Organisation

During its almost 50 years of existence, the Huygens-Fokker Foundation has developed into a knowledge center which is in possession of a rich archive of unique documentation about microtonality. Among the archives are handwritten correspondences between Adrian Fokker and a diverse collection of well known composers and musicians, such as Yehudi Menuhin, Pierre Boulez, Edgar Varèse, Peter Schat, Willem Pijper, Ivan Wyschnegradsky, Louis Andriessen, Alois Hàba, Henk Badings, etc. The Foundation library also contains an extensive library of microtonal scores, books and other publications.

The term 'microtonality' stands for 'an other sound' (that isn't based upon the ubiquitously known 12 equal tempered tones), through which different stylistic periods within one concert can be combined.

Since it's inception the Huygens-Fokker Foundation regularly organizes concerts in the Netherlands, which are unique because of their complete dedication to microtonality. In addition to organizing lectures and workshops these concerts fulfill an important function of the Foundation by demonstrating microtonality in practice. Diverse compositions are presented to show the broad spectrum which microtonality covers. For example, besides contemporary microtonal techniques and systems, also historical tunings and temperaments show much about microtonality. However, the Foundation doesn't restrict it's focus to only contemporary and early music. Also improvised and other forms of popular music which are microtonal can be found on our concerts. The fresh sound of microtonality connects all these styles together.