Location: Dalmatina Library (Zagrebačka 4)

Time: April 2, 2026, at 7:30 PM

In the second edition of “Musical Manuscripts”, a concert series held this year at the Dalmatina Library, Croatian clarinetist and composer Branimir Norac will perform. This distinctive musician stands out for his strong authorial expression, blending exploration of the instrument itself and pushing its boundaries with research into music at the intersection of genres—classical and popular music, traditional elements, improvisation, as well as experimental and contemporary forms with electronic components.

His compositional journey began with the piece “Radost življenja” (Joy of Living) for solo clarinet, which, along with other works for clarinet and piano, is featured on his solo album released in 2020. His subsequent work includes composing for chamber ensembles, film, radio, and theatre, notably his collaboration on the dance performance “Monomit” (2021), for which he composed, performed, and produced the music.

Alongside an innovative approach to performance techniques, his work is marked by characteristic introspective elements often woven into his compositions and performances. In this light, his composition “Krletka za proljeće” (A Cage for Spring) is particularly noteworthy, in which he interprets diary entries written in Braille, translating the symbols into a musical language using his own developed system. Another significant work is “Ptičji paviljon” (Bird Pavilion), an open-score composition for five or more performers from 2024, where he presents a personal approach to the acoustic exploration of different concert spaces.

In spring 2025, the jazz and improvisational album “Clarinets & Drums” was released, recorded during the OneBeat residency in Florida in 2022 with American clarinetist Byron Asher and drummer Robby Bowen. Alongside his teaching work at a music school, he performs as a bass clarinetist in the reed quintet Kalamos and in NAE Collective—an interdisciplinary ensemble bringing together instrumentalists and video artists dedicated to exploring contemporary music and multimedia.

He is also active on the alternative scene as a solo guitarist in the band Klinika Denisa Kataneca. As a member of the UPSUS association, since 2023 he has been organizing the Festival of New Sound in Sinj, aimed at promoting contemporary music and young composers.

The concert starts at 7:30 PM. Admission is free.