Simeon Ten Holt_Canto Ostinato_VICTOR KRAUS GROUP_Live Record

The most important piece by Simeon Ten Holt, Canot Ostinato. This is the new project by the VICTOR KRAUS GROUP. With a special authorization by the publisher Donemus Amsterdam the percussionist Victor Kraus creates a version with winds and strings. This gives the piece a total new appearance; less percussive but more expressive, a version providing an extraordinary hearing experience.

For this project Victor Kraus brings together 6 of the most well known Luxembourgish musicians: Kae Shiraki (piano), Aniela Stoffels (transverse flute), Sébastien Duguet (clarinet), Stéphane Giampellegrini (cello), Pascal Schumacher (vibraphone) and Victor Kraus (marimba). A group of musicians specially formed for this magnificent piece, normally played by keys (pianos, percussions, etc.) but never integrating winds or strings. 

A minimal music master piece with a duration of 1 to 24 hours; 106 musical blocks repeated ad libitum. A piece that will sound differently at every performance, because every musician is free to choose instantly which voice or/and which note of the notated rhythm he will play. A piece that makes straining one’s years, that makes one dream, meditate or slumber, a fascinating piece that makes one feel good.

The ingredients: one rhythm in quintuplets creates a basic pulsation, 106 blocks repeated ad libitum distinguish themselves clearly in harmony and sound. The transitions trough bridges are not repeated and appear in an abrupt way, new material appears instantly without the imperceptible fade-ins, so typical characteristic for the early minimal music pieces. A melody that uncouples itself from the texture and metamorphose suddenly into theme and accompaniment, strong musical effects, an undulating and hypnotic music; strong emotions is the result for the listener. 

Being played a thousands of times, the most popular and most played contemporary Dutch piece is an exemplary acoustic experience, easy to listen (tonal) but holding the suspense of a rich and outrageous music. 

The VICTOR KRAUS GROUP presents us an unheard version of this piece for multiple keys, using winds and strings. It’s till today an unprecedented version because of it’s really challenging technical play for the winds and difficulty in chamber musical interpretation.


Record on 12.12.2018 @ the Conservatory - City of Luxembourg

Piano - Kae Shiraki
Flute - Aniela Stoffels
Clarinet - Sébastien Duguet
Vibraphone - Pascal Schumacher
Cello - Stéphane Giampellegrini
Marimba - Victor Kraus