Gaffigan currently holds leading artistic positions with the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía in Valencia, the Trondheim Symfoniorkester & Opera, the Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra and the Nederlands Radio Filharmonisch Orkest. In summer 2021, he ended his ten-year tenure as Principal Conductor of the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra.

As a guest conductor, he regularly leads renowned concert and opera orchestras in Europe, North America and Asia, including the orchestras of the Metropolitan Opera, the Opéra national de Paris, the Bavarian State Opera and the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich.

Heilbronn-born conductor Erina Yashima is currently Assistant Conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra, where she has assisted Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin and other guest conductors since 2019 and conducts concert programs herself. As a scholarship holder of the Sir Georg Solti Conducting Apprenticeship of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, she assisted Riccardo Muti.

According to the announcement by the German Music Industry Association (BVMI), the first singles charts under the new rules will cover the sales period from December 30, 2021 to January 6, 2022. Another new feature in 2022 is that YouTube will now also contribute data to determine the singles charts; this applies to both free and premium streams. The Official German Charts are determined by GfK Entertainment on behalf of the German Music Industry Association.

The charts are revenue-based and are not only based on the number of sales and streams, but also on the price achieved for a product and the value of a stream. The average value of a free stream used to determine the singles charts is calculated and regularly reviewed by the BVMI on a fiduciary basis using data from BVMI member companies.

Trade in objects containing worked ivory, with the exception of musical instruments or their accessories that contain ivory and were legally acquired before 1975 (Asian elephant) or 1976 (African elephant), is prohibited, unless they are musical instruments "used exclusively for decorative purposes". The instrument must therefore have been played "recently" - a concept that still requires some clarification from the Commission.

Legally acquired stocks of raw ivory may continue to be used to replace ivory parts in instruments manufactured before 1975/1976. However, the manufacture of new instruments from these stocks is now prohibited. A CITES certificate is required for so-called "antique" instruments (pre-1947), whereas they were previously exempt from this requirement.

Original article:
https://www.fim-musicians.org/de/eu-ivory-ban-2021-12/

According to the announcement by the German State Music Councils, it is the first percussion instrument to be declared Instrument of the Year. Instrument of the Year 2021 was the organ. The first drum set was launched on the market in 1918 by the Ludwig Drum Company from Chicago and revolutionized music production.

The state music councils have jointly chosen an Instrument of the Year every year since 2008. Each federal state appoints its own patrons and has its own approach in order to achieve the transnational goal of attracting curiosity and attention to the many facets, the literature and the fascination that the drumset has to offer.

Ambassador of the Instrument of the Year in Baden-Württemberg will be drummer, composer, solo musician and music lecturer Anika Nilles, who took over the drums department at the Popakademie Mannheim this year.

On the recommendation of the Cultural Council, the Government Council of Appenzell Ausserrhoden has awarded special support to an application as part of the third funding tranche this year. "Es Kamel im Zirkus" is a music and dance theater piece by Cirque de Loin for young people aged 7 and over. It is being developed in co-production with the "Jungspund! - Theaterfestival für junges Publikum St. Gallen".

This helps children and young people to encounter contemporary theater. The play also playfully addresses current issues such as migration and solidarity. All stage elements and the entire set are designed in such a way that the play can also be performed in venues without a theater stage.

According to the canton's press release, the cantonal government has also taken note of the decisions made by the Department of Education and Culture under its own authority in the period from mid-June to mid-November 2021. A total of 42 applications were processed, of which 28 projects were granted support amounting to a total of CHF 71,164.

More info: http://www.obacht.ch/

Born in 1990, Alexandre Zanetta comes from near Paris and had his first encounter with the natural horn at the age of 15 with his teacher Jacques Adnet (CRR Paris). He later studied modern horn with Marie-Luise Neunecker at the Hanns Eisler Academy of Music in Berlin and with Jens Plücker at the Lübeck Academy of Music. This was followed by studies with Thomas Müller and Jean-François Madeufan at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, with an emphasis on baroque horns and the combination of horn playing and singing.

