‘Anemoia (n.) ‘a pang of nostalgia, for an era you never lived through’

“This is a journey of embodying the intertwined narratives of the East and the West through Keroncong and Western art songs. Keroncong dates back to the 1600s, when the freed slaves of Portuguese culture in the Malay Peninsula were brought by the Dutch to Indonesia. The history of its development has been mostly elusive, but it was spread amongst many people with various cultural backgrounds who resided in the archipelago. Fast forward to circa 1930s onwards -still in the Dutch colonial era- it gained a lot of popularity in Indonesia and The Netherlands. The three Keroncong songs we present in this concert express the themes of nature and labour in the rice field, the longing and romanticization of Solo River which resembles homeland, and reminiscing a loved one.”

In Sarah, we meet a young woman with Rett syndrome. A film in which not her disability, but individuality takes center stage.
The impetus came from Sarah herself: she indicated that she wanted to be filmed. For six months, Wolf, from the itinerant art team, and Sarah met weekly at the De Marius Meijboom. “I didn’t know beforehand what it would become,” says Wolf. “That had to present itself weekly, in what happened between us.”
In this way, a language without words grew, consisting of glances, gestures and patience. “The most beautiful thing that could emerge was an honest portrait. Nothing more, nothing less.”
The music is a raw, honest, full improvisation of prepared piano with no cuts.

A short film exploring the question “How do we make sound visible?”. In our project, with the use of Lissajous figures (complex geometric curves formed by combining two independent, perpendicular waves), Wisse created these figures with light tracing. The music is written based on 5 single patterns. The whole work is filmed in Zeeland in front of 5 lighthouses. The premiere was projection mapped on a beautiful building 1615, at the Goese Kade Feesten. The project was funded by the Keep an Eye Foundation.

Eraniël is a free production for two eurythmists, two musicians, and a speaker. Originally created as Minke Willemse’s graduation piece, it was further developed after a successful tour.

The story follows a lonely boy searching for a friend. After meeting people and animals along the way, he finally finds his soulmate across the river.

The performance combines eurythmy, live music, and pedagogical imagery from Waldorf education.

Eurythmy: Minke Willemse, Marceline Mutsaerts
Music: Rodo Nijhoff, Apollon Kalamenios
Voice/Drama: Marianne van Asperen
Director: Chantal Heijdeman

“Strings of Blood and Moon is a performative concert that draws from Lorca’s role as a pianist and collector of folk songs. The project offers a new perspective on his work; it shows his multifaceted œuvre through his own music, poetry, theater and drawings. The piece is conceived as a living dialogue where saxophone, piano, poetry, image and movement converge to explore Lorcan themes, such as death, desire and identity.”

“In our performance we tell an adaptation of the story of the “Kauaʻi ʻōʻō” bird. We open with a sequence of sound making, a ritual. In this ritual, we exclusively use the Chladni plate in many different ways to produce sounds, accompanied by dance and echoed voices. When Apollon starts to bow on the side of the chladni, sand patterns are being formed on the top of it. We view these patterns as the life and soul of the birds. The last “Kauaʻi ʻōʻō” in existence comes into the screen and starts performing its mating call on top of the sand patterns, hoping for a reply that doesn’t seem to come. At this time, black bubbles start to form. Within these bubbles we can see the many different colors and shapes this beautiful bird takes on during the mating call (the bubbles are completely made with generative artificial intelligence). When the bird is about to give up, it hears a reply in the distance. Eventually another bird appears, only this bird is different, it is artificial and digital. They start to dance together, performing a duet, twirling, jumping, flying around. But unfortunately, it is already too late, the real “Kauaʻi ʻōʻō” starts to fade and disappears into the chladni patterns as glitter, its soul though lives on. Now the artificial bird is left alone, expanding and becoming more and more digital. The closing act is presented with Wisse dancing, accompanied by the poem of Emily Dickinson “Hope”.

“Painting the Skies by Wisse Scheele is a captivating and visually stunning short film that explores the symbiotic relationship and the profound connection between creativity and freedom. Directed by Scheele, this cinematic journey immerses viewers in the world of a young boy who feels trapped by the suffocating confines of his everyday life and the mundanity of his daily existence. (…)”

Starring: Christian Mathot
Music: Apollon Kalamenios / George Demetriou