TRIO SR9

CANTO OSTINATO Concert for multiple keyboard instruments

CANTO OSTINATO (1976-1979) - Simeon ten Holt Canto Ostinato ("Obstinate Song" (as ostinato)) is a musical composition written by the Dutch composer Simeon ten Holt. The piece was completed in 1976 and performed for the first time in 1979 and is by far his most popular and most performed work. The most remarkable aspect about this work is the amount of freedom that is given to the performer(s). The piece can be performed with different instruments and a different number of performers. Most commonly, it is played with either two or four pianos, but during the first performance in Bergen, North Holland in the Netherlands, the performers used three pianos and an electric organ. Now we adapt on percussion keyboards, like marimbas and vibraphones. We can only play with our three marimbas or we imagine to play with other percussion players or pianists, or electric Rhodes. Other aspects which illustrate this freedom can be found in how this piece has been built up. The composer created a hundred and six small cells called 'sections' of a few bars, which can be played ad libitum and be repeated either one or many more times (some bridges excepted). Because of this build-up, performance may take from some two hours to more than a day. This piece is considered to be minimal in origin, because of the repetitive, obstinate, nature of the piece, but there is some discussion on this subject. Simeon Ten Holt usually uses a term 'genetic code' to describe his work, probably because of the typical build-up of the piece. As opposed to a high percentage of modern classical music which is not tonal and/or consonant, Canto Ostinato contains tonal harmonies and does not become (very) dissonant. Another typical aspect is the fact that one can hear the same or similar bass figures and harmonies throughout the piece, which explains the title. If one word would have to catch the essence of Canto Ostinato, one could use "meditative", as the different sections are similar, but generate different emotional reactions. Possible combinations: - 3 marimbas - 2 marimbas + 1 vibraphone - 3 marimbas + 1 piano (or organ, electric keyboard) - 2 marimbas + 1 vibraphone + 1 piano (or organ, electric keyboard) - 3 marimbas + 2 pianos (or organ, electric keyboard) - 2 marimbas + 1 vibraphone + 2 pianos (or organ, electric keyboard) For other combinations, contact us !

TRIO SR9 The french Trio SR9 promotes a creative vision of contemporary western drumming. Their special way of reviewing and transcribing the works of the great composers shows how actively they commit to classical and contemporary musical heritage. It led them to study closely the complete works of Johann Sebastian BACH and they worked on a specific piece of it. They released their first CD "Bach au marimba" in october 2015 under the Label Naïve. The Trio SR9 was created in 2010 at the National Conservatory of Music and Dance of Lyon. In the past five years, they appeared on many stages and at large number of festivals, in France and abroad. In 2012, they won three prizes at the International Music Competition in Luxembourg: the First Prize, the Press Prize and the Public Prize. They are also laureate of the FNAPEC Chamber Music Competition in 2012 and of the Fondation Banque Populaire in 2016. Paul Changarnier, Nicolas Cousin and Alexandre Esperet are three young and curious musicians and they definitely express themselves in a wide range of performances. They like to collaborate with various artists to explore other artistic fields, including dance and theater, and create new projects where all disciplines merge into one creative expression. On the occasion of the GRAME Days 2015 in Lyon, the Trio SR9 created its first show called MACHINE(s) with the composers Pierre Jodlowski and Benoit Montambault. The same year, the Trio is touring in France with the show C O R P O R E L S that reveals a mix of contemporary writing and other forms of living art related to motion.

CONTACT Tour Manager : Bénédicte Demeulenaere triosr9.production@gmail.com +33 (0)1 75 57 27 24

+33 (0) 6 60 45 08 13 --- Site internet : www.sr9trio.com Email : contact@sr9trio.com Crédits photos : Claudia Hansen