Newsletter
Recently our new Thirty-One was published, a journal with lots of information and scientific content. In it there is also a news item under the name micro-actualities. Next to this news will be send along with the concert anouncements. Together this will form the newsletter. Once a year a special newsletter will appear at the end of the season. All the news in the past will have a place on this webpage.
Latest newsletter
Micro-actualities
The year 2009 is a special year for the Huygens-Fokker Foundation. The renovation of the
Fokker organ has recently been successfully completed by organ builders Pels & Van Leeuwen.
Our unique 31-tone instrument has now a permanent place in the BAM Zaal of the
Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ in Amsterdam, making the return of the Fokker organ to the music
world a fact. This memorable event was celebrated with an inaugural concert on May 17th
2009. A cross section of the concert offerings for the season 2009-2010 was performed,
including highlights of the repertoire of the Fokker-organ by our own organist Joop van
Goozen, improvisations by Guus Janssen, old music from baroque ensemble La Barca Leyden
and a new composition by Danny de Graan, in which the newest technical possibilities of the
Fokker organ, recently equipped with MIDI-In and MIDI-Out, could be heard.
Another important fact is that the new Huygens-Fokker website was launched on the internet
at the beginning of 2009. Our old website was admittedly very extensive but insufficiently
inviting to the reader, so it needed a replacement. The website of the Huygens-Fokker
Foundation is now, after a complete renewal, even more informative than before. Since 2008
the Foundation has had a new domain name, namely www.huygens-fokker.org. New also is
the Bohlen-Pierce site; after the foundation received the whole original Bohlen-Pierce
documentation from Heinz Bohlen, we are hosting the new Bohlen-Pierce site on our new
website: http://www.huygens-fokker.org/bpsite/index.html
To spread knowledge about microtonality, the Huygens-Fokker Foundation has, in its capacity
as a centre for microtonal music, formulated several educational activities over the course of the
past year, including study programs, workshops, lectures and educational projects for several
age-groups. Also there is, after some time, a new publication of Thirty-One, our journal on
microtonality, of which this, under editorial supervision of Bob Gilmore, is the first result.
Sander Germanus
director, Huygens-Fokker Foundation
Photo: Maarten Klijn
News archive
Zondag 10 februari 2013, 11 uur | Kleine Zaal | Dwarse Klanken |
Voor dit programma zijn een aantal uiteen-lopende composities geselecteerd die het rijke doch tegendraadse repertoire van het Fokker-orgel illustreren. Naast enkele oude en hedendaagse klassiekers, waaronder een compositie van de Vlaamse componist Bert Van Herck, zal nieuw speciaal voor het Fokker-orgel geschreven werk worden uitgevoerd van de componisten Miranda Driessen en Angus Barnacle, die eerder stukken hebben gecomponeerd met dwarse klanken. Op het Fokker-orgel speelt onze vaste organist Ere Lievonen. U kunt kaarten reserveren bij het Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ.
Zondag 30 december 2012, 11 uur | Kleine Zaal | Guus Janssen&Friends |
Tijdens dit concert, in het kader van The Art of the Trio, bespeelt Guus Janssen het bijzondere 31-toons Fokker-orgel. Als ervaren uitvoerder benut hij de unieke mogelijkheden van dit instrument maximaal. Vaste triopartners van Janssen, trompettist Marco Blaauw en trombonist Wolter Wierbos, gaan met hem een improvisatieduel aan. Componist, pianist en improvisator Guus Janssen is wars van traditionele scheidslijnen als genres en stijlen. Het Fokker-orgel is voor hem een ideaal medium voor kleurrijke improvisaties. Kaarten reserveren bij het Muziekgebouw a/'t IJ.
