He studied flute at the Bratislava Conservatory (1986–1992) with Dagmar Zsapková, but his ongoing interest in unusual performance techniques led him to study composition, at first privately with Ladislav Burlas (1986–1988), from 1989 with Ilja Zeljenka, and at the Academy of Music and Drama with the same teacher (1990–1995). Zeljenka encouraged Piaček’s interest in experimental art, and thus hastened his disassociation with traditional forms (String Quartet, 1989). During his studies he began working in the Experimental Studio of the Slovak Radio, where he produced Flauto dolce ’91 (1991, in collaboration with Juraj Ďuriš). Piaček attended several training courses and seminars (Boswil – 1990–1991; Nottingham Trent University – Kevin Jones, 1993; Akademie für Neue Musik – Boguslaw Schaeffer, Marek Chołoniewski, 1996). He is co-founder of Middle-Class Chamber Orchestra Požoň Sentimental and collaborated with ensembles Musica falsa et ficta, Mio-Mio, Piaček-Pavelka-Michalec, Brass Band Štós, Voise Over Noise, Audiobratia, Pink Big Pig, don@u.com, POVAŽAN, Frutti di Mare, Tuleň, VENI ensemble, VENI Academy, VAPORI del CUORE, Son-Drian, Upokojenci, Gourounaki Project.
Piaček’s music was featured at Warsaw Autumn (i. e. commissioned work “Happy Mainstream”), Wien Modern, Wiener Festwochen, Melos-Ethos, Evenings of New Music, Musica Danubiana Ljubljana, Bratislava Music Festival, KioSK festival Žilina, Fest Anča Žilina, 4 živly Banská Štiavnica, Festival of Nice Music Banská Štiavnica, New-New Festival Brno, New Slovak Music festival, Exposition of New Music Brno, on many concerts at home and abroad. He performed improvised music with musicians like Nick Collins, David Dramm, Hilary Jeffrey, Ann LaBerge, Beth Griffith, Jean-Marc Montera, Günter Müller, Chris Newmann, John Oswald, Otomo Yoshihide, Jon Rose, Miki Skuta, Daan Vandevalle, Marián Varga, Elliot Sharp, Alfred Zimmerlin, and others.
Presently he is active as a composer, performer (flute, laptop), lecturer (soundart), organizer of contemporary music events.
In his music Piaček exploits elements of every-day life and culture, allusions to pop-music, he re-creates (re-composes) music all around us, music of the past…
In Piaček’s eyes, and in his works, rather, art is a culture-creating activity, giving him space, where something neutral, even trivial, aggressive (bad) is changed into something good, better, of greater value – briefly, something what makes sense.
Selection of albums, EPs and net releases from Slovakia’s vital and diverse music scene: the ultimate creative, non-conventional, underground and cutting-edge stuff.
БРАДА – BRADA (CD-R) Martin Burlas – Konečne plač (album, vinyl) Martin Burlas – The Doubt came too late (album, vinyl) Cloudsform – From Within A Myst (EP, net) Daniel Danielsson – Llajf EP (EP, net) Andrej Danóczi – Exorcista (album, net) Andrej Danóczi – Chronologies (album, net) Andrej Danóczi – Mandragora 2 (album, net) Andrej Danóczi – Music for Darkness (album, net) Andrej Danóczi – Reminiscencie (album, net)
Two well experienced Slovak artists, Stano Benacka & Marek Piacek, who call themselves “Woofer (basovy reproduktor)” and “Tweeter (vyskovy reproduktor)” use for their performances a very sophisticated freeware called Clanger Theremin. The sound they are producing with the help of two small hardware equipement Mio DigiWalker P560. Characteristic feature for their performances are glissandos: “Woofer” is an expert in frequency response 20-200 Hz and “Tweeter” in 201-20000 Hz. Their first public performance was at the Multiplace festival in Bratislava on 26 April 2008.
