History
Founded by Paula and Miguel Azguime, the Cultural Association Miso Music Portugal arose as an "extension" of the Miso Ensemble, with the objective to encourage and promote contemporary music creation and to bridge some of the numerous structural gaps in the Portuguese music environment, giving voice to a new generation of musicians and composers.
The Association's infrastructures have been developed during the years and many of its projects / activities have a public service character. The development of the infrastructures has made it possible to carry out a vast number of initiatives and to establish fundamental strategies for the preservation, research, creation, production, and promotion of Portuguese music in Portugal and abroad.
In paralel with these activities Paula and Miguel Azguime continue to develop and perform their own creations, regularly presented in Portugal and abroad.
Here are some of the main stages of Miso Music Portugal's institutional evolution:
1985 | foundation of the Miso Ensemble |
1988 | foundation of the Miso Records label |
1990 | foundation of the Miso Studio |
1992 | creation of the Música Viva Festival |
1995 | creation of the Loudspeaker Orchestra |
1996 | membership at the ECPNM (European Conference of Promotors of New Music) |
1998 | membership at the ISCM (International Society for Contemporary Music) |
1999 | foundation of the Música Viva International Competition of Electroacoustic Music |
2000 | membership at the ICEM (International Confederation for Electroacoustic Music) |
2002 | foundation of the Portuguese Music Research & Information Centre |
membership at the IAMIC (International Association of Music Information Centres) | |
2004 | creation of the Circuits project for the internationalization of Portuguese music |
2005 | foundation of the Lab for Electroacoustic Creation (residencies for composers) |
2006 | launch of the Portuguese Music Research & Information Centre website (www.mic.pt) |
membership at the ICMA (International Computer Music Association) | |
foundation of the Electroacoustic Theatre | |
2007 | foundation of the Sond'Ar-te Electric Ensemble |
creation of the Miso Music Portugal Concert Season | |
2008 | creation of the Sond'Ar-te Composition Competition - Chamber Music with Electronics |
membership at the IETM (International Network for Contemporary Performing Arts) | |
creation of the public art project SoundWalk - Electroacoustic Miniatures | |
constitution of the Scientific Board of the Portuguese Music Research & Information Centre | |
2009 | score edition and distribution by the Portuguese Music Research & Information Centre |
2010 | attribution of the Medal of Cultural Merit by the Cascais Municipality |
celebration of the 25th anniversary of Miso Music Portugal | |
2011 | creation of the New Music Review Lounge |
2012 | creation of the Arte Eletroacústica radio programme |
membership at the Donne in Musica project of the Adkins Chitti Foundation | |
membership at the European Music Council and International Music Council | |
2013 | attribution of the Status of Public Utility Institution |
creation of the monthly event Open Farm Thursdays - Electroacoustic Agriculture | |
2014 | reactivation of the Música Hoje (Music Today) radio programme |
It should be also indicated that:
< 1985 | since its foundation in 1985 Miso Music Portugal has given special attention to education through art dedicating numerous activities to young audiences, such as the Sound Told Fairy Tales |
< 1996 | Miso Music Portugal's membership in different international networks has annually ensured the internationalization of numerous works of Portuguese composers |
< 2001 | from this year Miso Music Portugal has established a regular programme of commissions to composers, with emphasis on Portuguese authors |
Some collective creations and performances by Paula and Miguel Azguime / Miso Ensemble:
< 1985 | more than 600 performances of the Miso Ensemble (flute, percussion and electronics) in Portugal and abroad, with programmes composed of Paula and Miguel Azguime's own works, as well as pieces by other composers |
1997/98 | Yuan Zhi Yuan (work for soprano, tenor, 6 traditional Chinese instruments, chamber choir and live electronics) - music by Miguel Azguime, staging, light design and image projections by Paula Azguime |
1999/2002 | O Centro do Excêntrico do Centro do Mundo (work for 16 voices, 2 speakers and live electronics) - music by Miguel Azguime, staging by Paula Azguime |
2001 | O Ar do Texto Opera a Forma do Som Interior (sound poetry) - texts, music and performance by Miguel Azguime, staging and live-electronics by Paula Azguime |
2003/06 | Salt Itinerary (multimedia opera) - texts, music and performance by Miguel Azguime, staging and video composition by Paula Azguime |
2011 | The Little Girl Water Droplet (children opera) - music by Miguel Azguime, staging and video composition by Paula Azguime |
2013 | A Laugh to Cry (multimedia opera) - texts and music by Miguel Azguime, staging and video composition by Paula Azguime |
