E-Block, Study nº2

Photo: José Hevia
Sound Block-Set nº1 [Notes on the Work]

My work attempts to establish methodological linkages between self-contained and self-sufficient units. In this manner, the study of Bertrand Russell’s logical atomism helps me to define the smaller unit in a musical context. Accordingly, modularity has been used as a key element to define the structural and analytical method throughout my musical production. Furthermore, Gilles Deleuze and Pierre-Félix Guattari’s rhizome theory turned out to provide a valuable framework to establish a conceptual link generator.
Hence, the hypothesis of a self-contained and self-sufficient moment is reinforced when applied to elements developed in longer timescale – meso-timescale – as well as to elements developed in very short timescales – sound object timescale. As a consequence, this relationship has underpinned the personal interpretation of the timescale as the primary delimiting element of the moment. Consequently, the moment is defined by the perceptual characteristics of each segment in the timescale. Likewise, the conceptual combination of momentform and modularity allows the development of a simple idea that can be used in very different formal and sound environments: that is, to develop a systematic plan that can define the structural organisation as well as embrace a common principle to be applied to all strata of the compositional process. 
Thus, “Sound Block-Set nº1” summarises a personal approach to some of the principal issues related to contextual discontinuity and multi-layer structuralism. It is an attempt to define the sonic event as pitch and non-pitch units and its systemic referential characteristic in a polyphonic and polymorphic structure. Likewise, understanding fragmentation not as an end but as an opportunity for new connections within an endless chain, frames the sonic event within the idea of a “gestalt” where the whole is more than to the sum of the fragments. Moreover, when the fragment becomes an independent unit not dependant on a specific context, it germinates as a signifying referentiality. Consequently, it provides a unified ecosystem of metamorphic musical entities. In this manner, this systemic mutability derived from both the transformation of the unit or the context, provides the adequate skeleton where multiplicity and modularity theory can be understood as a possible milieu within which the conceptual contradiction inherent in parametrical processual context (linear) and momentform (dimensional) are brought together as a whole. Considering this framework, I have to highlight that modularity is a simple idea that can connect macro and micro formal structures and defines the use of distinctive sets of sub-pieces that will be finally used to create a culminating piece.
“Sound Block-Set nº1” is the first culminating piece of the collection “Sound Block Modular Set”.
“Sound Block Modular Set” is a work in progress which, at this moment, includes; “Sound Block-Module 1” –commissioned by Musikprotokoll Festival–, “Sound Block-Module 2” –premiered at NYCEMF–, “E-Block Study nº1” –premiered at ME_MMIX Festival–, “E-Block Study nº2” –premiered at Ressò– and “Sound Block-Set nº1”.

Sound Block-Set nº1

Free Module Study nº1 was commissioned by Festival Mixtur 2015 and funded by Ernst von Siemens Musikstiftung. [2022 revised version]
Vertixe Sonora: María Mogas; acordeón | Nuno Marques; guitarra eléctrica | Pablo Coello; saxofón | David Durán; piano | Iván Ferrer-Orozco;  informática musical, electrónica en vivo, grabación y mezcla
11/06/2022: Live recording at Espace K during the SoundUP! Festival, Strasbourg
Score at Universal Edition Wien: https://www.universaledition.com/mateu-malondra-flaquer-8442/works/free-module-study-n1-35423

Free Module Study Nº1 (versió 2022)(Vertixe Sonora)

Roads To Nooteboom [2014]

ME_MMIX Festival 2024
15/11/24 
Rafel Caldentey (Bass clarinet)
Aljub; Es Baluard Museu, Palma
Recording: Sonoteque

Modular db

Commissioned by Musikprotokoll 2015 as part of the NIXE project.
Stereophonic
Sound installation.
photo: José Hevia
(30hz)

Sound Block-Module nº1

Live recording at CAC Ses Voltes as part of Placa Base's project, ESPAI.
Premier: 29/04/2017 Palma de Mallorca 
saxophone soprano: Beatriz Tirado

Photo: Andreas Gefeller

G - Waves (Saxophone: Beatriz Tirado)

Sound Block-Module nº2
Stereophonic version
Original version: 8 channels

Premiered at New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival 2017

The piece explores the relationship between a permanent linear transformation and anticlimax. Sound Block can be understood as a hybridization between a sound sculpture and a musical piece.