Mio – Mio:
“Pro ty, kdo nevěděli, co jsou Mio-Mio zač, mohl být začátek jejich hraní zajímavým výjevem: na pódium přijdou dva chlapi, střední věk, černé nažehlené obleky, čisté bílé košile, kravaty, sluneční brýle; i přes smrtelně vážný výraz v tvářích připomínají Těžkej Pokondr; posadí se na židle, před nimi stůl a na něm leží několik elektrických krabiček, na které ale během představení stejně téměř nešáhnou; oba si vezmou do jedné ruky GPS navigátor, do druhé dotykovou tužku, pouštějí si asymetrický hudební podklad evokující dobu, kdy pojem elektronická hudba znali jen akademici, a začínají; hrábnou tužkou do displeje a… zní to jako theremin. Překvapivé, podivné a fascinující v tom, že výrazové možnosti takového hraní jdou mnohem dál než analogové hrátky s potenciometry a že je to o poznání zábavnější podívaná než digitální hrátky s laptopem. …” Rock & Pop
Members: Slavo Krekovic, Marek Piacek, Oliver Rehak (laptops, electronics)
VOICE OVER NOISE is a trio of laptop musicians from Bratislava. They create sample collages out of “stolen footage” material, instantly building a unique puzzle out of bits of our common past and present. Flow of unpredictable situations where Madonna meets Edgar Varèse, old computer game music sound together with the phragments of J.S.Bach’s. Voice Over Noise are the live Recycle Bin of our pop culture: noisy, energetic, sometimes funny, but also sentimental refreshment of our collective memory.
“VOICE OVER NOISE czyli trio w składzie Slavo Krekovic, Marek Piacek, Oliver Rehak, to kolektyw elektronicznych improwizatorów. Wszyscy trzej używają komputerów oraz syntezatorów i innych urządzeń. Piacek studiował w konserwatorium, Krekovic i Rehak są muzykami, dziennikarzami, muzykologami i kuratorami artystycznych wydarzeń w Bratysławie. Połączyło ich poszukiwanie eksperymentalnych form wyrazu, które kanalizują w kolektywnej improwizacji łączącej wiele wątków z szerokiego spektrum muzyki elektronicznej i konkretnej.” – Musica Genera Festival, Poland
RECORDINGS:
O Art, Where Art Thou? A new album by Voice Over Noise, the ‘live plunderphonic’ trio from Bratislava, is out now on Divis Slovakia (2010), distributed by Atrakt Art. It features mostly material identical to live concert programme performed by the band over the past 3 years, but much of it is also based on live improvisations. Recorded in stereo, no overdubs.
Voice Over Noise track “And You are Asking What About Me” appeared on Short Circuit compilation (Music Centre Slovakia, 2010).
LIVE VIDEOS:
@ Heavy Mental, Fleda, Brno (8.4.2008) / Tribute To Falco
@ Pohoda Festival 2008 (Kdyz se podari / If We Could Make It Happen)
@ Zilina Conservatory Hall 2009 (Voice Over Noise)
The Vapori del Cuore ensemble was formed as an open group late in 1993 by members of other various contemporary music ensembles in Bratislava (Tule_, Veni Ensemble, Vitebsk Broken, Forgotten Band, etc.), namely Marek Piaček, Ronald Šebesta, Lubo Burgr, Martin Burlas, Peter Zagar, Daniel Matej, Roman Laščiak. The group’s name refers to the expressive poetry of Edoardo Sanguinetti, analyzed by Luciano Berio in his piece Laborintus II. The music of Vapori del Cuore crosses various genres (American experimental music, experimental rock, performance, etc.). The group has recently been focusing on improvised music. During the period of 1994 to 2000, the group collaborated with David Dramm, Peter Machajdík, Nicolas Collins, Daan Vandewalle, Chris Newman, Beth Griffith, Mikulá_ _kuta, DJ Ghalagha and Alfred Zimmerlin. Along with the dance group of Marta Poláková Vapori del Cuore produced the improvised dance performance Open, and early in 2000 it took part in Tri_tvrte Revue magazine’s project of joining live improvised music with the screening of the movie Microcosmos. In November 2000, the group performed at the 11th Evenings of New Music Festival with guests Otomo Yosihide, John Oswald and Marián Varga. The ensemble, along with the Monika _ertezni dance group, is currently working on a project combining music and dance called Big-Time Dance, which premiered in May 2001 at the Exposition of New Music Festival in Brno, Czech Republic.
Two composers and performers with a lot of experience with composed and improvised music decided to use their laptops for creating music. The first performance of Pink Big Pig (PBP) was on the Next Festival in December 2005 in Bratislava.
