Ivan Vukosavljevic - A Mind in the Heart (Joana Gama)

Information

Composer: Ivan Vukosavljevic

1. A Mind in the Heart
2. A Citadel
3. Ninia Sili
4. An Announcement
5. A Virgin
6. A Wife
7. For Nata
8. A Child

Joana Gama, piano

Date: 2026

Label: TRPTK

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a mind in the heart is the third album by composer Ivan Vukosavljević, created in collaboration with Portuguese pianist Joana Gama. Comprising eight movements, the work draws deeply on the sonic and spiritual traditions of Serbian sacred music. Inspired by the melodic contours, modal development, and semi-improvisatory character of Serbian Orthodox chant, the album reimagines these elements through the piano—an instrument foreign to that liturgical practice. The music explores the tension between horizontal chant and drone and the piano’s vertical harmonic structure, evoking an atmosphere of contemplation and timeless sacred presence within a contemporary classical framework.

Ivan Vukosavljević (born 1986) is a Serbian composer based in The Hague whose work unites diverse sonic worlds, from electric guitars and electronics to organ and Western and non-Western traditional instruments. His debut album The Burning, created with Ensemble Klang, was released in 2023, followed by Slow Roads for 1/4 comma meantone organ in collaboration with Tineke Steenbrink. His third album, with pianist Joana Gama, is scheduled for release in 2026. Vukosavljević’s music has been performed by leading Dutch ensembles and featured at festivals including Rewire, Gaudeamus Muziekweek, and the Lucerne Festival. He studied composition in Belgrade and at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague.

Joana Gama (born 1983 in Braga) is a Portuguese pianist and interdisciplinary artist whose work spans solo performance, composition, and collaborations across dance, theatre, cinema, and visual arts. Deeply drawn to contemplative and near-silent music, she has championed composers such as Erik Satie, John Cage, Federico Mompou, and Hans Otte. A prize-winning graduate with a doctorate in contemporary Portuguese piano music, she combines performance with research and education. Gama has released numerous acclaimed recordings, created projects for young audiences, and developed innovative piano and electronics collaborations, notably with Luís Fernandes, while maintaining an active international presence.

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