Some Thoughts on Playing the Organ by Willem Tanke: Physical, mental and spiritual dialogue with Messiaen

25/10/2017

Physical, mental and spiritual dialogue with Messiaen

Henk ten Holt wrote: "The musical dialogue between Messiaen and Tanke is a radical mental and spiritual experience which, at the same time, touches you very physically." Indeed I feel it that way. This is an example; the end of my project "Olivier Messiaen and the Cave of Forgotten Sounds".

About

As a classical organist I have been a prominent Messiaen and Reger interpreter since the '90s. Nowadays Bach interpretation is my main classical project. This is represented by my research "Dancing Bach on the organ". At the same time, as an improviser and a performing composer, I have been creating a new musical language which brings together musicians with avant-jazz, avant-pop, Western classical and traditional African and Asian backgrounds. I now relate this to my Bach interpretation.