Canto Ostinato Simeon ten Holt

On 21 September, a special student concert will take place. Teacher Alfred Snel, together with three of his students, Joan Geerts, Marjolijn Brasz and Jan Bos, will perform Simeon ten Holt’s Canto Ostinato for percussion instruments at piano shop De Liefde, Stevinstraat 41 in Scheveningen.

The Dutch composer Simeon ten Holt (1923-2012) composed this work between 1973 and 1976. It is minimalistic. The performers are given a great deal of freedom. They can choose which parts they do or do not play, including repetitions, accents and playing styles in the sense of staccato, legato or portato. Each performance will therefore sound different. In the foreword, the composer wrote that he prefers the performance with four pianos, but it could also be played with two or three pianos, or on the organ instead of the piano. On 21 September, the piece will be played on four beautiful grand pianos from piano dealer De Liefde.

We are very grateful to the De Liefde family for allowing us to prepare for the concert in their shop.