Memories of Trees

From trees via strings to music. In Memories of Trees, the passionate women of the Ragazze Quartet give a musical voice to trees. Memories of trees fill the hall with music for string quartet and tape by composer Kate Moore (and others) in a magical world of light and projections.

When the members of the Ragazze Quartet went in search of the origins of their wooden string instruments, they discovered the fascinating world of annual tree rings. Tree rings are like a historical document: they tell us more about the location of the tree, the climate, the influences of flora and man.

A fascination for the role of trees as silent witnesses of history was born and takes shape in Memories of Trees - a poetic concert where music interprets the memories of trees. Together with the projections that depict the memories of trees, a Wunderkammer of pulsating tree resin, expressive fungal filaments and canopy shyness emanates, with the wooden instruments as interpreters.

The Netherlands Ragazze Quartet plays classical and modern string quartets with passion and at the highest level. With their sensational programmes, the quartet has developed into one of the most original and authoritative voices in classical music. It collaborates on its innovative programmes with the most creative voices in theatre, dance and literature.

Kate Moore (1979) is an Australian-Netherlands composer known for her energetic and rhythmic compositions. She studied at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague and composes for various different ensembles and orchestras. Moore won the Matthijs Vermeulen Prize in 2017 for her work The Dam. Her music combines minimalism with an organic, emotional power.

Programme

Parts of a commissioned composition by Kate Moore and works by Garth Knox, Kaija Saariaho, Mees Vervuurt and Nathalie Flintrop

• this performance is part of In the round
• part of Warm Alarm

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In the round

The theatre-in-the-round is a special arrangement, where the stage is at the heart of the space, surrounded by seats. This layout creates a more intense, shared experience between the actors and the gallery due to its proximity. The audience feels involved differently, by seeing not only the actors, but also each other.

This arrangement was already popular in ancient Greece and continues to offer an intense experience.

At the new performing arts site, makers will be able to utilise the in-the-round setup on a large scale. This is why 30CC is launching this series as a glimpse into the future, but in miniature. For three weeks, we will set up the Predikherenkerk as an In the round theatre.

We welcome you to experience and discover this setup with us.

More info

performed by Ragazze Quartet (music) and Jurjen Alkema (video projections) direction Mees Vervuurt set design and video projections Jurjen Alkema costume design Bart Hess sound Koen Keevel production Barbara Reij