FOUR-GRANDPIANO-PAVILION

THE FOURGRANDPIANOPAVILION ( for simeon ten holt ) 2004-2008

The 4GPP ( four grand pianos pavilion ) is a pavilion designed in the first place for performing the
music of Simeon ten Holt ( 1923-2012 ). He wrote a lot of music for 4 grand pianos. I would describe his music as having lyrical and harmonic elements in it with minimalistic influence. In musical terms it is defined as space; time is contracted and expanded, speeded up and slowed down.
Normally grand pianists play closely together so they can hear and see each other while they perform. I have separated the musicians and put them in the four corners of the tent. The audience sits in the centre of the tent where they can hear each pianist’s performance as a separate layer. The performers’ faces are projected on a round screen over their heads so they can communicate. The projection screens are translucent so you can see their enlarged emotions from the inside as well as from the outside of the tent. The emotion of the piece unfolds itself over the heads of the audience.

Architecture, design, sculpture and performance join together in this pavilion. In this way various
disciplines form a so-called: “total-sculpture”. The performance is inevitable. Audience is sitting in the
centre of the tent, the musicians around them. Truly we can see a dialogue between performing
musician and listening audience.

Studio Dré Wapenaar presents this pavilion with a wide range of ensembles.
From Polo de Haas and Kees Wieringa, the Bergen Quartet ( www.bergenkwartet.nl ) and
Jeroen van Veen to Charlemagne Palestine, Rita Knuistingh Neven and Reinier van Houdt.
The focuss is on minimal and contemporary music from Steve Reich, Philip Glass, John Adams and
Simeon ten Holt in relation to the old masters. Studio Dré Wapenaar is co-operating with festivals and
events in these, to relate recitals with the theme of the organizing festival.