Zondag 2 december 2012, 11 uur | Kleine Zaal | 31 Steps to Heaven |
Ensemble SCALA speelt het derde jaar op rij in de Kleine Zaal van het Muziekgebouw een programma met louter en alleen microtonale muziek. Op het programma staat o.a. een compositie van de vroegere Fokker-organist Anton de Beer. Ter gelegenheid van het 450 jarige geboortedag van Sweelinck klinken 2 werken in middentoonstemming. Het concert ‘31 steps to heaven’ wordt afgesloten met het gelijknamige werk van componist René Samson, een licht microtonaal werk waarbij 12- en 31-toons lijnen worden gecombineerd en strijd met elkaar leveren. Kaarten voor dit concert kunt u reserveren bij het Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ.
Sunday, 14 October 2012, 11.00 h. | Small hall | The clusters of Schat|
Peter Schat composed his Collages for 31-tone organ in 1962 and made it one of the most outstanding works written for the unique Fokker organ. In the piece, Schat painted a, for his time, progressive palette of timbres. The other works on the program, among others Eugen Frischknecht, Ivan Wyschnegradsky and Jan van Dijk, are composed around the same time as the composition of Schat. Also, there is a composition with clusters of Juan Felipe Waller performed by Ere Lievonen on the Fokker organ and 96-tone Carrillo-piano.
Tickets can be reserved at the Muziekgebouw.
Zondag 20 mei 2012, 11 uur | BAM Zaal | In Memoriam Henk Badings |
Dit jaar herdenkt Stichting Huygens-Fokker het 25ste sterfjaar van Henk Badings (1907-1987). Zijn grote bijdrage aan het 31-toonsrepertoire zal met dit concert eer worden aangedaan. Badings componeerde werken voor het Fokker-orgel maar ook voor vioolduo Bouw Lemkes en Jeanne Vos. Een dwarsdoorsnede van de beste microtonale werken van Henk Badings is in het programma opgenomen. Met medewerking van Ere Lievonen (Fokker-orgel), Judith van Driel (viool) en Marleen Wester (viool). U kunt voor dit concert kaarten reserveren bij het Muziekgebouw. Programma
Zondag 11 maart 2012, 11 uur |BAM Zaal |
Geheim van de middentoon |
Organist Ere Lievonen ontrafelt aan de hand van eigenzinnige oude en nieuwe muziek het geheim van de ‘middentoon’. Deze concertochtend geeft antwoord op de vraag waarom de middentoon-stemming verdween en hoe deze in de moderne tijd weer toe te passen is. Naast een première zullen er op het 31-toonsorgel werken in middentoonstemming van de beroemde Italiaan Girolamo Frescobaldi en zijn tijdgenoten ten gehore worden gebracht. Voor dit concert kunt u kaarten reserveren bij het Muziekgebouw. Lees hier meer.
New! | MicroFest Amsterdam 2011
A one day festival for microtonal music on Sunday the 11th of December, 2011. Een sociable musical day for all people who love different tunings and microtonality. Single concerts are 15 euros, a passe-partout for the entire festival costs only 24 euros. Don't miss this great event! Read more here.
Sunday, 13 November 2011, 11.00 h. | BAM HAll | Carrillo versus Fokker |
For the third year in row the Huygens-Fokker Foundation organizes together with the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ the concert Pimp My Organ! The computerized Fokker organ will again be expanded, revamped and pimped-up! Besides this the 31-tone organ will be played by composer/ performer Warren Burt (who is projected on a wall with a beamer) through the internet from Australia, using the newest digital possibilities. On the programme works composed by Christina Oorebeek and Marc Sabat.
Tickets can be reserved at the Muziekgebouw.
Sunday, 16 October 2011, 11.00 h. | BAM HAll |
Carrillo versus Fokker |
Concert Premiere! Presentation of the Carrillo-piano.
The 96-toons Carrillo piano and the 31-tone Fokker organ will compete with each other musically and also join forces during this unique concert. Apart from the existing repertoire, this is reflected in new works by the composers Torsten Anders, Martin Lo-A-Njoe and Juan Felipe Waller. The clear conflict between the two instruments will also be translated into an impro-battle, performed by musicians Maarten van Veen and Ere Lievonen. Tickets for the concert can be reserved at the Muziekgebouw. Check sponsors!
