Canto Ostinato North Netherlands Symphony Orchestra & David Porcelijn

• Simeon Ten Holt (1923 - 2012):
• 1 Canto Ostinato (Arr. for Orchestra) 48:10
• 2 Una Musique Blanche for Orchestra 15:08
• 3 Centrifuga 48:50
• Total Runtime 01:52:08

Info for Canto Ostinato

Canto Ostinato contains the World Première recording of three unique orchestral works from Simeon Ten Holt, one of the Netherlands most iconic 20th century composers. The three works included on the album are performed by the North Netherlands Orchestra (Noord Nederlands Orkest) conducted by David Porcelijn. It was recorded live in concert at the Oosterport in Groningen, the orchestra’s home concert hall.

The album includes the first recording of Anthony Fiumara’s orchestration for Symphony Orchestra of Ten Holt’s seminal work “Canto Ostinato” along with two additional works by the composer, that for unknown reasons prior to this recording, had never been previously performed.

The title piece “Canto Ostinato” is, without doubt, Ten Holts signature composition and garnered the composer international recognition. This work is often seen as belonging to the minimal-music genre and Ten Holt of described the works structural progression as akin to the development of a genetic code. The work was created as more than one hundred individual short sections each lasting a few bars and in the key of Bb Minor. Eventually composer Andries Hubers organized these sections to a single score. After this Ten Holt rearranged the score a number of times leading to the fact that a number of different versions of the work exist.

In 2016, composer, Anthony Fiumara orchestrated the work for the Dutch Residentie Orkest based in the Hague. Fiumara stated: “Translating this work, originally for 4 pianos, to a full symphony orchestra is akin to translating a table conversation for 60 people.”. In other words, “It is as if Canto Ostinato can now be heard in colour.” Fiumara’s orchestration of Canto Ostinato was premièred in concert by Otto Tausk and the Residentie Orkest however, this performance recorded in 2017 by the Noord Nederlands Orkest is the first time this version on Canto Ostinato has appeared on CD.

The other two works presented on the album, “Une Musique Blanche” and “Centrifuga” were composed as part of a commission by the Dutch Ministry of Culture. Both pieces were intended to form part of a trilogy however a third piece never materialized and the two compositions, until this performance, had never been performed.

“Une musique blanche” is a twenty minute long composition Ten Holt worked with electronic music specialist (Sonologist) Stan Tempelaars. The piece consists of two string groups interacting with four orchestral groups, each with their own specific sound-scape. The third piece titled “Centrifuga” rounds out the program. Ten Holt provided a short explanation of the piece: “Centrifuga” is based simply on the use of four tones. These tones, used in varying order, form the basis for four groups that eventually form a phrase. This phrase, in it’s horizontal form is also mirrored in the vertical. To realize this in the acoustic world ten Holt worked with groups of four instruments (four flutes, four Oboe’s, four Horns etc).

North Netherlands Orchestra
David Porcelijn, conductor
Kent Moussault, assistant conductor

No biography found.

Booklet for Canto Ostinato