Muzzix is a collective composed of 30 musicians, based in Lille (northern France) and active since the end of the nineties (initially as two structures, le crime and Circum). Its musical universe goes from contemporary jazz to experimental and improvised music, performed in many various ways, from solo to full orchestras, from concerts to installations or performances.

The Muzzix collective and the Dedalus orchestra met during the 28th Musique Action festival (2012) in Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy during which they shared the line-up. Two very different musical forms, the feeling of a common approach of music.

The musicians of Muzzix mostly perform compositions that come from the collective. Yet, the idea of exploring experimental and North American minimalist music existed for a long time now, especially within individual projects (or small groups) on Cage, Wolff, Riley, Reich. What was missing was the occasion to launch into a more collective project which could therefore be more ambitious.

The general enthusiasm caused by this meeting during Musique Action was the triggering factor to offer Didier Aschour a collaboration on this repertoire. The latter not only warmly accepted the proposition of a first session of work and a concert, but also very quickly shared his wish to work on a project he wanted to do for a long time, Moondog’s repertoire and particularly his madrigals.

The proposition is a little different from the original proposal, but establish itself very fast. For quite a few musicians of Muzzix, Moondog is one of these composers who radically enlightened the music of the 20th century, and can be more or less considered as models or inspirations, as much for their music as for their process of composition. From then on, playing Moondog’s compositions was almost self-evident. And if Moondog’s compositions are in a musical world that is usually not that of Dedalus, nor that of Muzzix; both teams found it though constituent preoccupations of their existence as collectives.

Things going fast, Christian Pruvost has since then been invited in Dedalus, which brings the two ensembles even closer. Combined with its practice of conduction and its great knowledge of the musicians in the collective, this closeness makes him the perfect co-director for this project within Muzzix.

The global project of Muzzix is to create the conditions of production and distribution for creations that explore contemporary musical and sound languages, while always favouring an approach of experimentation. Nowadays, more than thirty projects express the creativity and acuity of its musicians, who perform locally, in France, and more and more abroad (Europe, Asia, North America).