Zanetta has been a lecturer for historical horns at the Trossingen University of Music since 2021 and is also active at the academic level. He is regularly engaged by renowned early music ensembles such as La Cetra Barockorchester Basel, Collegium 1704 and Concerto Copenhagen, and has taken part in CD productions with the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg and Los Elementos, among others.

Born in Bern. According to the Musinfo database, Wyttenbach studied piano (Kurt von Fischer) and composition (Sándor Veress) in Bern; further studies took him to Paris (Conservatoire). He taught at the Biel Music School and the Bern Conservatory. From 1967 he held a teaching position for piano and from 1970 for the interpretation of contemporary music at the Conservatory of the Basel Music Academy.

At the same time, he pursued a busy concert career as a pianist and conductor, particularly of contemporary works. In 1993, he was awarded the Art Prize of the City of Basel. In 2017 he received the Swiss Music Prize.

The multimedia presentation of sources from the archive of contemporaries (autographs, sketches, photos, video excerpts and audio samples) brings together and links striking aspects of the development of the composer's life and work. His own writings, correspondence and reception documents from over 80 years provide insights into Cerha's (artistic) life, make creative processes visible and reflect his position in the Austrian music scene.

The "Cerha Online" project was funded as part of the Science Call Digitalization of the Gesellschaft für Forschungsförderung Niederösterreich and is aimed at the interested public as well as a specialist audience.

Link: https://cerha-online.com

Original article:
https://www.donau-uni.ac.at/de/aktuelles/news/2021/mit-cerha-online-in-ein-kuenstlerleben-eintauchen.html
 

At the same time, biological indicators of stress in saliva were recorded in order to investigate possible psychobiological mechanisms underlying these positive effects. The type of music also played a role.

Until now, the positive effect of music on stress and physical complaints has primarily been studied in the laboratory or in a clinical context. In contrast, the Music & Health Lab team led by Swiss-German clinical psychologist Urs Nater from the University of Vienna took a more everyday approach and investigated the health-promoting effects of listening to music in a natural environment with the help of mobile technologies.

Original article:
https://medienportal.univie.ac.at/presse/aktuelle-pressemeldungen/detailansicht/artikel/musikhoeren-hilft-gegen-stress-und-koerperliche-beschwerden/

After Ian Anüll, Gianni Motti, Sabian Baumann, Julius Sartorius and Elodie Pong, the sixth sponsorship award goes to a singer for the first time, writes the Zurich-based foundation in its press release.

This will support Andreas Schaerer in the development of the new programs "Solo-Voice" (maximum reduction without loops and without effects) and "Monotasking". The latter explores the human voice in the 21st century, including the alienation of the vocal organ with electronic effects.

Born in Visp in 1976, the singer and composer graduated from the Bern University of the Arts in 2006 and has since toured internationally with various projects, including the sextet "Hildegard Lernt Fliegen".

The sponsorship award of the Erna and Curt Burgauer Foundation is awarded over three years and is linked to the realization of a work in the third year. It is awarded periodically and in addition to the annual grants. The Board of Trustees decides on the award. It is not possible to apply for the prize.

The disinfection cabinet, which looks like a large stainless steel refrigerator, was developed at the start of the coronavirus pandemic in 2019 and then tested on instruments. According to the manufacturer Kunath Instrumentenbau, it is currently the only instrument disinfection cabinet on the market. The first units were delivered at the beginning of December 2021. The Freiburg University of Music was the first conservatory in Europe to be supplied.

According to the University of Music's press release, the disinfection cabinet solves a problem that has been troubling flutists not just since the coronavirus pandemic: cleaning flutes is time-consuming. They can be disinfected with alcohol or other cleaning agents, but not immersed in them, otherwise the wood will suffer. The disinfection cabinet uses ultraviolet light and ozone gas to disinfect even hard-to-reach areas.

