News - Toeac
Museum het Oude Slot, Veldhoven
Renée - i.s.m. docenten van Art4U
Renée solo - met werken van S. Gubaidulina, I. Panitsky en A. Piazzolla
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TOEAC plays live at Podium Witteman
October 16th, TOEAC performed at Podium Witteman, a Dutch television program where they played live 'Oblivion' by Astor Piazzolla:
We did it! Thanks to the crowdfunding, SEM, PIGINI and Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, we can order our new instruments. Thank you so much for your donations. We can hardly believe it, it feels incredible! We couldn't do this without your help, thank you!
TOEAC reaches high level
TOEAC launched their new album 'Moving Rhythms' on 21 september 2016 from a hot air balloon. After a short 'waving goodbye' Piternel and Renée took off while playing. A few solid speakers on board took care of the sound, which was audible from the ground. "We are at about 250 meters and saw people waving, even the cows responded," says Renée. "Besides a rather wet and rollicking landing the trip was perfect."
Gerard Beljon and Benjamin de Murashkin, composers who wrote works for the cd, were present at the ceremony.
Photo credits: Wout Vuik
21st of September is the release of the newest album of TOEAC; 'Moving Rhythms'. Pieternel and Renée will present the album from an air-balloon. After a short moment of 'waving goodbye', TOEAC will make a ride with the balloon while playing. A couple of solid speakers will take care of the sound, which is audible from the ground.
De CD contains 'Petrushka' by Igor Stravinsky and some tango's. In the second decade of the 20th century a dance from Argentina, the tango, swept the United States and Europe. Salons were enraptured by the emotional intensity of the dance and its music, the way it captured desire in its movements, the play of attraction and rejection. The instrument expressing these contrasting emotions, pairing desire with the desperation of loneliness, is the bandoneón. Its relative, the accordion, became the instrument of choice in countries such as Finland, that embraced the music. Playing tangos that range from the piece that Igor Stravinsky originally wrote for piano, via the innovative tango composer Astor Piazzolla to works that were written especially for them, TOEAC trace a path through a personal history of tango music. Renée Bekkers and Pieternel Berkers approach these well-crafted and witty pieces as dances. They play Stravinsky’s Tango at a pace that is faster than what the score prescribes, matching a tempo that could be suitable for dancing. Their instruments give the Piazzolla compositions orchestral depth and substance. Gerard Beljon’s It takes 2 (to tango) provides a direct link with Petrushka, as he has incorporated distinctive phrases from that work into this piece, which he wrote especially for and in close collaboration with TOEAC. In Tango Orgánico Benjamin de Murashkin, currently composer-in-residence with the Copenhagen Philharmonic, starts out with immediately recognizable tango gestures, deviating from that well-trodden path as he goes along, until only faint stylistic traces remain. At the remotest point he returns to familiar regions in one great leap, almost as if he tried to find out how far a tango can be stretched before it snaps. Both Beljon and De Murashkin have become personal friends of TOEAC. The two accordionists describe Caricias by Sebastian Klein as their signature tune, a piece that they have been playing for years, and the reason why they wanted to record this set of tangos in the first place.
Crowdfunding for new accordions
With 85% of the total amount reached, thanks to the generous gifts of Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, SEM, Pigini and TOEAC's piggybank, we would like to invite you to take part in our final hurdle. Buy a button, register, tongueblock or bellow and build these prestigious instruments together with us; NOVA's for TOEAC!
Go to https://www.voordekunst.nl/projecten/4791-novas-voor-toeac-1
You can also pre-order our CD 'Moving Rhythms'. You then automatically support in the purchase of our new instruments.
'Moving Rhythms' contains one of our favourite works: Petrushka by Igor Strawinsky. In addition there are several tango's of Piazzolla, Strawinsky and de Murashkin. If you need help with the donation because of Dutch language, please feel free to contact:
Newsletter Nov. 2013
Meeting with Sofia Gubaidulina
The 11th of November, Pieternel and Renee had the privilege to meet Sofia Gubaidulina in Oslo. Pieternel performed her solo piece ‘De Profundis’ for her.
Gubaidulina is one of the most celebrated and performed composers of this century. For the accordion especially, she is of incredible value, since her work has made the accordion irreplacebly in the world of classical music.
Reviews concerttour South-Africa
Review 13-10-2013 - Odeion (Bloemfontein) - Elretha Britz
Review 18-10-2013 - UNISA (Pretoria) - Paul Boekkooi
Recensie 13-10-2013 - Odeion (Bloemfontein) - Elretha Britz
Duo se akkordeonspel betowerend. Suksesvol boodskap
LOFLIEDERE oor dié twee Nederlandse musici met die verwarrende vanne het hulle vooruit geloop lank voordat hulle in Bloemfontein aangekom het, maar niks, nie eens die luister na hul twee CD’s, kon ’n mens voorberei op ’n lewende uitvoering nie.
