The International Academy of Smarano, in collaboration with Piazza del Mondo Association, is launching a contemporary composition workshop dedicated to historical keyboard instruments. This initiative aims to bridge past and future, rediscovering and reinventing these instruments through an ongoing dialogue between tradition and musical innovation. Recognized internationally as one of the most prestigious institutions in early music fields, the Academy of Smarano, after thirty years of activity, now seeks to create a workshop and concert tour exploring contemporary creativity in relation tohistorical keyboard instruments(harpsichords, organs, fortepianos, clavichords), both in terms of sound andcontextual evocation. While in 2024, the Academy focused on renewing historical performance practices through interaction with visual arts, in 2025, it will experiment with new forms of contemporaneity by fostering the creation of original compositions. These works will engage with historical keyboards’ technical and sonic possibilities while maintaining a free yet respectful approach to the emblematic technical and musical characteristics of these instruments, modal music systems, and historical temperaments. The composition process will be deeply connected to the instrumental act and its potential sonic outcomes, respecting a rich cultural heritage while remaining open to new artistic discoveries. This trans-historical approach seeks to innovate the dissemination and experience of early music repertoire. It aims to bring contemporary music and Renaissance and Baroque keyboard instruments to a broader audience.

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