About
dutch-UK is a new network started in 2015 between the Institute of Sonology at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague and the Music Composition department in Manchester (UK). It aims to address creative exchanges in the form of new musical compositions, workshops, research forums, publications and concert events between The Netherlands and The United Kingdom.
Starting project: Network 58/58 : As a point of departure, dutch-UK network proposed the “Philips model” as a route for exploring methodologies and dissemination of our practice as research. The Philips Pavillion Expo 58 (58 years ago in 2016!), brought together architect Le Corbusier and composers Xenakis and Varèse whose collaboration has inspired our network focus: "Composition as Space". In 2015-16 the network starts by creating new commissioned works in collaboration with virtuoso Dutch bass clarinet performer Marij van Gorkom (SONIC SPACES).
Other dutch-UK Connections. The Network aims to incorporate other Dutch and UK Institutions led by performers, musicians, enterprenuers, and technologists (to mention a few), to join forces and construct creative bridges between these two neighbour countries.
Starting project: Network 58/58 : As a point of departure, dutch-UK network proposed the “Philips model” as a route for exploring methodologies and dissemination of our practice as research. The Philips Pavillion Expo 58 (58 years ago in 2016!), brought together architect Le Corbusier and composers Xenakis and Varèse whose collaboration has inspired our network focus: "Composition as Space". In 2015-16 the network starts by creating new commissioned works in collaboration with virtuoso Dutch bass clarinet performer Marij van Gorkom (SONIC SPACES).
Other dutch-UK Connections. The Network aims to incorporate other Dutch and UK Institutions led by performers, musicians, enterprenuers, and technologists (to mention a few), to join forces and construct creative bridges between these two neighbour countries.
Key Network events in the first year:
Dutch Concert at the MANTIS Festicval, Manchester: The Network started with a Dutch concert at the MANTIS Festival on 17-18 October 2015 featuring the work of composer Kees Tazelaar. The Dutch concert included the performance of Varese's Poème électronique reconstruction, followed by curated Dutch music by Kees Tazelaar alone and in collaboration with Dutch Visual artist Marianne Dekker.
Marij van Gorkom workshops and new compositions: Throughout the first year, Dutch Bass Clarinet and electronics specialist Marij van Gorkom has visited Manchester several times to work alongside composers via workshops and meetings, which will result in new staff compositions and which will be open to postgraduate composers who will be able to audit, collaborate and compose for Marij.
Marij's 3D-Scan at the School of Materials Design & Fashion; Marij's collaboration included a full 3D body-scanned by Simeon Gill at the School of Materials Design & Fashion, University of Manchester and then imported into the game-engine (recombined via Makehuman, Blender and UE4). Full paper here
New Hordijk Analogue Synthesizer System: We are proud to announce that The School of Arts, Histories and Cultures, kindly approved the purchase of a full new Hordijk system custom-built for the NOVARS Research Centre. UK Composers involved in the Network visited the Hague to receive the instrument's induction and travelled back to UK with Rob Hordijk who delivered the system personally.
Dutch/ UK premiere and performaces at International conferences: The first piece completed for Marij van Gorkom (s.laag for Bass clarinet and game audio by Ricardo Climent) was selected for performance and presentation / discussion at ICLI 2016 Brighton, xCOAx 2016, Bergamo. Italy and ICMC 2016 in Utrech (The Netherlands)
Dutch Concert at the Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama (Manchester) by the Ebonit Saxophone Quartet - Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Organised by Kevin Malone and with the collaboration of Richard Whalley.