The musical experience of both PBP members includes 15 years performing in many ensembles and groups – Ali Ibn Rachid, Vapori del Cuore, Požoň Sentimental, VENI ensemble, Dogma, don@u.com, SonDrian. They performed improvised music with musicians like Nick Collins, David Dramm, Hilary Jeffrey, Ann LaBerge, Beth Griffith, Jean-Marc Montera, Günter Müller, Chris Newmann, John Oswald, Otomo Yoshihide, Jon Rose, Elliot Sharp, Miki Skuta, Daan Vandevalle, Marián Varga, Alfred Zimmerlin, and others.
In the field of electroaccoustic music Pink Big Pig handles with the sound material in the same way as the ensemble Požoň Sentimental does with the different structures in the field of classical music (from artificial music events to banal pop elements…).
Ľubo Burgr plays violin, guitar, recycles and generates sound material on his laptop. Marek Piaček plays flute and piccolo and recycles his own flute playing in real time and uses different classical music events for accompaniment.
Improvisation Symphonic Orchestra based in Bratislava (since 2006).
Conservative principles in music are often described as dead. But musically dead can also be the Describer, practically the one, that complains about the actual state of music. So who is really dead? The answer to this question will be given by histories in the future. We are actually too young to give answers to such questions, but our goal is to bring perhaps just a bit of light by our improvised music into the problem.
Musica falsa et ficta practices conducted collective improvisation. It is a group of about 25 young musicians, mostly studying at the State Conservatory and at the Academy of Music in Bratislava, plus guests. Each of these musicians brings his own personal view of music into the proces of improvisation. We try to combine music created by classical instruments with electronics (laptops, effects, …) and we move on the edge of composition, improvisation and interpretation in real time.
Members: Andrea Babjaková – violin, Peter Ferienčík – violin, Michaela – viola, Jonatán Pastirčák – cello, electronics, Pavol Kušík – double bass, Peter Duchnický – flute, Veronika Vitázková – flute, piccola, Martina Kuštarová – flute, Marek Piaček – conducting, Šimon Lupták – movement, Lucia Chuťková – clarinet, voice, Paulína Rónaiová – oboe, Tomáš Rak – bassoon, Alexander Platzner – alto saxophone, bass clarinet, Miro Tóth – alto saxophone, Juraj Miškovič – horn, Martin Krížik – horn, voice, Róbert Kolář – horn, Jozef Gorel – perkussions, Ján Oriško – drums, Lenka Novosedlíková – piano, xylophone, bells, František Király – piano, Janko Brtka – accordeon, Slávo Krekovič – el. guitar, synth, Oliver Rehák – el. guitar, rbnx – electronics
Daniel Matej – Structures, Pages and Improvisations / excerpt
Frutti di mare was an experimental audiovisual group which utilized different concepts of playing from 2007 to 2012. Production of this group dealt with interaction between text, voice, instrumental part and real-time visual projection. Visuals and live performance of the musicians formed an interactive experience. Every edition of the FDM project follows different phenomenon. Combinations of musicians also changed from one FDM project to another. Performers from FDM are members of contemporary improvised music scene – mainly from Slovakia, but later also from other Central European countries.
The author of FDM concept and artistic leader was composer and improviser Miro Tóth.
Juun, Martin Siewert, Bernhard Breuer, Peter Zagar, Daniel Matej, Marek Piaček, Ronald Šebesta
The idea of don@u.com was born in the fall 2002 when Daniel Matej and Martin Siewert met for the first time at Musikprotokoll ’02 in Graz, playing on the same evening and stage with their own bands TRAPIST and VAPORI del CUORE. Sharing similar aesthetic concepts and approaches to improvisation they decided to form an occasional band “open to musicians united by the river Danube and – most of all – by common ideas”. The band then got its name in 2004, at the occasion of its first public performance. Since 2006 don@u.com plays in more or less definite line-up with 7 musicians (Bernhard Breuer, Daniel Matej, Marek Piacek, Martin Siewert, Ronald Šebesta, Judith Unterpertinger, Peter Zagar) and the sound engineer Roman Lašciak. The first CD presents a selection of the band’s first two projects, “Lieder ohne Worte” and “Lieder ohne Worte 2”, created and premiered at the (NEW) MUSIC AT HOME ’04 in Šamorín and at the EVENINGS OF NEW MUSIC ’05 in Bratislava.
