La canzone del piccolo uccellino

Piccolo and vibraphone or piano.

9'

Benelux Piccoloconcours

Contestants of the Benelux Piccoloconcours 2020.

 

7 March 2020, Factorium Tilburg

The Canzone was commissioned by the Benelux Piccolo Competition 2020. The starting point was that the (advanced) amateurs taking part in the competition would be challenged both musically and technically. It was important that it would be a playable yet exciting challenge involving different techniques, registers and musical atmospheres.

During the composition process, I think a lot and like the musicians I write for. I was lucky enough to work with piccolo player Ilonka Kolthof, who came to me to tell me all about the piccolo and later gave feedback on my sketches. It is hugely inspiring to work with a musician who is so passionate about her instrument.

I thought not only about the piccolo player, but also about the accompaniment. That part had to be playable on both vibraphone and piano, and simple enough so that contestants could be accompanied at home. I really like writing with amateur musicians in mind because I have fond memories of making music together in the living room with family and friends and still enjoy doing so.

Bartók's 44 duos for two violins are an inexhaustible source of inspiration for me in this regard. Those short pieces all have an elegance, playfulness and effectiveness that I also pursue in my own work.