The artistic exchange and cooperation project Sweden meets Uganda is based on mutual learning and curiosity. The project was initiated in the autumn of 2019 when the Stockholm Saxophone Quartet met composers from parts of the African continent at Sterkfontein Composers Meeting in South Africa. In this project, we have collaborated with Ugandan and Kenyan composers to develop new repertoire for saxophone quartet.
In April 2023, the Stockholm Saxophone Quartet travelled to Uganda to work with composers, musicians, dancers and students in the capital Kampala and in the Kabale district in western Uganda. The quartet conducted did four public workshops with the six participating composers, arranged by our main collaborator Klartmus. The quartet held masterclasses with the Kampala Saxophone Quartet, students at the Makerere Unversity and Africa Institute of Music as well as workshops with students at Kampala Music School and The ACT String Orchestra.
In addition, the quartet performed two concerts at Muko High School, a concert at the Swedish residence in Kampala, a charity concert for the Kampala Music School, a concert at the Africa Institute of Music, and a concert where all the new music was premiered. During an afternoon we had the opportunity to meet musicians and dancers from Uganda Heritage Roots and learn more about the Ugandan traditional instruments and music.
The founder of Klartmus, composer Job Tezigatwa, was subsequently invited to Sweden. In Sweden he held two workshops with students at Lilla Akademien Music School and a seminar for composition students at the Royal Collage of Music. He also had the opportunity to visits to several Swedish music organizations and make contacts to enable more people in Uganda to be able to make a living of their music. The Ugandan music composed during the project was performed in front of a crowded hall at the Royal Collage of Music in collaboration with the association Samtida Musik.
The project was made possible with the support of the Swedish Arts Council.
Repertoire:
Eddah Chumba f. 1980 (Kenya) - Adventure in the woods (2023)
Anthony Kambugu f. 1979 (Uganda) - Gawajjanga (2023)
David Noah Mubiru f. 2003 (Uganda) - Wandering! (2023
Kia Sharon f. 1987 (Uganda) - Kop Tye (2023)
Job Ivan Tezigatwa f. 1989 (Uganda) - Oyonke Lullaby (2019)
Job Ivan Tezigatwa f. 1989 (Uganda) - Scenes from a million dollar view (2023)
Asiku Walter f. 1998 (Uganda) - My dream (2023)
