Copy About 14.4.2019

Gecorrigeerd door Howard

In 1996 Willem Tanke wrote an organ piece called Stillness, which became a metaphor for his musical practice. It captured a vision referring to his ancestors, who during many centuries were peasant labourers in the fields with a small piece of land in Twente, a region in the east of Holland, bordering Germany:  It is springtime. At the end of a hard day’s work a farm worker is resting a while before going home. He is leaning against a tree, his face towards the late afternoon sun, his thoughts directed nowhere. Suddenly, and for a brief moment, he sees Eternity. Some years later it happens again: after that, no more. But the longing for it encourages him during the rest of his life and strengthens him at the hour of death.   Similarly, Willem Tanke has two areas of special interest which he pursues every day: the classical repertoire and his own improvisations and compositions, solo and with other musicians.  His lifelong project is to document his expertise in playing the organ, the piano and synthesizers/electronic keyboards on the website Playing Keyboard Instruments in the 21st Century The goal of this project is in particular: - to update and vitalize awareness on classical music, world music, jazz and pop - to show that creating new music and interpreting the classical repertoire can be fully integrated to the benefit of both.

Copy Lons-le-Saunier

Callinet organ Église des Cordeliers Lons-le-Saunier (France, 1842-1844)

On October 21, 2018 flutist Martijn Alsters and I gave a recital at the Église des Cordeliers in Lons-le-Saunier, the capital of the Jura in France. The main organ of this church was built by Callinet between 1842 and 1844.  For information about the organ click here The program of the recital was: 1. Évocation du Cornet 2. J.S. Bach - Prélude et fugue en ut mineur BWV 546 3. Calme intérieur des Flûtes et Bourdons  4. J.S. Bach - Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ (« Je crie vers toi, Seigneur Jésus Christ ») BWV 639 5. J.S. Bach - Nun freut euch, lieben Christen g’mein (« Maintenant, réjouissez-vous ensemble, chrétiens bien-aimés ») BWV 734 6. Joie des fées dans la forêt 7. J.S. Bach - Nun komm’ der Heiden Heiland (« Viens maintenant, Sauveur des païens ») BWV 659 8. J.S. Bach - Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (« Réveillez-vous, la voix du veilleur nous appelle ») BWV 645 9. J.S. Bach - Ach bleib bei uns, Herr Jesu Christ (« Reste près de nous, Seigneur Jésus Christ ») BWV 649 10. J.S. Bach - Wir glauben all’ an einen Gott, Vater (« Nous croyons tous en un seul Dieu, Père ») BWV 740 11. Prélude sauvage - Mon ami l’Indien 12. Max Reger - Introduction et passacaille en ré mineur (sans numéro d’opus) Playing Reger on the Callinet organ turned out to be a special experience: Max Reger - Introduction and passacaglia in d minor Moreover, playing Bach on this so-called "transition organ" (between the 18th century and the second half of the 19th century) was a considerable step forward in my life long project of Bach interpretation. The following recordings were made (in order of BWV number): Prelude and fugue in c minor BWV 546 O Mensch, bewein' dein' Sünde gross BWV 622 Jeux de fonds O Mensch, bewein' dein' Sünde gross BWV 622 Jeu de tierce Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ BWV 639 Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme BWV 645  Ach bleib bei uns, Herr Jesu Christ BWV 649  Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland BWV 659 Vater unser im Himmelreich BWV 683  Wer nun den lieben Gott lässt walten BWV 690  Wer nun den lieben Gott lässt walten BWV 691 Fughetta: Nun komm' der Heiden Heiland BWV 699 Allein Gott in der Höh' sei Eher BWV 711 Jesus meine Zuversicht BWV 728 with tremulant Jesus meine Zuversicht BWV 728 without tremulant Wir glauben all' an einen Gott, Vater BWV 740

Copy website home 16 December 2018

As a classical organist Willem Tanke relates to musical life before 1800, when musicians, in particular keyboard players, used to improvise and compose besides playing pieces from the repertoire. 

Consequently he combines the interpretation of works by Bach, Reger and Messiaen with his own music. 

Willem Tanke's improvisations and compositions are truly in the present while reflecting on the past and heading for the future.

Similar to musicians in the 18th century he plays various types of keyboard instruments.

Willem Tanke believes that improvising and composing contribute to finding one's true musical voice and in that sense also benefit the interpretation of works by great composers of the past.

His recordings are almost always made in one track, without edits, to preserve the natural flow of performance and provide authenticity also in this respect.

Willem Tanke documents his expertise on a special website, called Playing Keyboard Instruments in the 21st Century

Copy The Enchanted Forest - Organ and Flute - Wonder Circle

In The Enchanted Forest, a project by organist Willem Tanke and flautist Martijn Alsters, associative relations between sounds, images  and words replace a logical storyline. They  leave impressions which may be different  for everyone in the audience, but have a  similar basic pattern or "blueprint" in the  subconscious mind. Consequently, The Enchanted Forest has an archetypal quality that surpasses differences in cultural  background, race and religion. The listener  may experience a feeling of being in an alternative,  timeless world.

The Enchanted Forest has a strong message,  namely that creativity, spiritual force and imagination can transform negative energy  into positive energy. 

Music example: Birds, Drums and Signals for organ and flute

The music contains a rich variety of moods such as  stillness, exaltation, longing and affectionate emotion. Forces of nature, such as may be found in a storm, are  also depicted. It is essential to recognize a mood of  childlike, naive joy of playing; a quality which is hard  to find in contemporary classical music. In this respect, Martijn Alsters and Willem Tanke feel inspired by

18th century music, in which an uncomplicated joy  of playing was an obvious means of expression.  They relate to the 18th century in other respects  as well and present their music with depth, transparency and accessibility. 

