Public PhD Defence Don-Paul Kahl and Presentation Concert
You are cordially invited to the artistic presentation and public defence by Don-Paul Kahl of the research project “Saxophone without Mouthpiece”. On 27 January at 20h00, Don-Paul Kahl will give his artistic presentation in a lecture recital format at the Royal Conservatoire (Studio 4).
On 28 January at 10h00, Don-Paul Kahl will defend his dissertation in the Academy Building of Leiden University.
Don-Paul Kahl’s artistic research project explores saxophone without mouthpiece (SWMP), an innovative approach to saxophone playing that challenges traditional performance practices. In SWMP playing, the instrument’s mouthpiece – an essential component for producing its conventional sound – is removed. Instead, the player performs directly on the neckpiece of the saxophone. This absence of the mouthpiece creates new sonic possibilities, giving rise to a range of relatively new techniques such as air pitch, tongue ram, trumpet sounds, and saxo-flute hybridity. These techniques, which have yet to be fully explored in both performance and academic spheres, prompted my early interest through initial encounters with composers incorporating them into their works. From this curiosity emerged an artistic research project aimed at understanding and refining my own skills with these techniques, contextualizing their origins and aesthetic position within music history, exploring their role in the broader saxophone repertoire, and investigating their potential in such a way that other performers as well as composers could benefit from it.
This research project has taken place in and through my own musical practice. Therefore, it is complemented with personal audio and video performances of various SWMP works. The performances of these works are a crucial element in the possibility of having done (and having been able to do) this research in the first place. The true outcome of this artistic research project lies in successful performances, recordings, and commissions of SWMP works. Additionally, a detailed pitch manual, featuring audio examples of each possible pitch for each respective technique, is included.
Promotors
- Promotor: Prof. dr. Marcel Cobussen
- Co-promotor: Raaf Hekkema
Doctorate Committee
- Prof. dr. Richard Barrett
- Prof. dr. Rachel Beckles-Willson
- Dr. Stratis Minakakis
- Marcus Weiss
Presentation Concert
27 January at 20h00, Studio 4, Spuiplein 150, The Hague, Koninklijk Conservatorium/Royal Conservatoire (Amare Building)
Programme:
- Go Within - Eleni Ralli
- Zeruan - María Eugenia Luc (with the international saxophone quartet, Ensemble du Bout du Monde)
- For Felipe M. - Stratis Minakakis
PhD Defence
28 January at 10h00, Academy Building, Leiden University, Rapenburg 73, Leiden. There is a Livestream available for those who cannot attend the ceremony.
The presentation concert and PhD defence are free and open to the public.
Registration for the concert is preferred but not required. Please register through the link.
