This research project investigates how ownership, responsibility and decision-making take shape within co-creative contemporary music practices. Central to the project is the question of how artistic decisions emerge when multiple makers, performers and participants are involved: who decides what, based on which sources, and how are choices and recognition determined when authorship is not unambiguous?
The research is developed through three practice-based case studies. In the posthumous realisation of compositions by Wim Henderickx, the project examines how decisions are made based on incomplete or ambiguous archival material. Within the researcher’s own compositional practice, it follows how artistic decisions emerge through dialogue with performers and during rehearsal processes. In community contexts, it investigates how collective contributions can evolve into performable musical material through processes of selection, interpretation and reworking.
The theoretical framework builds on research into authorship, co-creation, posthumous realisation and participatory music practices. Methodologically, artistic choices and decision-making processes are documented through score versioning, process notes, conversations and consultations. Presentations and performances function as moments of reflection and evaluation.
The project aims to contribute to a theoretical-practical framework for decision-making within co-creative music practices. The research outcomes include scores, performances and reflective texts that provide insight into shared authorship, responsibility and artistic choices, and that can serve future makers and performers.
This research project is part of an artistic doctoral trajectory at the University of Antwerp and the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp, AP University of Applied Sciences and Arts. It is developed within ARIA, the Antwerp Research Institute for the Arts, and within docARTES, the international doctoral programme for musicians and sound artists. Diederik Glorieux realises the project with Henk de Smaele and Stijn Saveniers as supervisors.