Experiencing Music with Inclusive Instruments

A special workshop with Tabula Musica brought new sounds into the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra’s “Orchesterhaus”. Students played with technologically enhanced musical instruments that transform movements, gazes, or touches into sounds. Under the direction of Tabula Musica, a center of excellence that has been pioneering accessibility in the field of music for seven years, instruments developed for and with people with disabilities were deployed.

This workshop is part of “The Big Ensemble,” a unique interdisciplinary stage production that celebrates and promotes inclusion and diversity in the Swiss arts and culture scene. The 40-member ensemble brings together musicians and dancers with and without disabilities.

“The Big Ensemble” was initiated by the inclusive orchestra Tabula Musica, which has set new standards for accessible music-making since 2017. After its premiere in Bern on November 8, 2024, “The Big Ensemble” will tour Switzerland and can be experienced at the KKL Luzern on 21 January 2025.

In Lucerne, the core team of the inclusive ensemble will be joined on stage by musicians from the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra, the Lucerne Festival Orchestra, students from the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts – Music, and teachers from the Lucerne School of Music. The combination of acoustic instruments and modern electronic sounds from synthesizers and adaptive music technology creates a distinctive musical experience. The visual aspect is also incorporated, with motion tracking technology converting the dancers’ movements into sound. The approximately 50-minute stage work includes new compositions and arrangements specifically crafted for the participating artists. Accessibility measures such as audio description and sign language are integral artistic elements of the performance. Additional measures to reduce access barriers before and during the concert ensure a stress-free experience for a diverse audience.

Before the event, an interactive installation in the foyer allows the audience to try out the music technology used in the concert and experience how it works. People with visual impairments have the opportunity to explore the instruments on the concert hall stage through touch before the official hall opening.

“In 2022, we dedicated our summer festival to the theme of ‘Diversity.’ This experience and the tremendous support we received from our audience for our commitment have encouraged us to proactively advance the topics of diversity and inclusion. Change is necessary in our society and in the music industry. We are delighted to be a partner for ‘The Big Ensemble’ – it is a unique and important project that explores creative possibilities in this area and reveals new future perspectives.”

– Michael Haefliger, Executive and Artistic Director of Lucerne Festival