This serie of unique Vocal Tones were composed for The International Gaudeamus Music Week 2006, in collaboration with the Netherlands Vocal Laboratory

 

 

The Netherlands Vocal Laboratory is a studio for advanced development and performance of contemporary vocal and vocal-theatrical music. Among their foremost ambitions is to collaborate and integrate their work with other art-disciplines.

 

The NVL repertoire consists of modern classical and contemporary compositions that are performed by young talented singers a-capella, with instrumental or electronic accompaniment, by soloists or the NVL ensemble, in a concertante manner or as music theatre at festivals, concert halls, museums, churches or at specific occasions such as fine art presentations.

 

Established names like Berio, Stockhausen, Andriessen, Eötvös, Aperghis, Nieder and Rehnqvist, but also young international composers including Koch, Resch, Vega, Glowicka and Baroni are among the many whose works are featured in the NVL’s repertoire.

 

The NVL has been invited to participate in several international festivals such as the International Gaudeamus Music Week in Amsterdam, the International Choir Biennale in Haarlem, Festival Wien Modern, the Donaueschinger Musiktagen, the ICMC Festival in Barcelona, the Festival for Contemporary Music in Alicante and the International Chamber Opera Festival Zwolle.

 

Artistic director of the Netherlands Vocal Laboratory is Romain Bischoff. Over many years he has built up an international reputation as a baritone and conductor with the performance and interpretation of contemporary vocal and music theatrical compositions. 

 

 

The annual International Gaudeamus Music Week focuses on music by young composers. Although the first Gaudeamus Music Week, staged shortly after World War II, was devoted to Dutch composers, the Music Week was soon opened to composers worldwide. Each year new works by composers are presented, with emphasis on composers younger than 35 years.

 

Until 1977 the Music Week included an open composers’ competition, with scores selected by a jury comprised of internationally reputed composers. From 1977 until 1983 this competition was limited to scores fitting annually established categories. In 1984 the composers’ competition was reinstated, with the prizes now limited to a single Gaudeamus Prize, and in 1988 the maximum eligible age was lowered to 30 years. An additional feature of the Music Week until 1999 was the performance of works by established composers. The prize, currently € 4,550, is a commission for a new ensemble work. The commissioned work is generally performed during the following Gaudeamus Music Week.