De Swaen
2010 - 2011 I co-organised Barokensemble De Swaen and its monthly free entrance concert series in the centre of Amsterdam.
From February 2006 till January 2010 De Swaen also performed every month in the Lutheran Church in Hilversum, in the organ loft, with a historic Weidtman Organ from ca 1710.
De Swaen performed extra concerts elsewhere in the Netherlands and abroad, sometimes in cooperation with (chamber) choirs.
Sine Pulvere
Similar to how the pioneers of the early music movement refreshed baroque music from romantic interpretations in the 1950's and 60's, Sine Pulvere aims to clean the same repertoire from the dust, that has inevitably settled down on it, in the last decades of Early Music Industry, by applying historical evidence to performance practise, regardless the effort it takes to do so.
Hopfkapelle
300 year old entertainment music and contemporary surprise pieces, on historical instruments, in parks, pubs and other public places.
The Cracks
Very well known repertoire of the 17th and 18th century, with the nowadays lesser known sound of uncompromised historical Instruments.
Workshops
Performing music from the 17th and 18th century, one can discuss a lot about when and where which strings, bows, reeds, fingerings, postures, mouth pieces etcetera were used.
Two things are clear though: Brass Instruments were Natural Brass Instruments and Natural Trumpets were representing God and The King.
So, I think it makes sense for all instrumentalists, to search for a sound, intonation, phrasing etcetera that fits with these important instruments.
In the workshops Mike Diprose and I organise, you can work on finding these new ways of making music and experience playing in ensemble with natutal brass.
