Villa Aurora Grant Recipients | 2016

Jul, Aug, Sep

Magda Mayas | Composer (together with Tony Buck)

Magda Mayas
Magda Mayas

The Duo Spill, Madga Mayas and Tony Buck, has been collaborating since 2003.

Magda Mayas is a pianist living in Berlin. Developing a vocabulary utilizing both the inside as well as the exterior parts of the piano, using preparations and objects, she explores textural, linear and fast moving sound collage. Alongside the piano, Mayas has recently been performing on a Clavinet/Pianet, an electric piano from the 60s with strings and metal chimes, where she engages with noise and more visceral sound material, equally extending the instrumental sound palette using extended techniques and devices. Mayas has performed all over the world and collaborated with many leading figures in improvisation and composers such as John Butcher, Andy Moor, Zeena Parkins, Joelle Leandre, Paul Lovens, Ikue Mori, Phill Niblock, Peter Evans, Andrea Neumann and Axel Dörner. She has performed at festivals and exhibitions such as Maerz Musik, Documenta, or the  Berlin Biennale. Since 2013, she has also been producing radio pieces for ABC Australia and Deutschlandradio Kultur and has released 20 CDS to date.

Spill’s project for Villa Aurora is entitled „Connect/Reconnect – Geographical Resonance“, a new composition with audiovisual elements. Field recordings by Maya Magdas, a video installation by  Tony Buck and spoken word/poetry by Andrew Choate (Los Angeles) will complement the instrumental constellation. The piece centers on the topic of a geographical location’s influence on artistic work. What constitutes a place’s creative energy? The duo answers this question by branching out into interdisciplinary collaborations with l.A. artists, such as Andrew Choate and the radio collektive KCHUNG.

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