After having been out of sight for ten years, the Fokker organ has now found a permanent home in the BAM Hall of the Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ. This unique 31-tone instrument, following a thorough renovation and the addition of MIDI in and MIDI out, has gained a range of new musical possibilities that are surprising for composers, performers, and audiences alike.
This afternoon, the Gaudeamus Music Week and the Huygens-Fokker Foundation offer composers the opportunity to become acquainted with this microtonal organ. In addition to explanations, a demonstration of the various possibilities will be presented through a series of short performances. Furthermore, a concise presentation will cover the software that can be used to compose 31-tone music. Composers interested in writing for the Fokker organ in the coming season will have the chance for their works to be performed during Gaudeamus Week 2010.
Presented by Sander Germanus (director of the Huygens-Fokker Foundation), with contributions from Ere Lievonen (Fokker organ), Manuel Op de Coul (software demonstration: Scala for microtonality), and Danny de Graan (explanation of technical aspects of the Fokker organ).