Totem Impro

The Totem Impro series brings our unique instrumentarium into dialogue with conventional musical instruments. Together with seasoned improvisers invited by Tour de Bras, we create a unique improvisational environment at Espace Totem. For the past six years, Productions Totem Contemporain and Tour de Bras have been combining their expertise to further research into musical improvisation. This new series aims to create an unusual context for musical encounters through improvisation sessions documented by our Totem Impro audiovisual capsule project. 

For our performers, these exchanges offer an opportunity to develop their instrumental playing by experimenting with our instrumentarium in a new musical context. Most of our other artistic projects are based on composed, written music, requiring precise, defined execution. The Totem Impro series creates a unique space for improvisation, exploring listening, spontaneity and the discovery of unexpected sounds. It allows our performers to play our instruments differently, opening the door to new sonic possibilities. 

Our creations, often associated with technologies such as electronics or digital audio processing, find in this series a precious opportunity to blend with conventional instrumental timbres in an acoustic way, creating rich and contrasting sound dynamics.

The choice of carrying out these encounters without the presence of an audience enables the performers to focus their attention on sound and interaction. This encourages the exchange of ideas, the expansion of professional networks and the strengthening of friendships, leading to deep and lasting collaborations.

The digital recordings made during these sessions immortalize these extraordinary encounters, which we are delighted to be able to share with you.