’Save the bassoon’ is a great initiative of the Holland Festival. Partners from the world of music are joining together to save the bassoon, an instrument that has become, sad to say, an endangered species among musical instruments. Children hardly ever take to it anymore, conservatories have too few applicants and professional orchestras are forced to get their bassoon players from abroad. Bram van Sambeek is the standard-bearer for this initiative. Grachtenfestival Amsterdam and Gaudeamus Muziekweek are in on the project, in the form of a Call for works. Gaudeamus Muziekweek is the internationally renowned festival for modern classical music and young composers in Utrecht. For Grachtenfestival Amsterdam this is a great opportunity to offer a stage to young composing talent, thanks to this cooperation.
We have challenged young composers to write an outline for a new composition for solo bassoon. From the entries, two composers were selected who will complete their compositions, to be performed at Grachtenfestival Amsterdam and the Gaudeamus Muziekweek.
During Grachtenfestival Amsterdam Bram van Sambeek and his students will perform newly created works, in the stately Gemeenlandshuis.
I.s.m. Holland Festival en Gaudeamus Muziekweek