PROMINENT ROLE FOR CREATION
Het Collectief wants to play a prominent role in the field of creation. In doing so, it is important to be able to make artistic choices in full autonomy. Independent of subsidising governments, we want to absorb the risks associated with progressive programming by looking for patrons with a taste for the avant-garde.
And we started!
On 15 October at MIM in Brussels, we presented to the public 'For Morton Feldman' to the public : a first creation project featuring composers Jean-Luc Fafchamps and David Fennessy, video performer Klaas Verpoest and musicians Thomas Dieltjens, Toon Fret and Tom De Cock.
We are currently editing the video trailer of the launch event. So , you can, very soon, expect the link here and that way - even if you were not there on 15.10 - you can discover the composers, video performer and musicians.
'FOR MORTON FELDMAN'
Thomas Dieltjens, Toon Fret and Tom De Cock play Morton Feldman, David Fennessy and Jean-Luc Fafchamps
'Why Patterns?' (1978) Morton FELDMAN (1926-1987)
New work (2025) David FENNESSY (°1976)
'For Morton Feldman' (2025) Jean-Luc FAFCHAMPS (°1960)
In 1978 Morton Feldman composed 'Why Patterns?', a first of three pieces for flute, piano and glockenspiel. In this rare instrumental combination, each instrument has a very defined sound identity and physical playing style. Feldman responds to this by assigning characteristic motifs to each of the musicians. Paradoxically enough, we hear these totally emancipated patterns merge into a harmonious sounding, psychedelic sound universe.
The way in which Feldman deals with time also contributes to this alienating atmosphere. Even though the individual voices are rhythmically very accurately notated, they are uncoordinated, except in the final phase of the work. In this free temporal space, the voices only meet by chance.
Het Collectief asked two composers, who both have a strong affinity with Feldman's oeuvre, to write new works for the same unique line-up.
David Fennessy (IRL - °1976) about his music: “I’m not sure if there is a consistent line of inquiry running through my work. Each piece is its own little universe with its own technique, language, rules, problems and solutions.” One of his more recent works: 'Panopticon' (2019) for cymbalom and strings, struck a chord with Het Collectief because of its great sound sensitivity and a free and very original approach to the physical characteristics of the instruments.
Since 2000, the cycle 'Lettres soufis' has stood out in the oeuvre of the Belgian composer Jean-Luc Fafchamps (B - °1960). He uses Sufi philosophy as a starting point for 28 different compositions, as many as there are letters in the Arabic alphabet. The new composition for Het Collectief may also become part of this cycle in the making. Fafchamps about 'Lettres Soufis': “My preference for paradoxical constructions and a multidirectional sense of synthesis are freely expressed there”. Fafchamps indeed succeeds time and time again in bringing together the irreconcilable and from an original idea to build a surprisingly attractive world that far transcends the well-trodden paths of contemporary music.
For the visuals we approached Klaas Verpoest (B - °1975), who was already responsible for beautiful projections at our previous Feldman concerts. This time the images are projected in a video surround installation with the musicians included.
Het Collectief
Toon Fret, flutes
Thomas Dieltjens, piano
Tom De Cock, percussion
Klaas Verpoest, video performance
Our partners
15.03.2025 Kortrijk Festival (B)
end April 2025 New Music Festival Dublin (IRL)
March-June 2025 De Link Tilburg (NL)
Klaas Verpoest https://klaasverpoest.com/
Jean-Luc Fafchamps https://jeanlucfafchamps.eu/
David Fennessy https://www.universaledition.com/david-fennessy-4082
SUPPORT US
Supporter: € 40 and more
Friend: € 500 and more
Patron: € 1000 and more
KING BAUDOUIN FOUNDATION
The King Baudouin Foundation is cooperating with this project. Donations from €40 per year to the Foundation give rise to a tax reduction of 45% on the amount actually paid (Article 145/33 WIB)”, excluding any other formula.
Please make your payment to the project account 'HET COLLECTIEF', managed by the King Baudouin Foundation, on account BE10 0000 0000 0404 with BIC: BPOTBEB1 of the King Baudouin Foundation, stating the structured code: 623/3803/10033.
https://kbs-frb.be/nl/het-collectief-vzw
CALENDAR OF EVENTS AND MEETINGS
15.10.23 Presentation project "For Morton Feldman" at the Musical Instrument Museum in Brussels
25.10.23 'Crippled Symmetry' - Feldman in CC Strombeek (Sacristy Basiliek Grimbergen) - concert
21.01.24 House concert in Elewijt - concert by Thomas Dieltjens, Wibert Aerts and Martijn Vink (Pianotrio Het Collectief)
14.03.24 General rehearsal "Das Lied von der Erde" (G.Mahler) in Brussels.
15-17.03.24 Visit to the Festival "Printemps des Arts de Monte-Carlo" (MONACO) with concert by Het Collectief on 16 .03 at 18h00 -
https://www.printempsdesarts.mc/
31.12.24 The fundraising campaign for "For Morton Feldman" ends.
15.03.25 Festival Kortrijk - world premiere project "For Morton Feldman"
05-07.05.25 New Music Festival Dublin - Irish premiere project "For Morton Feldman"
May '25 De Link Tilburg (NL) - Dutch premiere project "For Morton Feldman"
THANK YOU!
Het Collectief, composers Jean-Luc Fafchamps and David Fennessy, and video performer Klaas Verpoest are extremely grateful for all the support.