Dr Alexandros Spyrou

Research statement

In his compositional work, Alexandros questions the modernistic paradigm of dialectics and dualism and proposes a liquid identity of a-centered multiplicities which are in a continuous morphallaxis, in a constant state of becoming. Liquid identity is based on a new image of musical sound which embodies the internal difference of sound in a self-existing conceptual model. In a state of liquidity all hierarchies flatten and the concept of development is rendered obsolete. The composer then writes in a rhizomatic way, constantly “in the middle”, and the process of composition becomes an ateleological anarchic praxis.

Research outputs

Articles

• Spyrou, Alexandros. “The effectiveness of vibrotactile sensor technology in the creation of an augmented reality music experience.” In Extended Senses & Embodying Technology Symposium at London, UK, September 2022
• Spyrou, Alexandros. “Computer assisted liquidity.” In Ateliers du Forum Ircam. Paris: IRCAM, 2019
• Spyrou, Alexandros. “Liquid identities.” In Internationale Gesellschaft für Neue Musik, Bern, Switzerland, December 2019
• Spyrou, Alexandros. “Musical identity: from deconstruction to liquidity.” In OutHear New Music Week Symposium, Larisa, Greece, December 2018
• Spyrou, Alexandros. “Beyond musical structure: from decomposition to liminality.” In Ticino Musica Conference, Lugano, Switzerland, August 2018
• Spyrou, Alexandros. “Transgressing boundaries: ontogenesis and morphallaxis in post-structuralist thinking.” In Schloss Solitude Akademie, Stuttgart, Germany, July 2017

Compositions (Published)

• Spyrou, Alexandros. Prolegomena to L. v. Beethoven’s Opus 111. Vienna: Universal Edition, 2021
• Spyrou, Alexandros. Caccia. Vienna: Universal Edition, 2020
• Spyrou, Alexandros. dia-, in Contemporary Music Score Collection. Los Angeles: UCLA Music Library, 2020
• Spyrou, Alexandros. Assemblage II. Vienna: Universal Edition, 2019
• Spyrou, Alexandros. Assemblage I. Vienna: Universal Edition, 2019
• Spyrou, Alexandros. μ-errata. Vienna: Universal Edition, 2018
• Spyrou, Alexandros. Amphilogos. Vienna: Universal Edition, 2018
• Spyrou, Alexandros. In limbo. Vienna: Universal Edition, 2017

Performances & Installations

2022-2023

Cocci I (2013), for fixed media
Atemporánea Festival
IV Festival Internacional de Musica Contemporánea
20 September 2023, 20:00
Sala Sinfonica, Consevatorio Superior Ástor Piazzolla
Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA

assemblage 2, (2019), for saxophone and live electronics
High Score Festival 2023
Bera Romairone, saxophone
Alberto Barberis, live electronics
28 July 2023, 17:00
Villa Penicina, Romagnese, PV, ITALY

Etude for Virtual Space (2022), music installation for Virtual
audiovisual space
TIF-Helexpo, Beyond Expo
Metalogues: Empowering cultural XR collaborations
29 September - 01 October 2022
Thessaloniki International Fair, Pavillion 18
Thessaloniki, GREECE

2021-2022

gr̥bʰ- (2021), for piano trio
Longleash Trio
26 November 2021, 20:00
MacDowell art residency, Peterborough, NH, USA

Ataktos Errimmena (2015), for piano 6 hands
›deconstructing‹
Trio f:t , Mabel Yu-ting Huang, Jana Luksts, Magdalena Cerezo Falces
23 November 2021, 20:00
GEDOK-Galerie  Stuttgart, GERMANY

assemblage 2, (2019), for saxophone and live electronics
Impure, Early night modern
Bera Romairone, saxophone
15 November 2021, 19:00
LAC, Teatrostudio, Lugano, SWITZERLAND

Caccia (2021), for solo percussion
Nordic Percussion Festival 
David Therrien Brongo, percussion
29 October 2021, 20:30
Musikhuset Aarhus, Aarhus, DENMARK

2020-2021

Trio (2021), for clarinet, violin, cello
A Musical Bridge over Syngrou Ave.
Ergon Ensemble
Sunday, 28 February 2021, 12:30
Onassis Foundation Stegi, Athens, GREECE

Prolegomena to L.v. Beethoven’s Op. 111 (2020), for piano
2020 Piano Festival of the Greek National Opera
Grigoris Ioannou, piano
Saturday, 31 October 2020, 20:30
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, Athens, GREECE

