Musik zwischen Engagement und Autonomie

At MaerzMusik, we continue a discussion that was already raised at this year’s Ultraschall Festival. There, composers Lucia Ronchetti, Iris ter Schiphorst, and Márton Illés debated the question of where musicians position themselves today within the tension between artistic autonomy and social and political engagement - a topic that is gaining renewed significance in light of the increasing appropriation of the arts.

Over the past years, we have witnessed a strong politicization of music, with artists grappling in their work with positions on war, the climate crisis, or the rise of right-wing populism. Now, however, a number of artists seem to be shifting their focus back to the purely aesthetic. But is this an expression of escapism, or rather a form of resistance against the growing pressure for artistic legitimization and the (hyper-)instrumentalization of the arts (which has become increasingly evident in debates surrounding drastic cuts to cultural budgets)?

The question of the delicate relationship between music and politics has a long tradition. Is the pendulum now swinging back, or are there perhaps productive intermediary positions? We invite you to an open discussion on the role of music in a social context and the challenges this poses for composers, performers, and curators.

Following the discussion, at 8 PM, POETICA by Chaya Czernowin will be performed by Steven Schick, Les Percussions de Strasbourg, and IRCAM.

The discussion is a collaboration between field notes and MaerzMusik.