Original article:
https://www.mh-freiburg.de/presse/details/pressemitteilung-floeten-mit-neuer-technologie-coronasicher-desinfizieren

The Collegium Novum Zurich writes: Under the direction of Johannes Knapp, curator, cultural manager and cellist, the "Zürcher Ensemble für Gegenwartsmusik has reacted agilely to the corona-related restrictions and actively shaped change. The ensemble has tried out unconventional venues, including a power station, church cloisters and even a swimming pool, with considerable audience success. A streaming partnership with the Idagio Global Concert Hall brought the 25-piece ensemble new audiences. Knapp also set fresh accents with performative approaches. In addition, he succeeded in strengthening the ensemble's network in Zurich and internationally and gaining a number of new cooperation partners."

Oliver Adler, President of the Collegium Novum Zurich Association: "On behalf of all ensemble members, the board and the audience, I would like to thank Johannes Knapp for his tireless commitment. With a healthy mix of clear vision and pragmatism, he has initiated innovative and high-quality projects and ensured that the ensemble can master the challenges of the pandemic in the best possible way."

Ensemble members Matthias Arter, oboe, and Susanne Peters, flute, will take over as artistic directors ad interim. Knapp, who was elected artistic director of the CNZ in May 2019, will remain associated with the ensemble in an advisory capacity.
 

As the President of the Swiss Music Council, Rosmarie Quadranti, already announced in November, Nina Rindlisbacher will be joining the company in spring 2022. Sonart - Musicians Switzerland Responsible for the legal service and head of political projects.

The Swiss Music Council has Management position now advertised (PDF). Applications are welcome until January 9, 2022.
 

The Mizmorim Chamber Music Festival 2022 presents insights into the rich musical tradition of the Sephardic diaspora. More than thirty renowned artists will perform in nine concerts at various venues in Basel (Stadtcasino Basel, Gare du Nord, Zunftsaal im Schmiedenhof, Unternehmen Mitte and Tabourettli).

Musical highlights of this year's edition include the opening concert with the legendary viola da gamba virtuoso Jordi Savall and his ensemble Hespèrion XXI, performances by the Gringolts Quartet with Christophe Coin (violoncello) and a flamenco evening conceived by Spanish composer Mauricio Sotelo with dancer Fuensanta La Moneta. The Israeli composer Jonathan Keren will present new works as Mizmorim Composer-in-Residence.

In the "Mizmorim Jazz" format, the Basel-based Vein Trio will also bring Spanish musical traditions together with a contemporary jazz tradition. And in "Mizmorim Kids", the ensemble Zefirino and actor Adrian Kurmann will present a chivalrous musical adventure about the tragic hero Don Quixote.

Sephardic music has its origins in medieval Spain. In the same year that Christopher Columbus discovered America, the golden age of Jewish settlement on the Iberian Peninsula came to an abrupt end. Those who sought to escape the forced conversion to Catholicism had to flee to neighboring countries. Countless Jews settled in Italy, southern France, North Africa and the Ottoman Empire. In their new homeland, they cultivated the language, customs and culture of their country of origin - including music.

The eighth edition of the Mizmorim Chamber Music Festival brings together a wide-ranging selection of classics from the Iberian musical tradition as well as rarities from the Sephardic diaspora, whose music has evolved over the centuries under the cultural influences of the countries of settlement, under the theme "Diáspora Sefardí".

Founded in 2015, the Mizmorim Chamber Music Festival is the only chamber music festival in the Basel region and owes its name to the Jewish Psalms (Hebrew: Mizmorim).

The Covid-19 Cultural Ordinance fleshes out Article 11 of the Covid-19 Act and, according to the federal government's press release, was previously limited to the end of 2021. In view of the extension of the cultural measures in the Covid-19 Act adopted by Parliament today, the Federal Council has amended the Covid-19 Cultural Ordinance accordingly. This applies in particular to the periods for which claims can be made and the deadlines for submitting applications for support.

The revised Covid-19 Cultural Ordinance contains individual further clarifications. In particular, it stipulates that compensation to cultural enterprises and cultural professionals as well as compensation for cultural associations in the non-professional sector will only be taken into account as long as official restrictions apply.

As soon as all restrictions - including the certificate requirement - are lifted, the compensation will expire after a transitional period. On the other hand, emergency aid for artists and contributions to transformation projects will continue to be paid until the end of 2022, regardless of whether official restrictions are lifted.

Link to the press release of the Federal Council