About the Festival

About Third Practice

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. The festival will present works for instruments and computer, new instruments and performance interfaces, video, and stereo and multi-channel works for fixed media. The festival will feature Duo Axis,




Third Practice 2023 explores the emerging electroacoustic art form and its relationship to past and present musical practices. This year the festival will present pieces that combine audio and video, that navigate the boundary between experimental and popular musical practices, that engage with instruments and performance practices from around the world, and that feature new instruments and explore cutting edge sonic practices. All works are presented on immersive multi-channel surround audio systems.




The festival will take place November 17-18,2023 on the campus of the University of Richmond in Camp Concert Hall. No tickets are required, and every event is free and open to the public. For more information on the festival including schedules, please see the links below or contact the artistic director, Dr. Benjamin Broening, at bbroenin@richmond.edu.

Why "Third" Practice?

The term seconda prattica 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 electroacoustic 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.




3P23

contact us at bbroenin [at] richmond [dot] edu.