Students of class C of the MA Digital Narratives worked directly with and in the context of an internationally acclaimed music experience called 1:1 CONCERTS.
A 1:1 CONCERTS© event features a 10 min. non-verbal 1-to-1-encounter between a listener and a musician. The opening eye contact and ensuing mutual gaze is the impulse for a very personal concert where both sides experience an unprecedented intensity allowing proximity from a distance. The concert attendees do not know who is going to play. Whether they hear a jazz saxophone, a double bass or a baroque flute will come as a surprise. Moreover, the concept explores extraordinary concert venues – concerts can take you to an art gallery, a quiet backyard, an empty factory hall or an allotment garden. Spaces and venues are provided by private hosts.
The objective of the 1:1 CONCERTS project is to make a substantial contribution to the preservation of the cultural landscape by bringing together musicians, listeners and hosts through the various institutions: the voluntary donations of the concert visitors go directly to the Emergency Fund of the German Orchestra Foundation or similar regional foundations supporting musicians who are in distress due to the corona-driven cancellation of all concerts and performances.
During this seminar within their second semester of studies, students of the MA Digital Narratives worked with agile production techniques on this production exercise, led by lecturer Christoph Brosius, to prototype ideas on how to digitally extend the experience before and after the actual analog concert.
Two of the artistic directors of 1:1 CONCERTS – Franziska Ritter and Christian Siegmund – accompanied the workshop: »While culture was banished almost exclusively digitally behind the screens last year due to the pandemic, the small concert format 1:1 CONCERTS made live musical experiences possible for many people. An integral part of the concept is to create real encounters that enable proximity at a safe distance. Hence, the collaboration with students of the MA Digital Narratives was quite a challenge but the idea of connecting the digital with the analog made us very curious – and we were surprised about the incredible outcome!« For the 1:1 CONCERTS Team this cooperation was a most interesting experience: »In an experimental and playful approach, the students demonstrated how manifold new technologies and digital means can enrich and expand the analog experience and create very own qualities and spaces of experience. Every single one of them took a close look at the format, resulting in a series of extremely creative ideas of the most diverse nature. Some prototypes were even tested in self-organized 1:1 CONCERTS. We were also impressed – despite or because of the short time – by the way students collaborated in teams, in groups or individually… and all of that during an online semester. Many thanks to Christoph Brosius, his students and the entire ifs team for this wonderful experience.«
