︎

SONIC NARRATIVES

︎[NEW+OLD]MUSIC︎   ︎{EXPERIMENTAL}THEATRE︎
︎(PROTO)PERFORMANCE & (MULTI)MEDIA︎


METAPRAXIS
ENSEMBLE



REGISTERED NON-PROFIT ORGANISATION
Our work depends on YOUR financial and in-kind CONTRIBUTIONS.
We also rely on VOLUNTEERS for many parts of the behind-the-scenes function of the ensemble.



︎ABOUT & EVENTS  ︎M9: #MUSICMAY2020  ︎M8: MUSIC-BUILDING  ︎M7: WINTER JOURNEY

META-PRAXIS

“Metapraxis is concerned with breaking through the barrier of meaning of a single medium, whatever that medium may be. Whenever that happens, that is music. That can be in any medium, providing metapraxis can occur. Music can be silent.”  
—Jani Christou, Thoughts (December 13, 1969)

ABOUT us

The Metapraxis Ensemble is a London-based, flexible group of musicians and collaborators, first established in early 2009.

Our events focus on presenting contemporary music, often in conjunction with compositions from older eras, structured around a certain narrative, and reinforced by extra-musical elements. We treat these as deeply experiential rituals: don’t expect to know “WHERE” you are or “WHAT” we are, or if “I” is “ME” and whether your “ME” is our “YOU”.

Our projects will travel you in new sonic worlds, while allowing some sort of theatrical elements to emerge, through video projections, movement, text, and staging / lighting effects. We aim to create a unique performing environment in accordance to the tone and texture of each of each individual project.

To achieve that, we are deeply commited in creating collaborations and experimenting with the adoption of a wide variety of art forms: some of those previously explored include (shadow) theatre, dance, video, puppetry, and design/construction.
Metapraxis events have been produced in venues all over London, such as at LSO St Lukes, IKLECTIK, Cafe OTO, TripSpace, The Space, Iris, The Cockpit, Chelsea & Blue Elephant theatres, as well as at schools and universities. Support has been generously provided by the Arts Council England, Hinrichsen Foundation, and Marchus Trust.

the TEAM

Daniel Figols Cuevas
(cello)
Gregory Emfietzis
(director/aux)
Neil Georgeson
(keyboards)
Wai Nok Angela Hui
(percussion)
Ilze Ikse
(flutes)
Myrto Loulaki
(voice)
 
Artistic Advisor: 
Christopher Fox
Marketing Advisor: 
William Norris
Production Advisor: 
Alma Daskalaki

SUPPORT
our work

Our work depends on
#YOUR financial and in-kind
#CONTIBUTIONS.
We also rely on
#VOLUNTEERS 
for many parts of the
behind-the-scenes 
function of the ensemble.
#GETINVOLVED

