Trio Scordatura

Dutch contemporary ensemble specializing in alternative tuning systems and microtonality; active since 2006 and based in Amsterdam. It was founded as Trio Scordatura by microtonalist and keyboard player Bob Gilmore (1961—2015) and continued as Scordatura Ensemble by two co-founders, Alfrun Schmid (vocals) and Elisabeth Smalt (viola). They followed Gilmore's wishes, who planned to explore the broader repertoire beyond the original "female voice, viola and MIDI keyboard" configuration while still alive. (The group's name, scordatura, Italian for "discord" or "mistuning," is a term in Western classical music for purposefully detuning string quartet instruments to create an unusual sound effect.) Scordatura grew out of Gilmore's "Amsterdam Partch Project," launched in 2002 and dedicated to American composer Harry Partch (1901—1974). Bob brought together a trio to perform one of Partch's early '30s cycles for Intoning Voice, Adapted Viola and Chromelodeon, using an exact copy of "Adapted Viola," built in 2001 and authorized by the Harry Partch Foundation. Following the "Truth about Tune" tour in 2002, Scordatura continued exploring Partch music, arranging the "Rose Petal Jam" tour in 2017 and an ongoing "Tonality Flux." The ensemble's collection of Partch instruments now features Diamond Marimba built by Aart Strootman, Adapted Guitars I & II prepared by James Mumford, Lucas Van Helsdingen's Tin Oboe, several replicas designed by Christian Smalt, and many more. Besides Harry Partch's music, the ensemble premiered numerous commissions from other prominent XX-century composers, including Horatiu Radulescu, François-Bernard Mâche, Peter Adriaansz, Christopher Fox, Marc Sabat, Yannis Kyriakides, Anne La Berge, Anton Lukoszevieze, Ned McGowan, Scott McLaughlin, Kate Moore (2), Harald Muenz, Lisa Illean, Anna Mikhailova, Santa Ratniece, Evija Skuķe, Guy De Bièvre and Merijn Bisschops. The group has been extensively collaborating with American composer and filmmaker Phill Niblock and worked with other notable contemporary orchestras, such as Crash Ensemble from Ireland, Dutch Ensemble Klang, and The Nelly Boyd Ensemble from Germany. Scordatura Trio/Ensemble performed at such prestigious venues and events as Roulette, New York, NY, Logos Foundation in Ghent, Belgium, Microfest in Los Angeles and Amsterdam, Blurred Edges festival in Hamburg, Cafe Oto in London, and many more across Europe and the UK. The ensemble organized educational projects and masterclasses at Koninklijk Conservatorium, Den Haag and Trinity College Of Music, London. Scordatura Ensemble's most recent studio album, featuring music by a British composer Frank Denyer (b. 1943), was recorded in 2021 and scheduled to release by Another Timbre label. It features various guests members: Janneke Van Prooijen and Jellantsje de Vries (violins), Alistair Sung (cello), Dario Calderone and Pietro Elia Barcellona (contrabasses), Jos Zwaanenburg (flutes), and Stefan Blonk (2) (horn). [u]SCORDATURA Line-ups[/u] "Tonality Flux" tour (since October 2020) Elisabeth Smalt — violas, artistic direction Alfrun Schmid — voice, artistic direction Chris Rainier — vocals, Adapter Guitars I/II & III, research Reinier Van Houdt — keyboards Lucia Mense — flutes, recorders, whistles Keiko Shichijo — Chromelodeon, Bass Marimba, keyboards Orlando Velázquez — percussion "Rose Petal Jam" tour (2017–2019) Elisabeth Smalt — Adapted Viola, Diamond Marimba, Flexatone, Cloud Chamber Bowls Alfrun Schmid — voice, Harmonic Canon Chris Rainier — vocals, Adapted Guitars I & II Reinier van Houdt — Chromelodeon, Bass Marimba, Mazda Marimba, keyboards, Cloud Chamber Bowls, Adapted Guitar III Lucia Mense — Tin Flute, recorders, flutes Lucas Van Helsdingen — Tin Oboe, Indian Drum, oboe, bass clarinet Samuel Vriezen — Kithara I Huib Ramaer — announcement, presentation, texts