Sunday, 18 September 2011, 11.00 hours | BAM HAll | El Hotel Eléctrico |
Pianist and master improviser Hugo van Neck accompanies on the Fokker organ a.o. the fascinating film
El Hotel Eléctrico of Segundo de Chomón of 1908, starring the actress Julienne Mathieu and the director himself. Witty, exciting and surreal scenes will be provided with color by improvisations on the 31-tone organ during this performance in the newly renovated BAM Hall. The film will be introduced shortly before the start by movie connoisseur Theodore van Houten. You can order tickets for this concert at the Muziekgebouw.
Sunday, 15 May 2011, 11.00 hours |
BAM HAll | The Ariadne-project |
A special crossover concert with music by Claudio Monteverdi and his contemporaries, as well as a work of the young Berlin composer and lutenist Andreas Arend, based on Monteverdi's Lamento d'Arianna solo aria, the only remaining part of his opera L'Arianna which is unfortunately lost. The program includes compositions by Claudio Monteverdi and others. They kept themselves busy with some specific theories of music such as chromaticism, thematic coherence and musical tunings, which then led to new and appealing music. Tickets for this concert can be reserved at the Muziekgebouw.
Sunday, 17 April 2011, 11.00 | BAM HAll |
31-tone music above the IJ |
Organ player Ere Lievonen will perform exciting 31-tone music high above the IJ. Besides the fact that brand new works will sound on the Fokker organ (including a composition of Wim de Ruiter and James Hewitt), pieces composed by great masters of early music will be performed in meantone temperament, a tuning on which the Fokker organ is based. In contrast to instruments based on our current tempered 12-tone system, this tuning makes it possible to play perfect thirds, intervals that one must have heard. Tickets for this concert can be reserved at the Muziekgebouw.
Sunday, 20 March 2011, 11.00 | BAM HAll |
Boem Boe Bali! |
Gamelan is characteristic of the Indonesian classical music. 31-tone music is a typical Dutch invention that has been developed in The Netherlands. The 31-tone tuning of the Fokker-organ has possibilities to play exotic melodies and harmonies, as can be heard in different types of gamelan. It's possible to devide the fifth in three, like in the Balinese scale with 6/5 seconds. These sounds fit well with the pelog and slendro tunings of the metallophones and gongs which are present in the gamelan music. A melting pot of exotic sounds during this remarkable concert will be the result. Tickets can be reserved at the Muziekgebouw.
Sunday, 27 February 2011, 11.00 | BAM HAll |
Pimp My Organ 2 |
Due to great success in December 2009, now the sequel to Pimp My Organ! During this concert the computerized Fokker organ will again be operated by laptops. Using the latest electronic features, the 31-tone organ now will be pimped-up! The Mexican composer Sebastian Velasco and the New York composer and Gaudeamus Music Prize Winner of 2007, Christopher Trapani, composed a piece for this concert. Also with works of Verduin, Benard, Pfeiffer, Mensingh and flautist Jos Zwaanenburg who will play a revised composition of himself, accompanied by organist Ere Lievonen. Tickets can be reserved at the Muziekgebouw.
Sunday, 19 December 2010, 11.00 | BAM HAll |
The untempered cinema|
This production brings film and live music together in a cinema of untempered sounds. On the Fokker organ, pianist and master improvisor Hugo van Neck accompanies the movie Aelita of director Yakov Protazanov, with a.o. the actors Yuliya Solntseva, Igor Ilyinsky and Nikolai Tsereteli. Only the organ pipes and the movie images can be seen in the BAM Hall this morning. Exciting, dramatic and funny scenes will be reinforced by the 31-tone organ during this performance. This film will be introduced at 11 o'clock by movie specialist Theodore van Houten.
