Avontuurlijk componeren: Smashing Mirrors

How is a composition created? Where can you start? What are the paths, routes and strategies a composer follows? How does a composition relate to the world? Wilbert Bulsink explains how a composition can be created using music examples, sketches and work from other musicians. Of course there will be live music and room to answer questions from the audience.

This lecture will be mainly about the process of creating Smashing Mirrors, commissioned by ASKO|Schönberg for De Zaterdagmatinee, premiered in January 2023. Smashing Mirrors was recommended for worldwide broadcast by the 69th International Rostrum of Composers, a forum involving delegates from more than 40 national radio stations from around the world. Wilbert explains where the ideas in his composition come from and how lines, which sometimes span decades, come together within a composition, branching out into other works later on.

While the previous lecture on the harp concerto Spelingen discussed the limitation of material, in the case of Smashing Mirrors the unlimitedness of material is an important topic. The title stems from a Jimi Hendrix song; Ligeti, Bach, Nørgård pop up; Charles Ives and ideas from free improvisation are never far away. This creates an algorithm-based kaleidoscopic music, which is the starting point for a conversation with the audience.

Wilbert Bulsink - piano and presentation

Member concert
Splendor can only be the independent and free hub that it is, thanks to the members who support us. We pay them back with our specialty: music. Every year, all Splendor musicians play one concert that's free for this crucial group to whom Splendor owes its everyday existence. Combined with many other events, this means that our members have free entrance to about 80 concerts a year for €9,99 p/m (and €4,99 p/m for minima and students!) – and receive a discount for all other concerts. Pretty good deal, right?

The members enable Splendor to remain independent, which is the only way to secure real freedom in programming, experimentation, risk-taking and the promotion of young, upcoming artists. If you can think of another place without a central programming, where last-minute concerts can be planned any moment, where there is no backstage and artists and audience are constantly mingling and hanging out at the bar, where mysterious creative outbursts can be presented that are often labeled 'too risky' elsewhere, and that still guarantees high quality by unleashing the best of The Netherlands' music scene in this creative playground – you get a free membership!

Would you rather just visit this concert without becoming a member? You're more than welcome! Buy your ticket(s) below.