2019-2020

Cocci I (2013), electroacoustic
Muted Blast #2
Jana Luksts, piano
Friday, 13 March 2020, 20:00
918 Bathurst Centre for Culture, Arts, Media & Education, Toronto, ON, CANADA

Ephemera (2019), for saxophone quartet
2020 NASA Biennial Conference
Colere Quartet
Monday, 9 March 2020, 11:45
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA

Shockingly modern saxophone festival
Colere Quartet
Friday, 21 February 2020, 11:00
Augustana College Rock Island, IL, USA

assemblage 1 (2018-19), for viola, live electronics and live video
Portrait Concert "Liquid Identities“ sponsored by IGNM Bern
Nathanael Gubler, viola
Saturday, 14 December 2019, 20:00
PROGR Zentrum für Kulturproduktion, Bern, SWITZERLAND

assemblage 2 (2018-19), for saxophone, live electronics and live video
Portrait Concert "Liquid Identities“ sponsored by IGNM Bern
Bera Romairone, saxophone
Saturday, 14 December 2019, 20:00
PROGR Zentrum für Kulturproduktion, Bern, SWITZERLAND

Bilgi New Music Festival
Bera Romairone, saxophone
Friday, 6 March 2020, 20:00
Santral Istanbul Energy Museum, Istanbul, TURKEY 

intra- (2018-19), for flute, live electronics and live video
Portrait Concert "Liquid Identities“ sponsored by IGNM Bern
Tatiana Timonina, flute
Saturday, 14 December 2019, 20:00
PROGR Zentrum für Kulturproduktion, Bern, SWITZERLAND

-εσθαι (2018-19), for piano, live electronics and live video
Muted Blast #2
Jana Luksts, piano
Friday, November 15, 2019, 8pm
DiMenna Center for Classical Music, New York City, NY, USA

Portrait Concert "Liquid Identities“ sponsored by IGNM Bern
Jana Luksts, piano
Saturday, 14 December 2019, 20:00
PROGR Zentrum für Kulturproduktion, Bern, SWITZERLAND 

2018-2019

amphilogos (2018), for saxophone and female voice
#SKG Bridges Festival 2019
Theophilos Sotiriades and Nike Lada
Saturday, 11 May 2019, 19:30
Museum of Byzantine Culture, Thessaloniki, GREECE

O qual incendio
Elena Gabrielli and Cornelia Horak
Friday, 12 April 2019, 20:30
Greek National Opera, Stavros Niarchos Cultural Center, Athens, GREECE

assemblage 1 (2018-19), for viola, live electronics and live video
Portrait Concert "Liquid Identities“
Nathanael Gubler
Friday, 1 March 2019, 19:30
ORF RadioKulturhaus, Vienna, AUSTRIA

assemblage 2 (2018-19), for saxophone, live electronics and live video
Portrait Concert "Liquid Identities“
Bera Romairone
Friday, 1 March 2019, 19:30
ORF RadioKulturhaus, Vienna, AUSTRIA

intra- (2018-19), for flute, live electronics and live video
Portrait Concert "Liquid Identities“
Tatiana Timonina
Friday, 1 March 2019, 19:30
ORF RadioKulturhaus, Vienna, AUSTRIA

-εσθαι (2018-19), for piano, live electronics and live video
Portrait Concert "Liquid Identities“
Jana Luksts
Friday, 1 March 2019, 19:30
ORF RadioKulturhaus, Vienna, AUSTRIA

(sic.) (2018), for string quartet
OutHear New Music Week 2018
Klangforum Wien
Sunday, 16 December 2018, 21:00
Conservatory of Larissa, Larissa, GREECE

2017-2018

μ-errata (2018), for vocal quartet
Ticino Musica Festival
Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart
Sunday, 29 July 2018, 19:00
LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura, Lugano, SWITZERLAND

cuspides (2018), for 2 soprani
Ticino Musica Festival
Johanna Zimmer and Susanne Leitz-Lorey
Saturday, 28 July 2018, 19:00
Museo Vela, Ligornetto, SWITZERLAND

amphilogos (2018), for saxophone and female voice
XVIII World Saxophone Congress
Bera Romairone, saxophone and Kanae Mizobuchi, voice
Wednesday, 11 July 2018, 17:00
Zagreb Music Academy, Zagreb, CROATIA

Cocci I (2013), for fixed media
Off borders Festival
Sunday, 22 April 2018, 22.00
A4M Center for performing arts, Thessaloniki, GREECE