You can order tickets by the Muziekgebouw.
Sunday, 28 November 2010, 11 hours | BAM Hall | Ensemble SCALA |
During this concert the Fokker organ will be part of a new ensemble for microtonal music of seven musicians, under the name of Ensemble SCALA. The musicians are all specialists in performing microtonal music and will explore together the frontiers of the colorful 31-tone tuning of the famous Fokker organ. A collection of new sounds can be heard next to music from existing repertoire. The composers on the programme are among others René Samson, Steffen Krebber, Ned McGowan, John Bull en Nicola Vicentino.
Tickets can be ordered by the Muziekgebouw.
Sunday, 10 October 2010, 11 hours | BAM Hall | Organic Movements |
During this concert organ player Ere Lievonen will perform several new 31-tone compositions. The Flemish composer Bert Van Herck and the Dutch/American composer Christina Oorebeek were asked to compose a new piece for the Fokker organ. There will be an older work (2002, premiere) played, composed by Sander Germanus, which will be performed completely by a laptop. Besides this new repertoire there will be early baroque music from the interesting composers Ascanio Mayone, Giovanni Maria Trabaci and Tarquinio Merula on the programme.
Tickets can be ordered by the Muziekgebouw.
Gaudeamus Music Week | 9-12-'10, 12.30 | Ere Lievonen, Fokker organ|
Sunday the 12th of September 2010 there will be a special concert in the BAM Hall of the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ with the Fokker organ during the Gaudeamus Music Week. As many as 10 premieres are on the program, from eleven composers who composed especially for this occasion. These microtonal compositions will be performed by organ player Ere Lievonen or by laptops, possibly supplemented with audio. The composers are Janco Verduin, Steffen Krebber, Hector Bravo Benard, Martin Lo-A-Njoe, Michiel Mensingh, François Gabriel Madden, André Douw, Sean Winters, Christian Pfeiffer, Joseph Michaels and Iván González Escuder. Free admission
 Sunday, May 30, 2010, 11.00 | BAM Hall |
Hans Kox 80 years
To mark the eightieth birthday of composer Hans Kox the Huygens-Fokker Foundation organizes in cooperation with the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ an unique concert about Kox' complete 31-tone works. Because of his special musical relationship with professor Adriaan Fokker these works were composed by Hans Kox between the late fifties an early sixties. His stringquartet, his violinduo and other microtonal pieces for piano, violin & baritone will be performed. Besides this organist Ere Lievonen shall play all the works for the Fokker organ, namely the Larghetto, 3 epigrammen voor 31-toonsorgel and Passacaglia en Koraal. Read more
You can order tickets by the Muziekgebouw.
Sunday, March 21, 2010, 11.00 | BAM Hall | New harvest/Old masters
In this concert, organist Joop van Goozen, who has specialised in playing the Fokker organ since the nineties, is presenting a wonderful collection of old and new 31-tone music. Special guest Jos Zwaanenburg will provide Joop van Goozen with musical accompaniment during this concert. Especially for this concert he composed a new work for flute, Fokker organ and live electronics. Besides old masters like Froberger and Rossi, the programme includes familiar works from the regular repertoire, by Peter Schat and Henk Badings, among others.
Tickets can be ordered by the Muziekgebouw.
Sunday, February 21st 2010, 11.00 | BAM Hall | Guus Janssen touches the Fokker organ
Guus Janssen will be touching and playing the Fokker organ (on both 12-tone and 31-tone keyboards). Special guest is clarinet and saxophone player David Kweksilber, who will provide him with musical accompaniment during several improvisations. Janssen will also compose some short pieces and jazz themes especially for the Fokker organ to investigate the possibilities of improvising with microtonality. If you're curious to know where this leads to and you're up to hear a new sound, come and visit this exciting and unpredictable concert!
You can order tickets by the Muziekgebouw.
