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A new chapter is opening in the story of the pipe organ: 21st century technology liberates it from its machine-like aspect. It is as if the instrument finally unveils its true nature – dynamic, lively, colorful, arousing curiosity. ORGAN IN SITU invites graduate and post-graduate organ musicians / sound artists to explore the horizons opened by this development, and create music beyond anything heard before. ORGAN IN SITU is an artistic research week, taking place annually. The week's fourth edition is scheduled for Monday 9 until Saturday 14 June 2025. ORGAN IN SITU is free of charge. ORGAN IN SITU is organized by the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Chair Organ Studies. It takes place at the Orgelpark, the internationally acclaimed organ music venue annex research institute, also in Amsterdam. ORGAN IN SITU encourages students to attend more than just one edition, and thus create a strong international network.
A R T I S T I C R E S E A R C HTo ORGAN IN SITU, doing artistic research is finding answers to core questions by being active artistically. ORGAN IN SITU takes the perspective of ‘situationality’ as its reference: music sounds, and does so only during a specific time in a specific place. A crucial question for the new generation of performing musicians inspired by the organ seems to be: how to relate its sound to new contexts and situations? How can we explore the qualities of a life space, how can we reinterpret the sound of the old organ, of the history of organ music? As sharing artistic insights depends on sharing words, ORGAN IN SITU also includes training in academic research: as soon as we speak, we are thinking and reasoning, which means touching and entering the realm of the academic. ORGAN IN SITU is led by representatives of the Vrije Universiteit Chair Organ Studies. Tutor Organ Studies Jakob Lkk, also known as Jacob Lekkerkerker, a versatile composer and improviser, will be in charge of all artistic and artistic research activities. Hans Fidom, Chair Organ Studies at the Vrije Universiteit, will take responsibility for the academic aspects. O R G A N . . .The Orgelpark owns many instruments (eight pipe organs, two grand pianos, an art harmonium, state of the art sound systems). But it undoubtedly is the Utopa Baroque Organ that represents ORGAN IN SITU's main instrument. It is equipped with the technology mentioned above. The Orgelpark hyperorgan can be played with a digital console, but also via any interface that operates MIDI or OSC. The photo above, made by BJ Nilssen, shows ORGAN IN SITU-tutor Jakob Lkk playing the Utopa Baroque Organ's digital console.
. . . I N S I T UEach pipe organ differs sonically completely from the next one. The same is true for music: no music ever sounds the same twice. So the best way to get to know sound as good as possible and create ideas about what music to make with it, is making sure you are onsite, in the space where the sounds are, instead of remaining online – where music obviously can only be made with sounds tunnelled through laptops and all the other devices needed make music sound. Since this is a crucial insight, and also since the Vrije Universiteit cherishes its traditions, we decided to amplify this concept of being and living 'onsite' by using the Latin expression for it: in situ. Rethinking making music inspired by the new ways pipe organs appear able to sound is not a unique feature of ORGAN IN SITU; instead, the Amsterdam artistic research week is embedded in a vibrant international community, offering a wide range of performance opportunities. Valuable and inspiring partners are for example:
L O O K I N G B A C K – 2 0 2 4At the 2024 edition of ORGAN IN SITU, SOUND REBELLION (a group formed at the first edition in 2022), unleashed a sound event in the Thomaskerk, the second ORGAN IN SITU venue. SOUND REBELLION's members are the organists Adrian Foster, Elisabeth Hubmann, and Giulio Tosti, from respectively Canada, Austra, and Italy, and electronic musicker Michele del Prete, also from Italy. The movie shows a snippet of the afterparty, where Adrian Foster explains 2024-student Maria Gajraj how to manipulate a pipe's sound by changing the wind flow from its mouth with a piece of cardboard, and by recording and processing it (Maria holding a tiny mic). L O O K I N G B A C K – 2 0 2 3![]() At the 2023 edition of ORGAN IN SITU the Orgelpark's Utopa Baroque Organ was played by manipulating metal threads in a monumental weaving, producing electricity when touched; this provoked MIDI-signals to the instrument. The weaving was conceived, created and played by artist Caro de Valk.
A P P L I C A T I O NORGAN IN SITU is free of charge. The 2025 edition takes place from Monday 9 until Saturday 14 June at the Orgelpark in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Graduate and post-graduate organ musicians of all backgrounds are welcome to apply. Conditions: love for the organ sound and acoustics, and the wish to explore new artistic directions. The active participants will collaborate in a concert/sound event on Saturday, June 14th. ORGAN IN SITU asks each aspiring participant to to write a sketch for a 6- to 12-minute performance using one or multiple organs at the Orgelpark. For example: an improvisation with a prepared set off hyperorgan features. Or: recreating a César Franck composition, using the features of the hyperorgan to enlarge the hall's acoustics. Or: scoring an Alvin Lucier composition with the use of particular organs or a group of players. The only allowed additional elements are the human voice (unamplified), and the human body. Musicians can apply by sending such a sketch and a resumé to info@orgelpark.nl. Deadline: Saturday 15 February 2025. A selection will be made before 1 March. The group of participants will count between 7 and 9. Travel and accommodation grants are available, thanks to the Maurice Amado Foundation, New York. T H A N K SORGAN IN SITU couldn't exist without the support of
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