Die akkordeon is ’n moeilike instrument, maar skynbaar nie vir Berkers en Bekkers nie.
Hul vingers beweeg blitsig en akkuraat oor die menigte knoppies terwyl hulle verskeie tegnieke inspan vir ’n variasie van klankkleure en emosie wat jy nie van ’n akkordeon verwag nie.
Die vroue se verbeeldingryke verwerkings het in Moessorgski se Prente op ’n uitstalling gekulmineer en dit is veral in die dramatiese dele dat die akkordeon se eiesoortige timbre ten beste ontgin is.
Juis vanweë dié timbre het Grieg se Holberg-suite ’n gewigtiger atmosfeer verkry, maar die vertolking het danksy die musici se musikaliteit steeds oortuig.
Werke wat spesiaal vir twee akkordeons geskryf is, soos Uitsig van ’n trein deur Ter Veldhuis, is ’n toonvenster vir die instrument se spektrum van moontlikhede, wat weer ’n platform bied vir die musici se byna grenslose vernuf. Daar is oënskynlik niks wat hulle nie uit ’n akkordeon kan optower nie.
’n Hoogtepunt in die eerste helfte was Strawinski se Petroesjka met sy markpleintonele wat in klankbeelde voor jou afspeel.
Berkers en Bekkers sê hulle tree soms as soliste op maar meestal as duo en net as jy so gereeld saam speel, kan ’n rapport ontwikkel wat tot so ’n hegte eenheid lei. Hul samespel is onverbeterlik.
Voeg hierby hul intense meelewing en buitengewone begaafdheid en jy kry ’n wêreldklas-uitvoering.
Wat ’n onvergeetlike belewenis.
Recensie 18-10-2013 - UNISA (Pretoria) - Paul Boekkooi
Daar was ’n tyd toe fotografie nie as ’n legitieme kunsvorm beskou is nie, ’n saxofoon slegs bedoel is om in rokerige jazzklubs gehoor te word, marimbas beperk is tot etniese saamtrekke en die akkordeon (trekklavier) liefs nie wyer ervaar moes word as op bierfeeste, by volkspele en in dekadente kabarethole nie.
Gelukkig verander persepsies geleidelik. Vir die Nederlandse akkordeonduo TOEAC, bestaande uit Pieternel Berkers en Renée Bekkers, word dié verandering op drieërlei wyses strategies “gestuur”: Hulle ontgin die bestaande repertorium vir hul instrument, verwerk beroemde bestaande komposisies vir eie gebruik en inspireer of gee opdragte aan lewende komponiste om nuwe werke vir hulle te skryf. Albei bespeel nou die sogenaamde knopies-akkordeon pleks van die konvensionele en minder uitdagende klawerbord-variant.
’n Opvallende verskil van hul vorige besoek in die lente van 2010 is die artistieke wasdom wat sedertdien ingetree het.Dit sluit veral ’n wyer omvang van musikale verfyning in. Dit kom veral na vore in die voltooiing van die volledige verwerking van Moessorgski se Prente op ’n uitstalling, asook die eerste toneel uit Strawinski se Petroesjka.
Om by die Moessorgski te begin: Om moeilik verklaarbare redes slaag TOEAC se verwerkte weergawe daarvan om die wêrelde van Victor Hartmann (skilder en argitek) en die komponis binne ’n meer outentiek Russiese ambiance te vestig.
Die oorspronklike klavierweergawe bly die moeder van alle uitdagings, maar in Ravel se orkestrasie daarvan is die oer-Russiese versag deur die voorbeeld wat Rimski-Korsakof in ander Moessorgski-orkestrasies gestel het.Die duisterheid, dreiging, desperaatheid, of elke ander aspek wat ’n mens in die werk se subteks sou kon ontdek – forsheid, vermetelheid, wildheid, intensiteit, maar ook plek-plek ’n ligte spel met kleure – het in Berkers en Bekkers se interpretasie getref.
In Strawinski het dié duo veral die balletmatigheid met hul ragfyne maar soms ook gepaste klankoormoedige spel geïllustreer. Die ensemblekoördinasie, die klankdinamiek en selfs die oomblikke van tipiese Strawinski-humor het ’n eie karakter daaraan verleen.
Vanselfsprekend klink Piazzolla se werk op geen instrument meer idiomaties as op die akkordeon of bandoneon nie. Die sterk kontraste in karakter tussen sy “SVP” en “Ave Maria” is manjifiek oorgedra, met respektiewelik die drif en siel van die akkordeon wat elk binnedring.
