Research

THE DNA OF RESEARCH AT MUSIKENE

At Musikene, research is a key driver for cultural, artistic, and educational development, both locally and globally. Through innovative projects that cross disciplinary boundaries, we promote high quality musical research that addresses the challenges of the 21st century.

We conduct studies and projects that explore new possibilities for music and art, improving how they are produced, presented, and understood. This interdisciplinary approach fosters collaboration among artists, researchers, and institutions, creating a dynamic ecosystem for knowledge exchange.

We are committed to making the knowledge we generate accessible, relevant, and impactful on a global scale, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to contribute to a more inclusive, diverse, and sustainable future.

PUBLICATIONS

MUSIKERTUZ

The Musikertuz series is a collection of monographs dedicated to musical research. The name combines “Musikene” (our institution’s name) and “Ikertuz” (meaning “to research” in Basque), emphasizing our commitment to research and its transfer to society. Each volume in this collection delves into a specific music-related topic, highlighting projects and studies where Musikene faculty have played an active role.

Additionally, Musikertuz includes works by other collaborating researchers, both national and international, broadening perspectives and fostering dialogue between diverse traditions and viewpoints. This collection contributes to the academic, artistic, and educational communities, promoting a deeper understanding of music in all its dimensions.

• Musikertuz Volume 1: Euskal musikaren historia
• Musikertuz Volume 2: Historia de la música vasca
• Musikertuz Volume 3:Music, Power Relations, and Beyond: Critical Positions in Higher Music Education

JAZZ-HITZ – JOURNAL OF JAZZ MUSIC RESEARCH

Jazz-hitz is a journal produced by Musikene’s Jazz Department, dedicated to publishing research on jazz music from a broad perspective. Its articles cover topics such as jazz history, analysis of styles and performers, intersections with other music genres and artistic forms (film, photography, literature), and its relationship with the recording industry, media, and social, political, and educational aspects.

This diversity of topics allows the journal to offer a plurality of approaches, providing jazz enthusiasts with a rich source of studies and reflections that broaden their understanding of this musical genre. https://jazz-hitz.musikene.eus

KAIERAK COLLECTION. Basque composers of the 21st century.

The Kaierak collection: Basque Composers of the 21st Century is a project born from the collaboration between Musikene – Basque Country’s Higher Music Center – and Eresbil – Basque Music Archive, with a mission to recognize and promote the work of contemporary Basque composers on an international scale. This project reinforces both, institutions’ commitment to research and disseminate Basque musical heritage. Each volume highlights the personality, career, and work of Basque creators through interviews and research articles.

The series includes a biographical timeline, a catalog of works, and a curated selection of writings, discography, and bibliography for each composer. Presented in a trilingual format (English, Basque, Spanish), the collection facilitates national and international dissemination.

• Ramon Lazkano
• Teresa Catalán
• Félix Ibarrondo
• Gabriel Erkoreka

View the collection here

MONOGRAPHS:

• Art-Texts Monographs: A collaboration between UPV/EHU, Musikene, and Eresbil to publish the latest research on Basque musicians. This inter-institutional alliance aims to fill the gap in monographic studies on Basque musicians by making recent research available to the public in book format within UPV/EHU’s Art-Texts collection.
  • Lerena, M. (2018). El teatro musical de Pablo Sorozábal (1897-1988).
  • Moro Vallina, D. (2019). El compositor Carmelo Bernaola (1929-2002): Una trayectoria en la vanguardia musical española.
  • Peque Leoz, I. (2021) Nicolás Ledesma (1791-1883): Maestro de capilla y organista en el siglo XIX español.
  • Odriozola, A. (2023) El vals del Amaya. Regionalismo, ópera vasca y música española

• Monographs in collaboration with UPV:
  • Díaz, I. (2020). Leo de Silka: Marqués de Rocaverde (1856-1920): El alcalde artista.
  • Goialde, P. (2020). Orígenes de la música de jazz en San Sebastián (1919-1936).
• “The History of Basque Music” To make known and disseminate in collaboration with the Center for Basque Studies (CBS) at the University of Nevada, Reno

MUSIKENEWS

View the journals here

CDs

Under the Musikene label, we have produced significant recordings focusing on Basque music, spanning jazz and classical genres. These recordings feature works by prominent composers such as Tomás Marco, Francisco Escudero, Pablo Sorozábal, and Jesús Guridi, among others.

EUROPEAN PROJECTS

• PRIhME (Power Relations in Higher Music Education)
• In-voice 4 empowerment

HIGHER EDUCATION AND RESEARCH FOR CULTURAL AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES IN THE BASQUE COUNTRY

Musikene actively participates in Ksigune, a Basque Government program connecting higher education with the cultural and creative industries in the Basque Country, promoting innovation and sustainable development within the sector. For more information on Ksigune: here

RESEARCH AWARDS

Orfeón Donostiarra-Musikene Award

Established in 2015, this award recognizes the best Bachelor’s Thesis related to music in the Basque Country, with a special focus on choral music. Students who achieve a grade of 9 or higher are eligible for this award.

ESAS-Musikene Award

Created in 2023, this award promotes the inclusion of gender perspectives in Bachelor’s Theses, recognizing those that address feminist issues, conduct gender analyses, or incorporate sex as a variable throughout the research.