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Suite X
Bram Stadhouders & Baroque Orchestration X
Bram Stadhouders compositions and guitar
Onno Govaert, drums
B.O.X.: Pieter Theuns, theorbe;
Lambert Colson, cornetto;
Jon Birdsong, cornetto and trumpet;
Bart Vroomen, trombone, sackbut;
Nathan Wouters, double bass;
Raphaël Collignon, harpsichord and organ
Suite X: A Synthesis of Baroque and Improvised Contemporary Music
Bram Stadhouders, a name synonymous with innovation in contemporary music, presents perhaps his most extensive venture, Suite X. This groundbreaking project represents a daring exploration where the ancient sounds of Baroque music meet the limitless possibilities of electronic music, creating a mesmerizing blend that transcends time.
In collaboration with the B.O.X. Baroque Orchestration X Ensemble from Belgium and the November Music Festival in ’s-Hertogenbosch, Bram Stadhouders embarks on a unique co-production that challenges the conventions of modern music. Drawing inspiration from historical musical instruments and composition techniques, Stadhouders crafts a composition for five traditional baroque instruments, enriched with electronic sound manipulation, ambient, beats, synthesizers, and guitar.
The Inspiration Behind Suite X
Suite X is not just music; it's a musical autobiography that reflects Stadhouders' profound love for baroque music, jazz, prog rock, and beyond. The nine pieces he composed for this project invite listeners to embark on an auditory journey filled with moments reminiscent of a dance ensemble gone rogue, moving passages interspersed with bizarre yet touching dissonances. Hints of Maurice Ravel, Samuel Barber, and King Crimson weave through, prompting listeners to leap from one astonishment to another, culminating in sheer satisfaction. Because of this project, Dutch famous newspaper Trouw called it an assertion that Stadhouders is the most rockin' (jazz) guitarist in the Netherlands.
The Sound of Suite X
Have you ever heard of a Theorbe, Zink, or Sackbut? These instruments, along with the more familiar Harpsichord and Natural Trumpet, lay the foundation of our Western music history. In Suite X, Stadhouders immerses himself in the enigmatic world of baroque music, aiming to blend these forgotten sounds with today's electronic music. The result is a rich tapestry of soundscapes: sometimes expansive, sometimes pulsating with energy, at times melodic, and occasionally experimental.
The Flemish B.O.X Ensemble, known for its collaborations with pop musicians like Efterklang and Eefje de Visser, brings a fresh perspective to classical music. This synergy between the ensemble's baroque musicians, who are no strangers to improvisation, and Bram's experimental edge, promises a music experience where past and present, electronic and acoustic, freedom and structure meet.
Suite X stands as a testament to this journey, a bold step into classical music through the lens of baroque's forgotten sound palette mixed with the electrifying energy of contemporary electronic music. It's a tribute to our musical heritage, shining a light on each instrument within the composition and seamlessly integrating modern sounds of electric guitar, synthesizers, and beats with the age-old baroque instrumentation, all processed with computer effects.
In Suite X, every note is a bridge between the past and the present, between the acoustic and the electronic, and between freedom and discipline.
“From unusual instrument combos and free improvisation, the eight-part suite leads to an aromatic distillate of electro and continuo, sarabande and synthesizer, polyphony and sound sculpture”
— De Standaard (Belgium) - 5 stars
“Incredibly immersive sound. What an album! Stadhouders is the hardest rocking (jazz) guitarist in the Netherlands.” - Mischa Andriessen
— Trouw (5 stars)
“Classical, jazz and impro enter into an uplifting alliance here.” - Gijsbert Kamer
— De Volkskrant (4 stars)
“Sometimes it sounded like a real baroque concert, sometimes like a real big band, sometimes like a beautiful soundscape, and everything in between. In addition to the ingenious and exciting compositions, the improvisations of the baroque players were also convincing. Where some such projects sometimes get bogged down in two worlds that do not come together, that did happen here from the first to the last note. The fun they had while playing was also clearly visible.” - Bert Palinckx
— November Music