As Above so Below (2011-12), for solo piano
The Deconstruction of Musical Grammar
Jana Luksts, piano
Sunday, 18 March 2018, 12.00
Ypsilon, Thessaloniki, GREECE

Muted Blast
Jana Luksts, piano
Thursday, 17 May 2018, 19:00
Pallas Concert Hall, Thessaloniki, GREECE

In Limbo ii, iii (2017), for string quartet and live electronics
JACK Quartet
Wednesday, November 15, 2017, 7:30pm
The University of Iowa, School of Music Concert Hall
Voxman Building, Iowa City, IA, USA

2016-2017

Anaphandon (2017), for flute, oboe, clarinet
Akademie Schloss Solitude
Ensemble SurPlus
Saturday, 19 August 2017, 19.00
Akademie Schloss Solitude, Guibalsaal
Stuttgart, GERMANY

In Limbo i (2016), for string quartet and live electronics
Premiered by JACK Quartet
December 8, 2016, 7:30pm
University of Iowa, School of Music Concert Hall
Voxman Building, Iowa City, IA, USA

Hypophora I (2015), for bass Recorder
Performed by  Sylvia Hinz
Fat Cat Concerts V
Sunday, November 20, 2016
Kunstquartier Bethanien, Berlin, GERMANY

Ataktos Errimmena (2016), for piano 6 hands
The Midwest Composers Symposium 2016
CNM members
Saturday, November 5, 2016
Voxman Concert Hall, Iowa City, IA, USA 

2015-2016

δια- (2016), for flute, Bb clarinet, percussion, piano, violin, viola, cello, and soprano voice
Premiered by MDI ensemble Milano and Angele Chemin
Conducted by Davide Ianni
Composit New Music Festival, July 7, 2016, Auditorium Varrone, Rieti, ITALY 

Hypophora I (2015), for bass Recorder
Premiered by Sylvia Hinz
BLEED - Sylvia Hinz, recorder @ Spectrum New York
January 10, 2016, 7:30pm. Spectrum, New York City, NY, USA

Performed by Sylvia Hinz
Sunday, November 20, 2016 at 5:30pm
Studio 2, Kunstquartier Bethanien, Berlin, GERMANY

Nyktor (2015), for Reed quintet
Premiered by Vijf Reed Quintet
University of Iowa Student Chapter of The Society of Composers, Inc. 24 + 24 Hour
Concert, September 20, 2015, Riverside Recital Hall, Iowa City, IA, USA

2014-2015

3 petits récits (2015), for flute, oboe, clarinet, percussion, piano,
violin, and violoncello
Premiered by Ensemble319, conducted by David Gompper
Sixth Annual Exchange: Midwest Collegiate Composers, April 17, 2015
Riverside Recital Hall, Iowa City, IA, USA

Kypris fragment (2014), for fixed media, narrator and dance
Premiered by Halle Siepman (narrator) and Emily Climer & Kathryn Skinner (dancers)
24 + 24 Hour Composition Concert, Old Capitol Museum Senate Chamber
October 12, 2014. Iowa City, IA. USA

Performed by Halle Siepman (narrator) and Tallis Strub (dancer)
Intimate at The Englert: I Talk the Ziggurat, Englert Theater. October 12, 2014.
Iowa City, IA. USA

Designing the Digital Future: A Human-Centered Approach to Informatics:
Obermann Center for Advanced Studies. November 7, 2014 Iowa City, IA. USA.

Esotera III (2014), for string quartet
Premiered by JACK Quartet
JACK Quartet Residency. University of Iowa, Riverside Recital Hall, October 6, 2014, Iowa City, IA. USA

2013-2014

Concerto for iPhone and Laptop Orchestra (2014)
for iPhone and 5 laptops
Premiered by Leonid Iogansen (iPhone) and LOUi
Composers Workshop Concert: University of Iowa, Riverside Recital Hall, April 27, 2014 Iowa City, IA. USA

Esotera II (2013-14), for violin, cello, piano
Premiered by Musica Nova Ensemble
Exchange of Midwestern Collegiate Composers (EMCC)
University of Missouri Kansas City, White Hall, Kansas City, MO. USA

Performed by Ensemble 319
Iowa Composers Forum New Music Festival 2015, University of Northern Iowa, March 28, 2015. Cedar Falls, IA. US

Cocci I (2013), for fixed media
Electroacoustic Music Fall Concert 2013. University of Iowa, Becker Communication                                 Building Auditorium, December 15, 2013. Iowa City, IA. USA

