Abrasion
(2021)
for harpsichord and electronic media|
GOŚKA ISPHORDING, harpsichord | Photo credit: Karol Adam Sokołowski / NFM ABRASION - written for and dedicated to harpsichordist Gośka Isphording "Ewa Trębacz in Abrasion brings together and overlaps different musical planes, which results in their clash. This clash becomes a key tool in the piece’s dramaturgy. In the author’s imagination, the sound layers create a metaphorical mirror that reflects and transforms time, allowing for retrospection – recalling and working through what has been lost, and thus a dialogue between the past and the present." [ Source: Musica Electronica Nova Festival's programme brochure ]
Gośka has performed at most prestigious festivals and concert halls. Her solo appearances include Gaudeamus Music Week or November Music, and more recently Warsaw Autumn Festival, Gaida Festival, ISCM World Music Days and Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival. Pan-European appearances have brought Gośka to the attention of a variety of composers, and her inimitable approach to the harpsichord has earned numerous dedications and commissions. Gośka has premiered over a hundred solo and chamber music compositions and is an addressee of harpsichord concerti by Hanna Kulenty, Roderik de Man or Andrzej Kwiecinski. A passion for the careful interplay of apparently disparate forms has led Gośka to co-found The Roentgen Connection. She is also a member of The Riot Ensemble in London and has collaborated with ensembles like Asko|Schönberg, Insomnio Ensemble, Musikfabrik or Sinfonia Varsovia. She currently teaches contemporary harpsichord techniques at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. [ Source: https://www.goskaisphording.com/ ] 
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PREMIERE: May 17, 2025 The National Forum of Music (NFM) in Wrocław Concert cofinanced from the Creativity Support Fund of Society of Authors ZAiKS About Musica Electronica Nova (MEN): Held every two years, the festival presents new forms of expression in contemporary music, including electronics and new media, alongside projects that combine music with other disciplines, such as dance, cinema and visual arts. The festival promotes both foreign artists and Polish musicians and composers. The Artistic Director of MEN is the composer Pierre Jodlowski. Jagoda Olczyk (NFM / MEN): Assuming that wiring a centuries-old harpsichord – enhancing and modifying its sound through technology – will not only take away its salon character but also its “spirituality”; how is it that the contemporary harpsichord is so accommodating of the emotions and visions of both composer and performer? Gośka Isphording: I think composers who are not afraid of a challenge and are open to exploring new sounds are eager to reinterpret the harpsichord, using it as a means of discovery. “Spirituality” is not lost due to technology; on the contrary, it creates room for new spaces of expression, broadening its artistic potential. Perhaps that is why the contemporary harpsichord is so receptive to emotions and visions rather than remaining closed off in the past, it resonates with the spirit of the times, of which it is a part. J.O.: Your harpsichord recital for this year’s festival, which features retro game consoles, is titled Homo ludens, meaning “Man the player” in literal translation. When do you most feel that you are playing, and having fun with music; and what non-professional activities bring you the most joy? G.I.: It’s my belief that life should be at least a bit carefree and light. However, play can also be something deeper – a game of contexts, meanings, and references. What fascinates me most in music is the possibility of fantasizing, playing with the sound code, the details. The pieces that allow me to do so are the most valuable to me – where every nuance becomes a field for play. Music is fun when I can surprise myself, the instrument, the listeners. When the harpsichord goes beyond the conventions and enters a dialogue with unconventional sounds. It’s in these moments that the performance ceases to be merely an interpretation – it becomes an adventure. J.O.: What does it mean to be present? G.I.: Presence is the conscious decision to embrace the moment and to have resilience in what you do and create. [ Source: Musica Electronica Nova Festival's programme brochure ] Reactions (concert reviews in Polish): Glissando: Ruch Muzyczny: |
Performances and Events
| October 21, 2025 |
FINME Gośka Isphording, harpsichord |
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May 17, 2025 |
Musica Electronica Nova (MEN) Festival HOMO LUDENS [ World premiere ]
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