CALENDAR

MAY 01 to 31, 2020 | various
#MusicMay2020
21 Online Music Workshops,
Live Online & Pre-recorded
*
MARCH 27 & 28, 2020 | 7:30PM
M6: Sisyphus Distressing
The Bread & Roses Theatre, London, UK
(postponed)
*
MARCH 10 & 11, 2020 | 7.30PM
M6: Sisyphus Distressing
The Alma Tavern & Theatre, Bristol, UK
*
NOVEMBER 3, 2019 | 11.00AM
M8: Music:Building
FAMILY OPEN DAY
IKLECTIK, London, UK
*
OCTOBER 8, 2019 | 10.00AM
M8: Music:Building
Jubilee Primary, London, UK
*
JUNE 2, 2019 | 8:30PM
M7: Winter Journey
Cafe OTO, London, UK
*
APRIL 13, 2019 | 7:30PM
M7: Winter Journey
Omnibus Theatre, London, UK
*
FEBRUARY 2, 2019 | 8:00PM
M7: Winter Journey
Hundred Years Gallery, London, UK
*
JANUARY 29, 2019 | 1:00PM
Borough New Music Series 12:
Gregory Emfietzis
Borough New Music Concert Series
St George the Martyr, London, UK
*
NOVEMBER 15, 2018 | 8:45PM
M6: Sisyphus Distressing
VOILA! Europe Festival
The Cockpit, London, UK
*
JULY 4, 2018 | 8:00PM
M6: Sisyphus Distressing
Cafe Oto, London, UK
*
MARCH 27, 2018 | 8:00PM
M6: Sisyphus Distressing
Blue Elephant Theatre, London, UK
*
NOVEMBER 7, 2017 | 8:00PM
M6: Sisyphus Distressing
IKLECTIK, London, UK
*
MAY 8, 2015 | 7:30PM
MAY 9, 2015 | 7:30PM
L'antigonie
TripSpace Projects, London, UK
*
JUNE 15, 2013 | 3:30PM
Music Impossible
All Saints Church, London, UK
*
MAY 24, 2013 | 7:30PM
MAY 25, 2013 | 4:00PM
MAY 25, 2013 | 7:30PM
MAY 26, 2013 | 7:30PM
Music Impossible
Iris Theatre, St Paul's Church London,
Covent Garden, UK
*
MAY 18, 2013 | 7:30PM
Music Impossible
LSO Soundhub Showcase
LSO St Luke's, London, UK
*
OCT 26, 2012 | 1:15PM
[Post]Analogue
Leeds University, Leeds, UK
*
FEB 27, 2012 | 1:15PM
[Post]Analogue
Goldsmiths University, London, UK
*
OCT 25, 2011 | 8:00PM
[Post]Analogue
St Anne’s Church, London, UK
*
JUN 16, 2011 | 3:15PM
M5: The DIY Series
Researching the Arts Conference
Brunel University, London, UK
*
APR 3, 2011 | 2:00PM
Selection of works
Japan Tsunami Appeal Concert
Red Cross Fundraising
Gordons School, Surrey, UK
*
MAR 10, 2011 | 8:30PM
Selection of works
Chaos Theory Night
Blagclub, London, UK
*
NOV 28, 2010 | 4:00PM
M4: A Dream Within A Dream
EKON Festival
Theatro Technis, London, UK
*
NOV 18, 2010 | 8:00PM
M4: A Dream Within A Dream
Music Orbit's Showcase
Chelsea Theatre, London, UK
*
JUL 18, 2010 | 5:00PM
Liquid Evolution
World Listening Project 2012
East London Soundscapes London, UK
*
JUL 16, 2010 | 8:00PM
DIY 1
World Listening Project 2012 (preview)
Cafe Oto, London, UK
*
JUL 13, 2010 | 4:00PM
M3: Silence e-Sound Music Noise
GSMD New Music Festival
Guildhall SMD, London, UK
*
FEB 19, 2010 | 8:00PM
M2: Flow my Tears
The Space, London, UK
*
FEB 17, 2010 | 3:00PM
M2: Flow my Tears
Brunel University, London, UK
*
FEB 16, 2010 | 1:00PM
Research Seminar:
Gregory Emfietzis
Roehampton University, London, UK
*
NOV 26, 2009 | 1:00PM
M2: Flow my Tears
Roehampton University, London, UK

(scroll down)
‘A young refugee on a boat stranded in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, is reading what's left from an old diary: remembering/re-learning his/her own life story.’
METAPRAXIS VII (2019): ︎

WINTER JOURNEY

The Winter Journey is an audiovisual collage, structured on elements taken from or inspired by Franz Schubert's Winterreise, narrating refugee memories in their displacement travel to the unknown. It is an openly collaborative venture, initiated as a response to the current humanitarian crisis developing in a global level. This is also leading to the ensemble's 10th birthday! New works by:
Lucy Callen
Daniel Fígols
Scott McLaughlin
Ruta Vitkauskaite
Existing works by:
Gregory Emfietzis
Christopher Fox
Franz Schubert



As part of this, we are experimenting with blending Schubert’s lieder with notions from Samuel Beckett’s works Krapp's Last Tape and Ohio Impromptu and Winterreise-inspired artworks by visual artist Pip Woolf. There has been considerable research in academia and elsewhere on connecting the above (there is a very interesting joint between Beckett and Winterreise, and you might experience some of that in our show), and we are aiming to take it further by linking them with our refugee story.

But the cherry on top of this venture are the new works we commisioned to composers and sound artists, and the existing works we are incorporating for vintage reel-to-reel tape machines, voices and instruments, and... mobile phones!

So far, this journey has-taken us to the Hundred Years Gallery (Feb'19), Omnibus Theatre (Apr'19) and Cafe OTO (Jun'19). The musicians that travelled our boat include: Guillermina Chivite (violin), Gregory Emfietzis (violin/aux.instr), Daniel Figols (cello/electronics), Neil Georgeson (piano), Angela Hui (percussion), Ilze Ikse (flutes), Loukia Loulaki (cello), Myrto Loulaki (voice), Damian Posse (d.bass), Gwen Reed (d.bass), Alex Roberts (clarinets).

* With this opportunity, we are fundraising for the refugee-supporting organisations: THREE PEAS, Big Leaf Foundation, and Hay, Brecon & Talgarth Sanctuary for Refugees (click on their names to learn more about their extremely important work in the UK and Greece).