Poetry from Gaza and Radio Rotor on the Road
This is Maarten Ornstein with news & views
Highlights for the coming weeks: September 26th DASH! in Huis Midwoud, October 4th Memento with Jojannette Zomer and Mike Fentross in Alkmaar, October 6th Splendor Jazzclub with Michael Moore and Felix Schlarmann, October 10th Norwegian Wood with Marleen Wester and Mike Fentross in Hauwert. See you there!
Dear friends,
I’ve always said that my newsletter should be more than just a list of concert dates, especially since my move away from Meta. Some of you may remember I wrote about poverty, our fascist government and the question of what the arts can do in these times when war, genocide and destruction seem to be all around us. In that light, I’m pleased to announce a little project I have initiated. I say little, but it’s BIG to me as it combines my opinion about what’s happening in the world with my work as a composer.
Recently I have been given permission to use some poems - written by poets that are currently surviving in Gaza - to write a group of new songs for baritone, cello and piano. I think it’s very important to give the people in Gaza a voice, and when I read these beautiful poems by Mohammed Mousa, Hala Salah and Taqwa Al Wawi, I saw an opportunity to contribute something to this, however little it may be. The project is called Tell it to the Sky, and I’m delighted that Mattijs van de Woerd, Nuala McKenna and Antonii Baryshevskyi will give the music its first performance on January 15th in the Uilenburger Sjoel in Amsterdam. Please save the date!
In other news: DASH!, my trio with Alex Oele and Eric Hoeke, has just released a new album. It was recorded live in the Bimhuis and features music from our latest two albums Rewired and Radio Rotor. This band…. I have to say - I love working with these guys. There’s so much joy and freedom when we play, and the new album really sounds wonderful. It’s called Radio Rotor on the Road, and is available as a digital download from Bandcamp. For all you freeloaders out there, it will also be out on Spotify at a later date. Our next concert: Friday September 26th, Huis Midwoud. As a very special treat, anyone that attends that concert gets a FREE download for the new album. So, see you there. And while you wait, Enjoy the little video below with Eric and myself showing off our frisbee skills.
Dag Maarten, in de agenda van de Uilenburger Sjoel staat geen optreden op 15 januari. Weet jij waarom en hoe kan ik dan aan tickets komen? Bedankt vast, goede jaarwisseling en wellicht in de Sjoel.