In Sebastiaan Klein se “Caricias” is daar ’n aandoenlike weemoedigheid wat nooit clichéagtig raak nie, terwyl hy duidelik weet hoe om die ongelooflik subtiele timbremoontlikhede van die instrument op ’n uitdagende manier te manifesteer, soos byvoorbeeld in die chromatiese neerdalende frase waarmee die werk afsluit.
Ewe fassinerend, maar ook heel anders betreffende stemming en ritmiese impulse, was Gerard Beljon se “(It takes 2) 2 tango”. Die sinryke atonale aspekte was eerder effektief as misleidend. Met die sensualiteit van dié instrument(e) het hy tussen impressionistiese en ekspressionistiese pole bly toor.
Review 'Midi Libre'
Review in Midi Libre : 'Farandole gaieté, jeux de cache-cache: le duo s'amuse, le public n'a pas vu le temps passé. Du grand art.'
Five starts for CD in German article
Pieternel and Renée play in accordionquartet Big House.
David Dramm writes Delirium Still for the accordionquartet BIG HOUSE (Marieke Grotenhuis, Ellen Zijm, Pieternel Berkers and Renée Bekkers).
Very good review for 'TOEAC pictures...'
Rudolf Nammensma writes full of glory about CD 'TOEAC pictures...' in Leeuwarder Courant.
Four stars in review about CD 'TOEAC pictures...'
'TOEAC pictures...' was happily received by Thiemo Wind, Telegraaf.
Ten children's performances by TOEAC
Did you ever hear about a musical exhibition? In cooperation with Rabobank Peel Noord, TOEAC will give concerts on ten primary schools around Peel-Noord.
Kids from 7-10 years old will listen to music with dancing little chickens, a wild witch, a fowl on chicken's legs and a sunset in New York. Before the concert, TOEAC will give workshops to learn the kids how to listen to the world of Mussorgsky, Meijering and classical music.
CD-release 'TOEAC pictures...'
On March 4th, the CD 'TOEAC pictures...' was released in the Mondriaanhuis in Amersfoort.
In the presence of many donators who made the CD possible, TOEAC handed the CD over to Chiel Meijering, the composer of 'Rhythm of Straight Lines'. Besides this composition, the CD contains 'Pictures at an Exhibition' by Modest Mussorgsky in an arrangement of Pieternel and Renée.
Would you like to order the cd? Take a look in our webshop.
'TOEAC pictures...' is made possible by Fonds Podiumkunsten, Rabobank and voordekunst.nl
'Accordionduo surprised audience with classic and modern program.'
'The Dorpskerk in Voorschoten was filled with a small but loyal audience. Their curiosity was rewarded: accordionduo TOEAC entertained the visitors with a colourful program of classical and modern composers. While the cold wind was blowing around the church tower, a battle took place in the church between romantic, jazz and tango. Result: tie! And TOEAC was rewarded with a standing ovation.'
'The duo is been formed by Renée Bekkers and Pieternel Berkers, both cum laude certificated on the Music Academy. The accordion is mostly associated with sailor choirs and popular songs. Bekkers and Berkers had a totally different repertoire. They played the famous 'Pictures at an Exhibition' by Modest Mussorgsky and a new work by the Dutch Composer Chiel Meijering, 'Rhythm of Straight Lines', inspirerd by the paintings of Piet Mondriaan. However the two compositions were about paintings, they had a totally different style. Mussorgsky on accordion happened to be a good choice, the church was filled with sounds that beared trudging masses in wintersnow. With Meijering the images of New York with wide avenue's filled with caps came up. The program ended with a very stylish tango of Piazzolla. I'm sure that TOEAC has some new fans.'
February 7, TOEAC will premier the the performance 'TOEAC pictures...' with 'Paintings from an Exhibition' by Modest Mussorgsky and a new work by Chiel Meijering, 'Rhythm of Straight Lines' which was specially composed for TOEAC.
The two faces of Pictures at an Exhibition by Mussorgsky and Meijering
Everybody knows Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, but now it will finally be performed on Russia’s BAYAN, better known as the accordion.
The Dutch accordionduo TOEAC arranged this highlight of music history and invited Chiel Meijering to give his personal comment of supplemental pictures to those of Mussorgsky.
Where Hartmanns paintings inspired Mussorgsky for his masterpiece,
Mondriaans lines take the lead for Meijering.
A museum of music, where TOEAC connects the Russian and Dutch world with their accordions.
'TOEAC pictures...' was made possible by Fonds Podiumkunsten and Rabobank.
