Reiko Yamada

Between Art and Archive in Composer’s Ephemeral Documentation Practices

2025-01-27 11am CAE (online), Figueira da Foz

Sinopse

This talk explores the multifaceted challenges of documentation in contemporary music composition, considering both creative and practical aspects. It addresses the purposes of documentation (traditionally the musical score)—whether for reproduction, application, archival, or public release—and raises critical questions about its impact on artistic practice. The discussion examines questions of audience, intent, and medium, exploring how documentation can simultaneously preserve and transform artistic works.

From scores for acousmatic works or pieces involving extra-musical performative elements to the challenges of software obsolescence, the talk investigates how documentation intersects with artistic research and the lifecycle of a composition. It also reflects on when and why creators choose not to document and how such decisions impact the artistic process. Does documentation equate to release? Who is it for—the general public, peers, or the composer themselves? Finally, can the act of documenting become an integral part of the artwork itself?

Bio

Reiko Yamada is a composer and sound artist from Hiroshima, Japan, exploring the aesthetic concept of imperfection through concert works, sound art installations, and interdisciplinary collaborations. She holds a D.Mus in composition from McGill University and has been recognized with fellowships at Harvard's Radcliffe Institute and IEM, among others. Her works, commissioned by institutions like IRCAM and New Music USA, have been presented at venues such as The Met Breuer and Sónar Festival. Currently, she is a postdoctoral researcher at ICFO and a visiting professor at ESMUC in Barcelona.

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