Voices of Umeå was a three-year interdisciplinary artistic research project initiated in 2012 by the author. The main aim with the project was to explore new artistic possibilities for composition and performance practices within the field of contemporary art music. More specifically, artistic possibilities, which arises when non-professional performers regardless musical backgrounds enables to participate in the composition and performance processes. The idea was to develop and explore new pedagogical methods to involve non-professional performers by using new technology and combining knowledge from the fields of artistic and educational practices. Different aspects of participatory art were embraced in the artistic processes aiming towards three compositions, including two concerts and one exhibition. An action research model in three steps –planning, action and analysis of results inspired the methodology, where the analysis and experiences of each cycle within the project were affecting the further cycles of the project.
This article reports from selected parts of the process of the project and contributes with new knowledge to the fields of animated music notation and participatory art.