| Makers | Gross & Schouten feat. Kerwin Rolland |
| Duration | 60 min |
The bass clarinet has its very own festival?
Yes, definitely. He can solo and accompany, he can color in sound like a chameleon with other instruments, vocals or electronics, he is like a jukebox full of unusual sounds. Artistic directors and founders of this festival are bass clarinetists Fie Schouten and Tobias Klein.
The 5th edition focuses on a cultural dialogue with France and Italy. And that is reflected in the line-up of musicians, the compositions, the visual arts and iconic literature as a source of inspiration for part of the programming.
"“Schouten, Watt and Gross find a brilliant musical balance, from the extremely fragile opening of Peter Jakober’s Werk to the complementary rhythms in Jérôme Combier’s Hollow. The frequencies emerging from the speakers ripple all around you.”"
— Dennis Bajram- Volkskrant
Janco Verduin – From dusk till dawn: the hidden world of Pipistrellus Pipistrellus.
“I wanted to make the inaudible of the night audible.” Have you ever come across those signs saying: Do not enter – nature reserve? Well, according to composer Janco, Korzo is transformed into such a reserve, and we find ourselves right in the middle of it. We hear the swifts swooping around at sunset in search of their nests, and the bats that awaken when the moon appears, hunting for insects. But here, all of that is imitated by bass clarinet, cello, electronics, and objects. The musicians mix neuroscience with theatrical music, allowing us to feel those low tones deep in our bellies.
Peter Jakober – Werk
Can you really believe your ears? In Werk, bass clarinet, cello, and electronic sounds merge into a special listening space—one where you don’t always see who is playing what, or where the sounds are coming from. Live and recorded sounds intertwine, giving the listener a truly different auditory experience. This play with acoustics and expectation creates a layered, almost hallucinatory sensation: you hear musical lines that seem to respond to one another, without actually being connected. The result is a thrilling soundscape where your ears take over from your eyes.
Kerwin Rolland & Fie Schouten – Multiple Voices
This summer, Fie Schouten and Kerwin Rolland will be working during a residency at the Van Doesburg House in Paris on the piece that will be performed this evening. It is filled with field recordings, live electronics, and acoustic instruments. As in the works of Peter Jakober and Janco Verduin, the focus is on an equality between acoustic instruments and (live) electronics—sometimes as distinct entities, sometimes nearly indistinguishable. Either way, it is certainly something that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Bass clarinetist Fie Schouten and cellist Katharina Gross have formed a duo since 2022. They focus on contemporary music with a preference for low sounds, special sound combinations and theatrical elements. They have performed in several countries and regularly collaborate with guest musicians and young composers. They also give masterclasses and workshops, with which they share their passion for new music and bring innovative performances.
This French artist and performer combines art, music, sound and science in imaginative projects such as marine operas and compositions that appeal to your senses. With a background in acoustics and neuroscience, he searches for new forms of experience. His work has been shown in places such as the Palais de Tokyo and Villa Medici, and he collaborates with various artists and institutions from his home in Paris.
Performers: Katharina Gross, Fie Schouten, Kerwin Rolland
This concert is part of the Basklarinet Festijn and is supported by FPK, AFK, BNG, the Cultuurfonds.
Korzo Zaal