Looking back on my final master’s exam

It was a warm summer day on June 29th in Haarlem. The golden cross on top of the Basilica Cathedral of St. Bavo’s dome was shining beautifully in the sun. At around 19.30h the first people arrived for my final recital, which I would play one hour later. I am grateful for everyone that showed up to listen to my performance that evening and to celebrate and end of long years studying at Codarts (conservatory of Rotterdam).

The program was simple, but the music anything but. I played the Sept Choral-Poèmes pour les Sept Paroles du Christ, Op. 67 by Charles Tournemire. Seven movements, connected with various motifs and wonderfully constructed. This relatively unknown French composer is a miracle for the organ repertoire. I am very happy about the support of my main subject teachers Zuzana Ferjenčíková and Christian Schmitt.

Finally, I concluded the night with my own composition ‘Carillon, Op.3’, specially written for this occasion. The Carillon obviously echoes Tournemire’s use of bells and carillons in his own music. I tried so create an own sound, inspired by Tournemire. The Alleluia from the Easter Vigil is present throughout the piece, to underline the joy of the resurrection, after having performed the strong words by Jesus on the cross, which was translated into music by Charles Tournemire.

The space of St. Bavo’s Cathedral was absolutely marvelous for performing this music. The colorful building fits very well to the colorful music by Charles Tournemire and supports the Seven Words even with visual art work inside the church. Everything seemed to come together on this wonderful evening.

Below some souvenir-pictures from this evening.