Concert | February 14th 2010, 11.00 | BAM Hall | Chinese Temperaments
Under the Chinese Opera Weekend the organ-player Ere Lievonen and erhu-player Fang Weiling will search for corresponding temperaments and tunings by improvising on a Chinese theme and playing a Chinese composition during this concert. The erhu, in Western countries better known a the "Chinese violin", is a two-snared string instrument that is regularly used as a solo instrument or as part of ensembles or orchestras. On the programme is furthermore the Bagatelle "Chinees" of Adriaan Fokker, Suite van kleine stukken of Henk Badings en a whole new piece of Joke Kegel, named Imaginary City.
Tickets can be reserved by the Muziekgebouw.
Free admission.
Concert 12-13-09, 11 am, BAM Hall : Pimp My Organ!
In this concert, the Fokker organ will be operated by laptops. Several composers will work with live electronics in their pieces. All of them (Marc Sabat, Danny de Graan, Rozalie Hirs and Jos Zwaanenburg) composed a work for the Fokker organ operated via MIDI. A composition by Conlon Nancarrow will also be performed, with electronics and in a more just tuning. Using extra digital stops and other new electronic possibilities of this renovated acoustic 31-tone instrument, the Fokker organ will be expanded and pimped with many new sounds.
Tickets can be ordered by the Muziekgebouw.
La Barca Leyden , 11-22-09, 11 am: The fifth tone of Christiaan Huygens
Exploration through ornamentation and Baroque improvisation, of the effect the existence of an instrument such as the Fokker-organ would have had on the music from Christiaan Huygens' time. Research has shown that the use of additional tones/keys (to be able to tune the instrument) led some composers of the seventeenth century to a bizarre use of chromatic micro tones. A chance for Baroque ensemble La Barca Leyden to rewrite the history of music.
Tickets can be orderd by the Muziekgebouw.
Premiere concert Fokker organ, October 11th 2009, 11.00 hours, BAM Zaal - Muziekgebouw: '31-tone music at the IJ'
Organ player Ere Lievonen, next to Joop van Goozen the new player of the Fokker organ, will play fascinating 31-tone music during this concert.
Besides the fact that there will be new music performed on the Fokker organ, from which the composition Forma of Danny de Graan is one of them, old masters of the meantone temperament can also be heard, among them a work composed by the famous Dutchman from Amsterdam: Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck. Other historical repertoire will also be performed this morning on this special microtonal instrument, among them work of the composers Henk Badings en Ivan Wyschnegradsky.
Tickets can be orderd by the Muziekgebouw.
Inaugural concert, 5-17-2009, 11 am | BAM Hall, Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ
 After the renovation of the Fokker-organ the instrument will make it's return into the music world by a surprising inaugural concert. There will be a cross section of the concerts of next season, including highlights of the repertoire of the Fokker-organ played by Joop van Goozen, improvisations by Guus Janssen, old music played La Barca Leyden and a demonstration of the new possibilities of the Fokker-organ by composer Danny de Graan.
Renovation Fokker-organ
  The Fokker organ needed a restoration badly. It had to be reassembled, renovated and rebuilt into a modern organ. Requests haven been sent to various funds. The Huygens-Fokker Foundation needed these financial aids, because otherwise this unique 31-tone organ would be in danger of being lost. The plan was to place the Fokker organ definitively above the glass wall of the BAM Zaal in the Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ in Amsterdam. A better location  could not have been wished for. In this room one will be able to enjoy, through concerts and educational projects, music specially composed for the instrument and the unique musical heritage that Christiaan Huygens (proponent of the 31-tone system) has initiated in the Netherlands. Read more
Thirty-One
Thirty-One is the journal
of the Huygens-Fokker Foundation, a
periodical about microtonal music with lots of information and scientific content, that appears around two times a year.
See the webpage of Thirty-One on our site. You can also find it on www.thirty-one.eu!
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