Theatre Of The Mind is a new work created for bass clarinetist Gareth Davis and was commissioned by the Stichting Mousai. It uses music and sound as a way of looking at the ever increasing presence of struggles with mental health. Addressing how is has become increasingly pronounced over the last few years. In this work Roland looks at memory and remembering and how memory recreates constantly, creating constantly changing backdrops which can in some cases lead to inspiration while in others can be the cause of confusion and struggle with surroundings.
The piece is a soundscape influenced not by a vision of surroundings but rather as an impression of the internal process of the mind.
Theatre Of The Mind was premiered at the Ostrava New Music Days in 2021. It has since been performed in the Netherlands and will receive further performances in Slovakia and the Czech Republic towards the end of 2023.
Roland was born in Zug, Switzerland. He studied the trombone and composition at Musikhochschule Graz with Erich Kleinschuster and Georg Friedrich Haas, at Scuola di Musica di Fiesole Florenz with Vinko Globokar). He earned an MA at Wesleyan University in Connecticut (1994), studying with Anthony Braxton, Alvin Lucier and a PhD at Birmingham University, England (2002), studying with Vic Hoyland. In 2003, Roland was awarded the “werkjahr” prize of the art council of the Canton of Zug, Switzerland.
As a trombonist he specializes in the performance of contemporary music and improvisation/jazz. He has given concerts throughout Europe, America and Asia. Composers such as Peter Ablinger, Maria de Alvear, Anthony Braxton, John Cage, Peter Hansen, Hauke Harder, Bernhard Lang, Joelle Léandre, Alvin Lucier, Chris Newman, Pauline Oliveros, Hans Otte, Lars Sandberg, Wolfgang von Schweinitz, Daniel Wolf and Christian Wolff have written especially for him. In 2005, the CD Silberen was picked as one of the ‘Top Classical Albums of the Year 2004’ by The New Yorker.
As a composer he collaborated with visual artists Guido Baselgia, Andreas Brandt, Stéphane Brunner, Daniel Buren, Rudolf de Crignis, Philippe Deléglise, Inge Dick, Rainer Grodnick, Sol LeWitt, Lisa Schiess, with the architects Morger & Degelo, and with the author Eugen Gomringer.
His exhibitions with sound installation and sculptors are shown in Europe and America.
This project was inspired by the work of May Kooreman, architect and artist. May draws, paints and writes about the invisible aspects of neurological change from within based on personal experiences with Parkinson disease. Her work describes a process of inner curiosity and growth in color, line, text and music. Based on this work the foundation cooperated with fantastic musicians and composers. For both May and the foundation this process has led to other inspiring paths. Her work can be found at www.Mayswings.com.