Duration: about 58 minutes

Optional: Jan Dom's Wonder Circle

Wonder Circle is a moving object in the shape of a ´wandering´ giant circle made of spring steel. The visual effect is enchanting and it is almost impossible to imagine that the movement of the circle takes place in time and space. A hallucinating experience thjat surpasses reality and gives The Enchanted Forest an extra dimension: a timeless world of music and movement. 

Copy Biography Nederlands 4.11.2018

Willem Tanke werd geboren in Hengelo in 1959 en kreeg als kind pianoles van Jan Ensink. Later werd het orgel zijn favoriete instrument door inspirerende lessen van Rudi van Straten aan de Muziekschool Hengelo. Van 1977 tot 1986  studeerde hij aan het Utrechts Conservatorium bij Jan Welmers (hoofdvak orgel en improvisatie), Joep Straesser (hoofdvak theorie) en Ton Bruynel (bijvak elektronische muziek). In 1986 sloot hij zijn studie met onderscheiding af.  In het eerste deel van zijn loopbaan specialiseerde Tanke zich in composities van Olivier Messiaen, Max Reger en hedendaagse componisten. Zijn CD-opnames van de volledige werken van Messiaen, Regers monumentale Variationen und Fuge über ein Originalthema Op. 73 en orgelwerken van Jan Welmers, Ton Bruynel en Roderik de Man werden zeer goed ontvangen.  In de 21e eeuw raakte Willem Tanke in toenemende mate bekend als improvisator en uitvoerend componist. Zijn CD’s My friend the Indian and other pieces, Imaginary Day, Two Wind Fantasies and Meditations for a Lent getuigen van een originele en vernieuwende manier van orgelspelen. De criticus Ralph Blakely beschouwde Willem Tanke in The American Record Guide als een leidend en richtinggevend musicus in de 21e eeuw.  Willem Tanke was docent hoofdvak orgel aan de Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht van 1988 to 2000. Sinds 2001 is hij als docent theorie en improvisatie verbonden aan Codarts, Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, in Rotterdam. Als pianist geeft hij een nieuwe dimensie aan avant-garde jazz, avant-pop en hedendaagse klassieke muziek, onder meer door het spelen van complexe, vernieuwende grooves en het gebruik van vogelgezangen van Messiaen in een volledig nieuwe context.  Willem Tanke ontving het "Diplôme de Médaille d’argent" van de "Société Académique d’Éducation et d’Encouragement “Arts-Sciences-Lettres” (Prix Thorlet) in 2000 en de Schnittger Droomprijs in 2015.

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Copy Biography English 4.11.2018

Willem Tanke studied organ and improvisation with Jan Welmers, music theory with Joep Straesser and electronic music with Ton Bruynel at Utrecht Conservatory. In 1985, he finished his studies with the Performance Diploma for Organ with full marks (the grade of 10 and honours), and also with diplomas for music theory and improvisation. 

In the early part of his career, Willem Tanke specialized in organ works by Olivier Messiaen, Max Reger and contemporary composers. His CD recordings of Messiaen's oeuvre, Reger's Variationen und Fuge über ein Originalthema Op. 73 and organ works by Jan Welmers, Ton Bruynel and Roderik de Man have been critically acclaimed. In 1994 Willem Tanke was the first organist to perform Messiaen's complete organ works in Mexico.

In the 21st century, Willem Tanke became increasingly known as an improviser and a performing composer. His CDs My friend the Indian and other pieces, Imaginary Day, Two Wind Fantasies and Meditations for a Lent show a unique, innovative way of organ playing. As a pianist he stretches the boundaries of contemporary classical music and avant-garde jazz, among other things by playing complex, innovative grooves and using bird song passages by Messiaen in an entirely new context. The music critic Ralph Blakely regarded Willem Tanke in the American Record Guide as a leading musician in the 21st century.

He was a professor of organ as a main subject at Utrecht University of Professional Arts Education from 1988 until 2000. Since 2001, he has been teaching theory and improvisation at Codarts, University for the Arts, Rotterdam. 

Willem Tanke was awarded the "Diplôme de Médaille d’argent" of the "Société Académique d’Éducation et d’Encouragement “Arts-Sciences-Lettres” (Prix Thorlet) in 2000 and the Schnittger Dream Prize in 2015. 

Copy Projects 3.11.2018

2018 Music For A Summer In Holland for synthesizers/keyboards

2018 Playing Keyboard Instruments in the 21st Century

2018 The Enchanted Forest a collection of pieces for organ solo (under construction)

2017  Wonder Circle with flautist Martijn Alsters and visual artist Jan Doms (not yet realised)

2017 Olivier Messiaen et la Grotte des Sons Perdus  a musical and spiritual dialogue with Olivier Messiaen

2016 The Enchanted Desert for organ, flute and percussion and with dance and performance

2008 Album for two pianos - Mike Garson and Willem Tanke (not yet issued)

2008 2 DVD-set Olivier Messiaen Livre d’ orgue/organ works 

2007 Remastered 8 CD-box Olivier Messiaen Complete Organ Works

2007 Super Audio CD Meditations for a lent for organ solo

2006 Super Audio CD Max Reger - Variationen und Fuge über ein Originalthema Op. 73 - Two Wind Fantasies

2006 DVD Ways of Intensity for piano solo

2005 CD Imaginary Day - 21 Fantasies for organ

2002 WIND with Vidna Obmana and visual artist Jan Doms, Biennale Rotterdam

2001 CD My friend the Indian and other pieces with Hans Kulk, analogue synthesizer, Martijn Alsters, wind midi controller and René van Commenée, percussion

1998 8 CD-box Olivier Messiaen Complete Organ Works
1997 CD Spiritual Homeland for Yamaha SY99 synthesizer