Julián Carrillo (1875–1965) and Adriaan Fokker (1887–1972) both dedicated their lives to microtones, yet each arrived at a completely different tuning system. The Mexican Carrillo, who met Fokker in 1958 at the UNESCO Congress in Paris, divided the octave into 96 minute steps, known as the Sonido-trece system (the thirteenth tone). For all his efforts in this field, he received widespread recognition during his lifetime, including even a nomination for the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1950. Fokker, on the other hand, divided the octave into 31 small steps per octave, based on meantone tuning and the ideas of Christiaan Huygens. On paper, these two systems are incompatible, yet in practice the instruments built specifically for these different tunings blend together remarkably well.
For instance, the tones of the 31-tone organ deviate imperceptibly little from 31 corresponding tones on the 96-tone piano, or Carrillo piano, which is also in the possession of the Huygens-Fokker Foundation and of which only a few exist worldwide. This remarkable instrument will once again be played by the pianist Anne Veinberg. Equally special is the presence of the renowned harpist Ernestine Stoop, who will bring her rare Carrillo harp to this concert. She had this instrument, which more closely resembles a zither, built especially for herself. The Fokker organ will be played by the highly experienced resident organist Ere Lievonen.
The programme will include, among other things, two premieres: Hangszon by Matthias Kadar (for Fokker organ, Carrillo piano, and Carrillo harp) and a new work by Sander Germanus for Carrillo piano and Fokker organ, entitled Morpheus. In addition, compositions from the repertoire of these extraordinary microtonal instruments will be performed, including pieces by Carrillo himself and Manoeuvre by Brechtje van Dijk (for Carrillo piano and Fokker organ). The interplay between the two microtonal systems will also manifest in a spectacular improvisation battle, performed collaboratively by the musicians.