Currentes
Currentes was founded in 2006 by its artistic director Jostein Gundersen. The ensemble performs music from the late Middle Ages to early Baroque, and focuses on repertoire which is less frequently performed. Currentes defines its artistic goals as within historical informed performance. Its particular agenda is the exploration of that which has not been transmitted in musical notation, such as instrumentation, or improvisation of ornaments or entire parts.
Jostein Gundersen is a graduated artistic research fellow (corresponds to an academic PhD) from the National Norwegian Programme for Research Fellowships in the Arts (link: www.kunststipendiat.no). With the Grieg Academy in Bergen as working place, he has been developing knowledge on improvisation of diminutions, specialising in the repertories around three very well-known sources: The Faenza Codex, La Fontegara of Silvestro Ganassi and The Division Viol by Christopher Simpson. The project goal has been to develop further the skill of improvising diminutions in the styles of the three sources. Jostein Gundersen teaches at the Grieg Academy, and is frequently invited to teach and present at international universities and colleges.
Currentes receives a prestigious ensemble support from Arts Council Norway, and has been generously funded by City of Bergen, Fund for performing artists and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
