November Music 2007
November Music lays claim to being the most important festival of contemporary music in the Netherlands with a focus on ‘the people who devise today’s music’. This 15th edition of the festival proffers over 30 widely divergent productions, most of which are brand-new. By rights, November Music could be characterized as a ‘bash for the inquisitive’. The international flavor of the program is manifest from the many collaborations between (mainly) Dutch, Flemish-Belgian, and German composers and musicians. The festival resides in ’s-Hertogenbosch (The Netherlands) but parts of the program will be presented in Ghent (Belgium) and Herne (Germany).
A new feature is the focus on two composers, in 2007 Dutchman Guus Janssen and Fleming Luc Brewaeys. Their work is a connecting thread that runs through the entire festival. Especially so on the first night, Thursday 15 November, at the old Verkade Factory. Two leading ensembles in Holland and Flanders, the Nieuw Ensemble and the wind instrument collective I Solisti del Vento play ‘Oban’ one of Luc Brewaeys’ masterpieces. Pianist and consummate improvisator Guus Janssen subsequently rises to the challenge of (virtually without any rehearsals) sharing the stage as part of an improvisation team that includes local trumpet player Jeroen Doomernik and US bass player Mark Helias.
Also new this year is the collaboration with the Orchestra of Brabant. About time that this County symphony orchestra of international standing guests at November Music. Specifically for this festival an entirely contemporary program was put together that revolves around the two main festival composers. Including a world première of Guus Janssen’s composition for two leading cello players, Ernst Reijseger and Larissa Groeneveld.
Self-evidently there is ample room for up-and-coming talent. November Music presents various premières by Astrid Kruisselbrink and Giel Vleggaar as well as new music theatre pieces by Renske Vrolijk and Daan Manneke with a full complement.
Electronic music will of course get plenty of attention through performances of works by Rob van Rijswijk, Jeroen Strijbos, Anne Parlevliet, Karl-Heinz Blomann, Ensemble Intègrales and the Tom Dissevelt retrospective.
November Music 2007 goes afloat! During a boat trip on the Zuid-Willemsvaart, sound artist Cilia Erens will shine an imaginative light on the future of this canal.
In 2007, jazz stays close to home with two players from Brabant – celebrated Paul van Kemenade and new talent Harmen Fraanje – in an international setting.
Under the heading ‘Re:created’ countercultural ‘indie’ pop music will be able to let fly during amazing collaborations and performances. Exciting combinations are, among others, Staplerfahrer and Machinefabriek with pianist Simon Nabatov (Germany).
November Music Kids will join forces with music theatre workshop ‘Oorproeven’ through a varied program aimed at kids up to 12 with the circus as its central theme.
On Sunday afternoon (18 November) there will be a veritable explosion of new music along the third KunstmuziekRoute, featuring a large number of compact and free concerts all over the city.
14 – 18 November 2007 November Music