Biography

Marek Piaček (b. 1972). He studied flute at the Bratislava Conservatory (1986–1992) with Dagmar Zsapková, but his ongoing interest in unusual performance techniques led him to study composition, at first privately with Ladislav Burlas (1986–1988), from 1989 with Ilja Zeljenka, and at the Academy of Music and Drama with the same teacher (1990–1995). Zeljenka encouraged Piaček’s interest in experimental art, and thus hastened his disassociation with traditional forms (String Quartet, 1989). During his studies he began working in the Experimental Studio of the Slovak Radio, where he produced Flauto dolce ’91 (1991, in collaboration with Juraj Ďuriš). Piaček attended several training courses and seminars (Boswil – 1990–1991; Nottingham Trent University – Kevin Jones, 1993; Akademie für Neue Musik – Boguslaw Schaeffer, Marek Chołoniewski, 1996). He is co-founder of Middle-Class Chamber Orchestra Požoň Sentimental and collaborated with ensembles Musica falsa et ficta, Mio-Mio, Piaček-Pavelka-Michalec, Brass Band Štós, Voise Over Noise, Audiobratia, Pink Big Pig, don@u.com, POVAŽAN, Frutti di Mare, Tuleň, VENI ensemble, VENI Academy, VAPORI del CUORE, Son-Drian, Upokojenci, Gourounaki Project.

Piaček’s music was featured at Warsaw Autumn (i. e. commissioned work „Happy Mainstream“), Wien Modern, Wiener Festwochen, Melos-Ethos, Evenings of New Music, Musica Danubiana Ljubljana, Bratislava Music Festival, KioSK festival Žilina, Fest Anča Žilina, 4 živly Banská Štiavnica, Festival of Nice Music Banská Štiavnica, New-New Festival Brno, New Slovak Music festival, Exposition of New Music Brno, on many concerts at home and abroad. He performed improvised music with musicians like Nick Collins, David Dramm, Hilary Jeffrey, Ann LaBerge, Beth Griffith, Jean-Marc Montera, Günter Müller, Chris Newmann, John Oswald, Otomo Yoshihide, Jon Rose, Miki Skuta, Daan Vandevalle, Marián Varga, Elliot Sharp, Alfred Zimmerlin, Hankil Ryu, Petr Vrba and others.

Presently he is active as a composer, performer (flute, laptop), lecturer (soundart), organizer of contemporary music events.

In his music Piaček exploits elements of every-day life and culture, allusions to pop-music, he re-creates (re-composes) music all around us, music of the past…

In Piaček’s eyes, and in his works, rather, art is a culture-creating activity, giving him space, where something neutral, even trivial, aggressive (bad) is changed into something good, better, of greater value – briefly, something what makes sense.

 

 

 

„Sám som mal takú skúsenosť: skladby, ktoré som vymyslel – akože som si myslel, že som ich naozaj ja sám vymyslel – sa viac podobali na niečo, ako keď som si zámerne čosi zobral a citoval“ (M. Piaček v rozhovore so Slavom Krekovičom)