Game Percussion Ensemble

It all started in 1995 as a challenge for Romanian composers, especially for the ones in Bucharest. GAME percussion ensemble functions as well as a worksop for contemporary music, in order to offer an open frame for students, young performers and composers. Nowadays, it is one of the most provocative and successful new music ensembles in Romania.

Since 1995 the ensemble has held more than 95 concerts and participated in prestigious festivals: The International New Music Week (Bucharest, 1996, 1998-2012), Meetings with New Music (Braila, 1999, 2001), New Music International Days (Bacau, 1995, 1996), T.I.A.V. (Bucharest), New Music Days (Chisinau, 2003), Archaeus International festival (Bucharest 2000), ISCM – World Music Days (Bucharest 1999).

The ensemble was founded by Alexandru Matei, percussion professor at the National University of Music in Bucharest, and its members are students or graduates of the University.

Their repertoire includes works by more than 30 Romanian composers (Stefan Niculescu, Liviu Danceanu, Tiberiu Olah, Adrian Iorgulescu, Doina Rotaru, Octavian Nemescu, Irinel Anghel, Mihaela Vosganian, Anatol Vieru, Dan Dediu, Adrian Ratiu, Sorin Lerescu, Lucian Metianu, Gabriel Irany, Serban Nichifor, Dan Voiculescu, Diana Voda, George Balint, Liana Alexandra, etc.) and over 40 foreign composers (Iannis Xenakis, John Cage, Luis de Pablo, Sostakovitch, Edgar Varese, Joji Yuasa, Andre Jolivet, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Siegfried Fink, Halyna Ovcharenko, Carmen Verdu, John Beck, Tomas Marco, Theo Loevendie, etc.). The ensemble offered more than 20 world premieres and more than 50 Romanian premieres to the public. GAME also held happening concerts, Latin music concerts, while participating at Radio and TV broadcasts and recording numerous works on CD.

In 1995 the ensemble received the SOROS Foundation Award. In 1999, the Actualitatea Muzicala  (“Music News”) journal awarded Alexandru Matei for his activity with GAME Ensemble.

The name of the ensemble is the title of the first work dedicated to them, by composer Liviu Danceanu.