In summer 2024. I had an amazing opportunity to work with large Ensemble of young people (some of them were students of mine), on my piece “Oh My God”.
At the very first rehearsal (I was conducting the piece at the early stage of preparations), I (mis)used my authority to express my opinion:
“The thing that is missing in contemporary music (Neue Musik) is “Groove!“.
Aware of the possibility to sound arrogant, the expression sounded almost like manifesto.
But I relied on my honesty – since my earliest preoccupation with contemporary music (and it´s subgenres), “groove”, in this form or another, has always been something I was interested in and something I was looking for ways to explore it in more, let’s say, advanced nature.
“Oh My God” was in certain way turning point since in that piece is deeply rooted in music that has rhythm as fundament (of course it is not only about rhythm).
Right after the premiere of “Oh My God” I accepted one of rare commissions for quartet of viola, saxophone, accordion and double bass (later replaced with Piano and Sampler). That was perfect opportunity to start new cycle which became „Into The Groove“.
Modular nature
Pieces from „Into The Groove“ cycle are also composed as „modular“ pieces –
the core of each piece is „rhythm“ section (piano and sampler (bass, drums)) but „melodic“ instrumentation can vary: f.e. the premiere of „Into The Groove 1“ was arranged for Viola, Saxophone, Accordion and Double Bass (bassist triggering drum samples with MIDI foot controller which created a feeling of definite rhythm section regarding tightness and control). However, by the recording of the piece in February 2026., Bass and Drum Samples are fully converted to sample-based instrument, with MIDI keyboard and Accordion is replaced with Piano –
this way forming „jazz trio“ performed by two musicians.
Classification of the pieces is in progress….