Holt, Simeon: Canto Ostinato XXL

Sandra & Jeroen van Veen (piano duo), Elizabeth & Marcel Bergmann (piano duo) & Aart Bergwerff (organ)

Canto Ostinato by Dutch composer Simeon ten Holt is becoming one of the most important, iconic, and most frequently performed piece of Minimal Music of our time.

This particular performance is the longest ever, lasting more than 4 hours. It uses the rich recourses of 4 grand pianos and organ, creating near endless possibilities of variation.

Performed by the Champion of Minimal Music Jeroen van Veen and his minimal friends, who already recorded very successfully for Brilliant Classics: Arvo Pärt, Ludovico Einaudi, Satie, and two 10-CD sets with the Minimal Piano Music Collection.

About Canto Ostinato XXL Succeeding the 12 CD box Canto Ostinato XL we present to you Canto Ostinato XXL: four CDs, one performance. For the very first time organ intensely and engagingly complements the animated sounds of four grand pianos in a recording. We decided to take our time with this version; to not restrain ourselves by the time limits of a typical concert. Not only did we free ourselves from an arbitrary duration, we utilised our creative minds to vary within the sections we played as well. This resulted in a brand new recording from a complete new perspective. The four fantastic Steinway grand pianos and the Van Pels & Van Leeuwen romantic ogan harmoniously give rise to the most beautiful of sounds.

Canto Ostinato predominently pertains to the concept of time; taking your time, pastime, making time. The piece is characterised by a largely predetermined structural foundation. The composition leads to a melodic passage (section 74) in which fragments subtly but beautifully mingle with preceding melodies. An established climax and a mid section (88) follow. This repeats with another climax and mid secition (91). The piece concludes with the core melody.

Brand New/sealed 4CD