TOEAC in 'Volkskrant' about crowdfunding
Crowdfunding-action was a succes!
The crowdfunding-actions on www.voordekunst.nl was a succes! TOEAC wants to thank everybody for all the donations!! With 113% is the financing of the CD 'TOEAC pictures...' a succes and therefore Pieternel and Renée can start recording.
For the coming season, TOEAC will play a new performance: 'TOEAC pictures...' the two faces of Pictures at an Exhibition by Mussorgsky and Meijering.
Everybody knows Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, but now it will finally be performed on Russia’sBAYAN, better known as the accordion. The Dutch accordionduo TOEAC arranged this highlight of music history and invited Chiel Meijering to give his personal comment of supplemental pictures to those of Mussorgsky. Where Hartmanns paintings inspired Mussorgsky for his masterpiece, Mondriaans lines take the lead for Meijering.
The performance will be recorded on CD, and therefore TOEAC started a crowfunding-action on www.voordekunst.nl
TOEAC in 'Parool' about the business of music
Review with five stars: 'The perfect music-theater'
'It was the perfect concert. Titallating, surprising, varied, the ideal match between music and presentation and even a little cabaret. Pieternel Berkers and Renée Bekkers - accordionduo TOEAC - have taste and fantasy and also the courage to come from behind the instrument. It's a lovely instrument to hear, but also to watch; carried close to the body, big, shiny, black/silver, it is embraced and cared.'
'The Dutch girls put heart and soul in, let it sing and dance, gave all the technical, musical and artistic qualitites that a program needs.'
'TOEAC started with Mozarts Fantasie in f and ended with Stravinsky's Petroesjka. They played some modern music in between from Jacob Ter Veldhuis ('Views from a Dutch Train' and 'Body of your Dreams') and Gerard Beljon ('It takes 2 2 Tango'). Old and new styles passed by in music which asked for concentration. Minimal, tango, folkmusic, classical music: it all was there.'
'All works asked for total virtuosity, inbeeldingspower and empathy and musical intelligence; conditions who are characteristic for topmusicians. The creative pictures of Karst-Janneke Rogaar - exciting to see a painting being shaped - was a discovery and thé way to reinforce the value of music and images and the other way around. The 'Body of your Dreams' by Jacob Ter Veldhuis, where catchy American commercial- lyrics were magnified, was a catching form of new and contemporary music theater.'
Eindhovens Dagblad, Marjolijn Sengers
Review 'TOEAC: Accordion with flair' (15-03-2012)
Accordionduo Toeac with Mozart, Ter Veldhuis, Beljon en Stravinsky. 13/3, Philharmonie, Haarlem.
'In the world of classical music accordion has a bit of a negative image. It is known as a folk instrument or a tango, but not a serious concertinstrument. Therefore, the small hall of the Philharmonie was not totally full and that is a shame, because the ladies of TOEAC are the best ambassadors of the classical accordion.'
'The two young, Dutch accordionists Pieternel Berkers and Renée Bekkers do have enourmesly fast fingers, musical sense and especially a big amount of courage. The two, who play together almost half of their life, played amongst others in South-Africa, China and Canada and were guests in several television-programs. Now they tour along the Dutch concert halls in the series 'Het Debuut'.
'In their hands, the accordion turns out to be a magic box, which can sound as a trumpet, sing as an oboe, virk as a complete string orchestra or thunder as an organ. The Dutch composer Gerard Beljon wrote his '(it takes 2)2 tango' specially for the duo. The repeating patrons of the minimal music go together with a snake-like melody in the angular rhythm of the tango. TOEAC plays it virtuosic and with flair.'
'Berkers and Bekkers make a real performance of their concert. Almost every composition gets a theatrical lower. In 'Views from a Dutch train' let the Dutch composer Jacob Ter Veldhuis show the Dutch landscape on the rhythm of a thundering train. For Berkers and Bekkers it also is an exciting conversation between two travelers who are sitting in a long train-ride. The duo plays 'Body of your dreams', an American TV-commercial, hilarous, inclusive aerobicsoutif and sellerssmile.'
'What possibilities the accordion has was audible in the spectacular arrangement of Stravinsky's ballet 'Petroesjka' of their learning masters Geir Draugsvoll and James Crabb. Bekkers and Berkers let their instruments sparkle and zoom, stamp and dance, cheer and regret. Stravinsky's rhythms, stamping accents, sharp chords and folky songs seemed to be composed for the accordion. There are no better ambassadors of the accordion.'
TOEAC in finals arts-business competition
Pieternel en Renée reached the finals of the Business competition which will take place at March 23 2012. They followed a program for ambitious people in the creative industry. The program was especially developed for business people in the creative industry who wants to be more professional.
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