The use of alternative tunings in music offers rich, often overlooked, worlds of harmony and ways into sound. Venturing beyond twelve-tone equal temperament allows us to explore new sounds and rehear familiar ones. In this workshop, we will survey a range of alternative tunings found in the work of composers of the last century, as well as historical tuning systems from cultures throughout the world, with attention given to how these systems have developed in relation to the musics they inform. Attendees will be encouraged to find and develop personal approaches to tuning to jumpstart new processes and work, to integrate into already existing practices, and simply to broaden their ears and awareness. Working in the classroom, in CAMP's various facilities, and outside in the mountain landscape, we will listen to, read, and discuss a selection of relevant source materials while focusing on the development of individual and group projects to explore and share ideas.


Subjects will include: just intonation (La Monte Young, James Tenney, among others); historical tunings and temperaments (Pythagorean tuning; meantone, well, and equal temperaments); non-Western tuning systems; phenomena-based approaches (Alvin Lucier, Pauline Oliveros, Éliane Radigue, Giacinto Scelsi, Iannis Xenakis, among others); instruments (acoustic and electronic) and instrument and scale building (Harry Partch, Erv Wilson); and contemporary work with guest speakers from across the field. No prior knowledge of the subject is necessary; however, the ability to read music and a basic understanding of functional harmony is helpful.


Tashi Wada is a composer and performer based in Los Angeles. Wada studied composition at CalArts with James Tenney and for many years performed alongside his father, Yoshi Wada. He has presented his music internationally and collaborated with a range of artists including Charles Curtis, Simone Forti, and Julia Holter. Wada founded and runs the label Saltern. His most recent album Nue was released by RVNG Intl.



WHERE AND WHEN?

The course takes place at our residential centre in Aulus les Bains. It's two hours south of Toulouse, high in the French Pyrenees, very near the border with Spain. For detailed travel information, see the transport section. The course starts on Wednesday, . We advise that you arrive the evening before (20/09/2022) - dinner and accommodation that night is included. The course runs for five days, ending on Sunday night. Accommodation on Sunday night is included, then we leave on Monday morning (26/09/2022). If you decide to take the minibus with us, you will be picked up in Toulouse at 6pm on 20/09/2022, and will be back in Toulouse at 11am on 26/09/2022.

HOW TO BOOK

To book your place on the course, click the button in the green section above. You won't pay anything right now - we'll send you a booking confirmation email with everything you need to know next. Your place is reserved without payment for three days.

You'll find a payment link in the booking confirmation email - follow the link to make a payment (either in full, or the first payment of a 6 month payment plan). In the latter case, a monthly payment plan will be put in place, so your card will be charged 1/6 of the fee today, and 1/6 each month (on the same day) for an additional 5 months. All card payments are handled by Stripe, and are extremely secure. We don't store any card data ourselves - all of this is handled securely off-site by Stripe. If you have a discount or grant code, you will be able to add it when you follow the payment link in your confirmation email.

Once you've made a payment, you'll receive another email containing your receipt, links to resources, contact information and access to our group chat to discuss the workshop with other participants.