Grapevines on the top of Monte Ermada

Today, an extra post from Luther composition student Ben Davidson, one of the four IMFA composers:

Today was the first day of IMFA! After we had a breakfast of yogurt, espresso, cereal, fresh rolls and fruit, we sang a short, fun piece in cannon by William Byrd. It took us a few tries to learn the whole thing, but it sounded gorgeous when we finally got it! Afterwards, we split into individual groups for seminars — the string players went with Dr. Martin and Dr. Belknap, the vocalists with Dr. Whitfield and Dr. Paul, and the composition students (of which I am one) went with Dr. Joyce and Dr. Sacher. We walked to the composition studio, which is housed in the same building as the pottery workshop on the campus of UWC – Adriatic. Once we arrived in the studio, we all got to share a little about our respective backgrounds and our music. This revealed that we all shared a love of the music of Steve Reich and Phillip Glass. It was also relieving to hear that some of the other composers were in very similar places to me with their study of composition. I felt immediately at home, and all the more excited to work and learn alongside these wonderful people. Then we went on a silent sound-walk with Dr. Joyce, who recorded our stroll along the Rilke path with a portable device. When we got back about 20 minutes later, he showed us how to use the recorders and told us we had an assignment — to pair up and go collect our own sounds on similar sound-walks in preparation for an electronic piece that he told us would be performed this coming Sunday, only a few days from now! After we talked a little about logistics and our individual composing/practicing schedules for the week, we ate lunch in the cafeteria which is called “Mensa” here. Lunch consisted of 3 courses of salad, pasta and steak and potatoes! There was so much food, I could hardly eat it all! After lunch, we were given the afternoon for free time to compose and practice our instruments — piano, guitar, french horn or ukelele in one student’s case! Dinner was served around 6:30, with an equally amazing spread of authentic italian cuisine. After dinner, the professors told us to meet in the courtyard outside the dormitory for a walk down to the docks — or porto in Italian! We walked down as a group, passing a market next door that sold gelato, soda and pizza. The docks were beautifully lit as the sun began to set. As I socialized with my new colleagues and friends, I thought about how lucky I was to be here in Duino, and how unique and fun our festival was going to be