Between 1996 and 2001, I made a number of pieces which were issued on CD by Cybele Records in 2006. The pieces have been recorded in single takes, without editing, in the Bonifaciuskerk in Medemblik, the Westerkerk in Amsterdam, the Domkerk in Utrecht, the Willibrorduskerk in Berkel-Enschot and the Stevenskerk in Nijmegen.
Generally the pieces evolved from a useful idea, an "invention", emerging from improvisation. This elaborated upon and leads to some sketches. A second invention may be added to provide contrast or to enhance the structure. Then the improvisation, played repeatedly from the sketches, slowly crystallizes into a composition. This process could last several hours, several weeks, sometimes even several years, the sketches becoming increasingly detailed. Ultimately each piece may be entirely composed or still permit some improvisation. In this respect however, a composition is nearly always regarded as a "temporarily fixed identity", meaning that the composition can always "de-crystallize" into an improvisation again. As a result, the line between composing and improvising is rather thin.
Call of the Trumpet is based on an organ-point, which lasts throughout the entire piece. With the organ point keys held down by two weights, both hands are free to play the melody and two accompaniment figures. The stop which is used for the organ point is a flute 8-foot. This is only partially open, in order to produce the desired sound. This is a subtle procedure: at 0:14, for instance, opening the stop only two or three millimeters already changes the sound.
Generally the pieces evolved from a useful idea, an "invention", emerging from improvisation. This elaborated upon and leads to some sketches. A second invention may be added to provide contrast or to enhance the structure. Then the improvisation, played repeatedly from the sketches, slowly crystallizes into a composition. This process could last several hours, several weeks, sometimes even several years, the sketches becoming increasingly detailed. Ultimately each piece may be entirely composed or still permit some improvisation. In this respect however, a composition is nearly always regarded as a "temporarily fixed identity", meaning that the composition can always "de-crystallize" into an improvisation again. As a result, the line between composing and improvising is rather thin.
Call of the Trumpet is based on an organ-point, which lasts throughout the entire piece. With the organ point keys held down by two weights, both hands are free to play the melody and two accompaniment figures. The stop which is used for the organ point is a flute 8-foot. This is only partially open, in order to produce the desired sound. This is a subtle procedure: at 0:14, for instance, opening the stop only two or three millimeters already changes the sound.