Terra (2013), electronic music (live coding) for dance
Premiered by Alexandros Spyrou (live electronics), Marie Brown, Jingqiu Guan   
The Work Between: Space Place Theater, December 5, 6, 7, 2013 Iowa City, IA. USA

We 3 (2013), improvisation for piano, folk Indian singer and dance
Premiered by Alexandros Spyrou (piano), Kuldeep Sigh (singer), Jeremy Blair (dance)
The Work Between: Space Place Theater, December 5, 6, 7, 2013 Iowa City, IA. USA 

Ziggurat (2013), electronic music (live coding) for art installation
Premiered by Alexandros Spyrou (live electronics),
The Work Between: Space Place Theater, December 5, 6, 7, 2013 Iowa City, IA. USA

Ex machina (2013), for fixed media and dance
Premiered by Sophia Anna Sednova, Zach Bird (dancers)
24+24 Concert. University of Iowa, Music West Artium, September 29, 2013.
Iowa City, IA. USA

2012-2013

“Kitty”. sixteen,5‘ 11”,white,prostitute (2013), for female voice and live electronics
Premiered by Jacqueline Lang
New Music Symposium: University of Iowa, Riverside Recital Hall, April 6, 2014
Iowa City, IA, USA.

Thravsmata (2012), for solo A clarinet
Premiered by Thiago Ancelmo de Souza
Midwest Composers Symposium 2014, Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music,                                   Cohen Family Studio Theater, November 15, 2014. Cincinnati, OH. USA

2011-2012

Esotera I (2012), for oboe, alto saxophone, vibraphone, double bass
Premiered by the Center for New Music, conducted by Hisham Groover
Midwest Composers Symposium 2015: Indiana University, Auer Hall,
November 7, 2015. Bloomington, IN. USA

Is I (2012), for Bb clarinet, violin, cello, marimba
Premiered by members of London Sinfonietta
Nancarrow in the 21st Century:
April 20, 2012, Southbank Centre, London, UNITED KINGDOM

“To mega velasma" (2011), for  percussion& fixed media
Premiered by Dimitris Zacharakis
Spring Contemporary Music Concert:. University of Macedonia Concert Hall, 
May 12, 2011. Thessaloniki, GREECE                                                                                

2010-2011

String Quartet No 2 (Pisyressin) (2010-11), rev. (2013)
Premiered by JACK Quartet
JACK Quartet Residency. University of Iowa, Riverside Recital Hall, October 10, 2013, Iowa City, IA. USA

2009-2010

Peristylion (2010), for piano and live electronics
Premiered by Yorgos Holopoulos
Composition and Poetics Award 2010: University of Macedonia Concert Hall, May 21, 2010. Thessaloniki, GREECE

Performed by Tom Green
Composers at the Piano: Turner Sims Concert Hall, February 29, 2012,
Southampton, UNITED KINGDOM 

Enkhea (2009-10), for flute, clarinet, horn, trombone, piano, violin, viola, cello, double bass
Premiered by Ensemble DissonArt, conducted by Vladimiros Symeonidis
4th Contemporary Music Lab: Megaron Concert Hall of Thessaloniki, April 24, 2010                                  Thessaloniki, GREECE                            

2008-2009

Untitled I (2009), for solo piano
Premiered by Yorgos Holopoulos
Spring Contemporary Music Concert. University of Macedonia Concert Hall,
April 21, 2010. Thessaloniki, GREECE

Hyperion (2009), for flute (doubl. piccolo), Bb clarinet, horn, organ, violin I, violin II, viola, cello and fixed media
Premiered by University of Macedonia Contemporary Music Ensemble, conducted by Dimitris Spouras
Spring Contemporary Music Concert: Hyperion. University of Macedonia Concert Hall, May 18, 2009. Thessaloniki, GREECE.

Performed by Contemporary Directions Ensemble, conducted by Christopher James Lees
Midwest Composers Symposium: Hyperion, University of Michigan, McIntosh                                          Theater, November15, 2013. Ann Arbor, MI. USA

Microkineseis (2008), for solo cello/trombone/flute/narrator and interactive video
Premiered by University of Macedonia Contemporary Music Ensemble
Winter Contemporary Music Concert: University of Macedonia Concert Hall,
February 25, 2009 Thessaloniki, GREECE.

Research supervision

• Verity Lane: “Yugenism: The Japanese sublime in the modern world”.