’s voices and women’s power. I am amazed with this year’s Darmstadt Summer Course and feel lucky to be here. Starting the Jennifer Walshe’s incredible performance and Georgina Born’s lecture, there are so much to learn and it has been very fascinating. Gender inequality in the contemporary music field is apparent. It would be great if we were to create a supportive community for ladies, trans, males, conductors, performers, and composers...like…everyone!
Thanks, Maya!
Want to know more about Maya and her work?
Visit: mayashenfeld.com
photography & interview by Michiko Saiki
August 5, 2016
August 5, 2016