welcome to third practice 2008!

third practice is an annual festival of new electroacoustic music and mixed media presented by the department of music and the modlin center for the arts at the university of richmond. now in its eighth year, the festival will present works for instruments and computer, laptop, video, and stereo and multi-channel works for tape.

third practice has an ongoing commitment to commissioning new work. in 2006, third practice released [re], a dvd of multi-channel works commissioned by the festival by a diverse group of composers. In 2001, third practice released third practice: commissions and premieres on cd, available from centaur records. 2008 continues this commitment with new works by Estonian composer Toivo Tulev commissioned for third practice's ensemble in residence, eighth blackbird and Ken Ueno, commissioned by the festival for violinist Lina Bahn. The festival will also feature a concert of new electroacoustic music from Estonia performed by eighth blackbird.

all third practice concerts take place in camp concert hall, the university of richmond's exclusive venue for musical presentations. our technical specifications include a breakdown of all the equipment available to our visiting composers, as well as concert hall specifications. tor further information on the festival, contact Benjamin Broening.

the term seconda pratica appeared in early 17th century italy to characterize the emergence of a new compositional style that represented a departure from the modal, equal-voiced counterpoint of the prima pratica. the debate between practitioners of the old and new styles centered not only on innovative compositional techniques, but also on shifting compositional values. the seconda offered composers not only new technical resources but also new ways of thinking about their craft.

the development of electroacoustic music in the latter half of the 20th century might be understood as a change comparable in many ways to that of the early 17th century. while the specifics of the musical change differ in the two cases, both musical revolutions reflect innovations in compositional technique and practice as well new compositional goals and values.

the third practice festival of electro-acoustic music explores both the variety of the emerging electro-acoustic tradition and its relationship to past musical practices, and is committed to presenting new work through commissions and premieres.

to join the third practice mailing list send an email to Benjamin Broening with the subject line Third Practice Mailing List. This low-traffic list will send updates and information about our activities periodically.

visit previous years' third practice websites here: 01   02   03   04   05   06   07

third practice 2009 will take place on November 6-7, 2009. Save the dates!

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Richmond Crown Plaza West (note: be careful, there are two Crown Plazas in Richmond. The festival hotel is the one located at 6531 W. Broad Street).

To book your room you may go online to http://www.crowneplaza.com/richmondva and enter your Group Code URM. You can also call the hotel directly at (804) 285-9951 or call the toll-free reservations line at 1-800-227-6963 (1-800-2CROWNE).

Please remember to request the UOR - Music Department rate in order to receive your discounted pricing.

You must book your rooms by October 22, 2008, though earlier is better.

Click here for Google Maps directions from the Crowne Plaza to Campus.

Once you reach campus, use the UR Campus Map to navigate to the Modlin Center for the Arts. The campus is well-marked with signs. Camp Concert Hall is in the Booker Hall of Music, Building #38 on the map.