Photo: José Hevia

Sound Block-Module nº2

2009/2010 (string quartet)
Recorded by Arditti String Quartet at Coombehurst Studio as part of the Kingston University International Call for New Works 2010 

Scores available from: www.babelscores.com/mateumalondraflaquer

Photo: Andreas Gursky

Una Isla de Granito[2010] (Arditti String Quartet)

Short sampler of Systematic Double Bind
ClapTON ensemble and Morphosis ensemble
Voice: Josephine Stephenson
Flute: Ilze Ikse
Violoncello: Monica Marí
Electronic environment: Joan Bagés i Rubí and Mateu Malondra
Live Recording: Luca Gardani
Concert at St. Leonards Church, London. (09/01/2016)

Systematic Double Bind; sampler (Ensemble: ClapTON+Morphosis)

The piece was selected at the Arditti Quartet international call for new works for string quartet 2012.
Recorded by Arditti String Quartet.

Scores available from: http://www.babelscores.com/mateumalondraflaquer

Photo: Andreas Gursky

Archipiélago[2011] (Arditti String Quartet)

Pulse Interpolation 1 (2014)
Commissioned by Jan Gerdes 
Piano: Jan Gerdes
Live recording at Auditori Rafelbunyol - Valencia
Image: from "Determining Parameters for Images Amplification by Pulses Interpolation" paper by Leandro Morera-Delfín

Pulse Interpolation 1 (Piano: Jan Gerdes)

Piano: Mark Knoop
Live recording at ME_MMIX 2018
Es Baluard
Palma de Mallorca

Pulse Interpolation 1 (Piano: Mark Knoop)

for two violins
Violin: Tatsuki Narita
Violin: Takao Hyakutome


Live recording 
Premiered at Tokyo Opera City Recital Hall on October 8th 2019

Score: https://www.babelscores.com/catalogs/instrumental/chamber-group/saxophone-quartet/6257-24-modular-cells

Picture:
Andreas Gursky

24 Modular-cells; for two violins (Violins: Tatsuki Narita & Takao Hyakutome)

Born in Palma/Illes Balears on 11 May 1977; Mateu Malondra Flaquer is a composer, guitarist, researcher, programmer, curator and cultural manager who lives between the Balearic Islands and the United Kingdom.

He has had the fortune of working with musicians such as Arditti String Quartet, Vertixe Sonora, Bcn216, dissonArt, Ensemble Exposé, Insomnio, Mdi Ensemble, Plural Ensemble, Riot Ensemble, Vocalensemble NOVA, UMS’nJIP, Neus Estarellas, Mark Knoop, Takao Hyakutome, Tatsuki Narita, Jan Gerdes, Pilar Fontalba and conductors such as Gerry Cornelius, Beat Furrer, Yasuaki Itakura, Taco Kooistra, Fabián Panisello, Ulrich Pöhl, Roger Redgate, Robert HP Platz, J.M.Sánchez Verdú and Michel Tabachnik.

His music has been performed in such forums as Cairo Contemporary Music Days, Donaueschinger Musiktage-Next Generation, Forum Wallis, Gaudeamus Muziekweek, IMD-47-Internationale Ferienkurse für neuen Musik-OS, Festival Mixtur, Nact der Neuen Musik, NUNC2!, Unerhörte Musik, Sintése, Musikprotokoll-ORF and in such halls as L’Auditori-Barcelona, BKA-Theater Berlin, Concertgebouw Brugge, MISE-EN Place, Muziekcentrum First Philips, Studio Noru, Tokyo Opera City Recital Hall and Spectrum, among others.

Malondra started his composition studies with David Padros and Christian de Jong in Barcelona. In 2004 he moved to Maastricht where he did a BAMus and MMus in composition at ZUYD-Maastricht Conservatory, under Robert HP Platz. He also holds a BAMus in classical guitar performing from Den Haag Royal Conservatoire, under Enno Voorhorst. Malondra developed a PhD research at Kingston University-London, under the guidance of Paul Archbold and Oded Ben-Tal. Prof.Philip Grange and Prof.Roger Redgate awarded him the PhD in 2021. Masterclasses with Richard Barrett, Daniel D'Adamo, Brian Ferneyhough, Beat Furrer and Wolfgang Rihm.

Associate professor at Conservatori Superior de les Illes Balears between 2016 and 2021–Mixed media I-II and electroacoustic composition.

Between 2019 and 2022 he has been the Cultural Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Institut d'Estudis Baleàrics, PC of the Illes Balears public sector. 
Mateu Malondra has been the founder, artistic director and coordinator (2013-2019) of the ME_MMIX Festival, co-founder of the non-profit association Placa Base and the ensemble Placa Base Collective.

Recordings: Takao Hyakutome's solo debut CD, at label Chanpd’Action. Tomeu Moll solo debut CD. Vokalensemble NOVA/Musikprotokoll CD-ORF. Netherlands National Radio-4, Concertzender.nl and Relevant Tones-USA broadcasted his music.

Malondra’s music has been performed in Egypt, Europe, Iceland, Japan, México, the UK and the USA.

Recipient of a commission funded by Ernst von Siemens Musikstiftung.

Mateu Malondra Flaquer

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