Crowdfunding campaign on Voordekunst
The Royal Wind Music will release an album with music by the most famous composer of the Netherlands as you’ve never heard it before! Our ensemble is often compared to a "walking organ”, and it is the widespread fame of Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck's organ playing in the Oude Kerk in Amsterdam that encourages us to interpret his beautiful compositions for keyboard instruments ourselves. But also Sweelinck’s vocal music fits the consort of The Royal Wind Music like a glove. Our instruments, built by Adriana Breukink, Bob Marvin, Monika Musch and Adrian Brown are wonderfully akin to the range and timbre of a choir.
This new programme reflects the breadth of Sweelinck’s diverse oeuvre, but next to some of his most beloved keyboard and vocal works we will also introduce contemporary reflections on his music, which will transport us to (the Amsterdam of) today. Aspasia Nasopoulou composed Dance for Orpheus of Amsterdam specifically for The Royal Wind Music. In this fantasy instrumental and vocal playing amalgamate into one, thanks to recorder player and soprano soloist Irene Sorozábal. One of Sweelinck’s most famous works, Mein Junges Leben hat ein End, is the source of inspiration for the modern soundscape Chain Reaction, a collective improvisation based on the idea of the maker of this programme, Hester Groenleer.
Since professional recordings have to be financed from our own investments, we are asking for your help. Your donation will be spent directly on financing the practical sides of this recording: the rent of the beautiful recording location we have found, and our brilliant sound technician who will need to be paid for the recording, editing and mastering of this recording.
The recording will take place from 13-16 November in the Doopsgezinde Kerk in Haarlem. The CD is expected to be released in June 2024.
Should you experience problems with donating via Voordekunst, please contact us at info@royalwindmusic.org and we’ll gladly help you further.
We are very grateful for your support, and hope to see you soon at one of our concerts!
We are devastated to receive the incredibly sad news that recorder maker Adriana Breukink passed away on Thursday 6 October 2022.
As the maker of the majority of The Royal Wind Music’s renaissance consort recorders and the creator of "Big Babe" (Sub-contrabass recorder in Bb), Adriana no less than gave RWM our sound, for which we owe her our eternal gratitude. Adriana was a one-of-a-kind recorder maker, who next to building copies of historical instruments, contributed to the development of the recorder like no other by way of numerous designs of new instruments and lending her unparalleled vision and expertise to collaborating makers and factories. The results of her endless innovation and tireless efforts to always push the recorder beyond any limitations inspired generations of recorder players, makers and enthusiasts. Adriana was the kindest and warmest personality, always giving her everything to achieve the best for everyone, and her graciousness will be remembered by everyone who had the fortune to meet and work with her.
We will honor her memory every time we play her wonderful instruments, and take comfort in knowing that her legacy will live on in performances and recordings of countless recorder players all around the world.
As we mourn the indescribable loss for the recorder world, we wish to extend our sincere and heartfelt condolences to Adriana’s family and everyone close to her.
With love and gratitude,
The Royal Wind Music
.jpg)
On the 21st of December 2019 we launched a crowdfunding campaign on Voordekunst. We hope to fund the recording of our 10th album with the help of our worldwide audience. The programme we will record, The Orange Tree Courtyard, is inspiring by a fascinating building: Seville Cathedral.
Recording a CD is a wonderful opportunity to capture a special project at the highest possible level and to share it with a worldwide audience. It is also an artistic challenge that helps us to keep growing. Last but not least, a new album allows us to promote the ensemble among programmers and agencies, which may lead to national and international performances.
Would you like to know more? Visit our campaign page to see our video, read more or make a donation.
Every two years, recorder players from all over the world come together in Amsterdam for the Open Recorder Days. We look forward to welcoming you between 24–27 October 2019 for the fourth edition!
Check the festival website for the complete programme.
The Royal Wind Music is supported by:
