Name: Maya Verlaak
PhD: Composition (Music)
Thesis Title: Hexenhaus - A scrutinising compositional position
Thesis Description:
Etymologically[1], the Dutch word for ‘witch’, ‘Heks’, originates from the Germanic ‘Hexe’ and is related to the word Haga or, in Dutch, ‘Haag’ or ‘Hekken’ which means ‘hedge’ or ‘fence’. A ‘Hexe’ is someone who is needed—but not welcome—in society. They must remain on the margin, by the fence. A ‘Hexe’-artist needs to be on that margin in order to reflect and evaluate from a distance.
Taking the position of the ‘Hexe’ when composing a new piece of music, results in being analytical of all parameters in a given context. I will not only deconstruct and reconstruct but also continuously self-reflect. I will approach everything around me critically: stepping out of society and observing it from the outside, daring to attack its foundations. This process creates a distance from my subject because I am standing near the fence so to speak, observing the situation from the periphery. As a result, these contextual reflections become the subject of a compositional process.
By applying the ‘Hexenhaus’ as methodological tool and catalyst for new work, a scrutinising approach emerges. This scrutinising process is continuously applied, in the compositional process, as well as during the rehearsal processes. This has a number of results: it generates a compositional attitude of continuous reflection in which nothing is taken for granted; it often results in a new kind of relationship with the performers and/or collaborators; and it necessitates an alternative performance practice.
[1] Etymologiebank.nl. (2010). etymologiebank.nl. [online] Available at: http://www.etymologiebank.nl/trefwoord/heks [Accessed 29 Jan. 2018].
Supervisors and Institution(s): Dr. Michael Wolters, Howard Skempton, Birmingham City University. Dr John Richards, Montfort University, Leicester.
Publications (please include full details with page nos. or web links):
http://maya.ricercata.org/publications.html
October 2017 - Synzine#6: 6 new musical games by Ophir Ilzetzky, Maya Verlaak, Lilo Nein, Avner Amit, Sam Taylor and Maya Felixbrodt + Zvov.
Synzine#6 is available free online or printed in Birmingham, UK by stenton.press
'Synzine' is a magazine for musical games meant to be played at home and outdoors with your friends, family or by yourself.
June 2017 - Music and/as Process album
"All English Music is Greensleeves" for solo accordion
Performed by Howard Skempton
Published by reductive.
(All rights belong to their respective artists)
September 2016 - Audio DH - release
Sonic Manifestations by 250 artists from Den Haag
Concept & Direction: Francisco López
General Coordination: Barbara Ellison
Production: iii
Includes:
'Tape piece' by Maya Verlaak & Andy Ingamells
'Song for the Beach Carillon (II)' with Leo Svirsky & Maya Verlaak
'Introduction to Topaksy' with Yedo Gibson & Maya Verlaak
'Damien Hirst is a fucking fuck' with Acid Police Noise Ensemble
September 2016 - Book for new Carillon music - Stichting Carillon Den Haag
Haags Beiaardboek 5, New Catch 2015, New Carillon compositions by composers from The Hague (NL)
Editor: Gijsbert Kok
's-Gravenhage (2016)
2014 - London Sinfonietta
Performing 'All Verlaak's Music is Alouette'
2013 - Acid Police Noise Ensemble: Live at Delta Works by G Douglas Barrett, Joseph Kudirka, Taylan Susam and James Tenney
APNE, (2013)
Public Engagement Activities:
2 June2018 | SONG&DANCE: An excessively elaborate effort to explain or justify'Performed by Late Music Ensemble, based in York, UKConcert at 19:30, St. Saviourgate, York, YO1 8NQ, United Kingdom |
28 May2018 | New work for 25 electric guitarsThe Fringe Guitar Project, a production of the Ensemble Klang Foundation in association with the Academy for Music and the Performing Arts, Tilburg (AMPA)Concert at the Concertzaal, Tilburg, Netherlands |
26 May2018 | New work for 25 electric guitarsThe Fringe Guitar Project, a production of the Ensemble Klang Foundation in association with the Academy for Music and the Performing Arts, Tilburg (AMPA)Concert at Dag in de Branding Festival in The Hague, Netherlands |
9 May 2018 | Performance of 'KlangfarbenTanz', in collaboration with - and performed by Karin de Fleyt.Concert at PACE studio 1, Montfort University, Leicester, United Kingdom |
22 April 2018 | New work for 25 electric guitarsThe Fringe Guitar Project, a production of the Ensemble Klang Foundation in association with the Academy for Music and the Performing Arts, Tilburg (AMPA)Concert at the Red Sofa Series in De Doelen Concert Hall, Rotterdam, Netherlands |
23 March2018 | SONG&DANCE: An excessively elaborate effort to explain or justify'Performed by: Denera James, Lester St.louis, Joseaugusto Mejía, Jesse Greenberg, Assaf Gidron, тео дора and Maya Verlaak8pm MISE-EN_PLACE, 678 Hart St, Brooklyn 11221, New York, USA |
7 March 2018 | Performance of 'Synthesis' written for and performed by 'Decibel'The Lab, Birmingham Conservatoire, United Kingdom |
19 - 24 February2018 | Invited as guest at the College of Music, Seoul National University, the Republic of KoreaPerformance of SONG&DANCE: An excessively elaborate effort to explain or justify' |
5 February2018 | Radio broadcast of SONG&DANCE: An excessively elaborate effort to explain or justify' Written for and performed by IEMA (International Ensemble Modern Academy).On the dutch radio station: Concertzender |
7 December2017 | Performance of 'Tape Piece' by Maya Verlaak and Andy IngamellsPerformed by Rowland Hill and Jack SheenAt London Contemporary Music Festival: http://lcmf.co.ukAs part of 'New Intimacy': http://lcmf.co.uk/7-DecemberNew-Intimacy-I-1 |
2 December 2017 | Performance of 'Tape Piece' by Maya Verlaak and Andy IngamellsPerformed by Lawrence Dunn and Jack SheenAt LEGROOM, 19:00Unit 4, Great Northern Tower, Watson Street, M3 4EE Manchester (UK) |
25 November2017 | Mixed performances, In collaboration with Dirty Electronics at Punctum, Prague,(CZ)Including a performance of 'A hard Days Night', performed by Maya Verlaakhttp://www.punctum.cz/http://www.dirtyelectronics.org/menu.html |
24 November2017 | 'Making for Radio', in collaboration with Dirty ElectronicsPublic concert and recording for Czech RadioAt Škroupovo náměstí 4, 130 00, Prague 3(broadcast on 6 December 2017)http://www.musa.cz/czech-radio-studio-no-1.htmhttp://www.dirtyelectronics.org/menu.html |
18 September 2017 | Performance of 'SONG&DANCE: An excessively elaborate effort to explain or justify' Written for and performed by IEMA (International Ensemble Modern Academy).Concert at Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst, Kleiner Saal, Frankfurt am Main (Germany)https://www.internationale-em-akademie.de/en/concerts_iema/2017-09 |
7 September 2017 | Performance of 'SONG&DANCE: An excessively elaborate effort to explain or justify' Written for and performed by IEMA, (International Ensemble Modern Academy).Concert at Gaudeamus Muziekweek, Utrecht (NL)https://gaudeamus.nl/en/events/frankfurt-youngsters/ |
16 July2017 | Performance of 'SONG&DANCE(II): An excessively elaborate effort to explain or justify'Written for Divertimento Ensemble in ItalyConcert in Bobbio, Auditorium Santa Chiara di Bobbio, Piacenza. |
20 June2017 | Player piano project in collaboration with Martin PerkinsConcert at CODA festivalThe last performances at Birmingham Conservatoire before the building is demolished.Birmingham Conservatoire website link |
20 June2017 | Performance of 'All English Music is Greensleeves (II)' version for 2 melodicasPerformed by Oliver Farrow and Maya VerlaakConcert at CODA festivalThe last performances at Birmingham Conservatoire before the building is demolished.Birmingham Conservatoire website link |
18 June2017 | Performance of Clavecin oculaire (II)Objects and Sound Night #1, StudioAcht, Berlin (DE) |
25 May2017 | Performance of 'Tape Piece' by Maya Verlaak and Andy IngamellsPerformed by soundinitiativeEspace des arts sans frontières, Paris, France |
25 May2017 | Performance-lecture of 'Johann Ludwig Luig'M3C research festivalStamfort Court, University of Leicester |
16 May2017 | Performance of Dance (III) in 5 movementsRewritten for and performed by Jack Sheen and An AssemblyConcert at City, University of London Concert SeriesPerformance Space, City, University of London, College Building, 19:00-20:00www.city.ac.uk |
9 April2017 | Performance of 'Tape Piece' by Maya Verlaak and Andy IngamellsPerformed by DUOBAAN, (BE)At Concertgebouw Brugge, Belgium |
7 April2017 | Performance of 'Clavecin Oculaire (II)'rewritten for Digbeth's first friday event at Centrala, Birmingham, UKPost Paradise concert series in collaboration with Flatpack film festival. |
24 March2017 | Performance of 'All English Music is Greensleeves (II)' version for 2 melodicasPerformed by Oliver Farrow and Maya VerlaakConcert at'Remembering the Experimental Music Catalogue'concertat the Montfort University, Leicester, PACE studio 1: |
22 March2017 | Performance of 'Tape piece','Clavecin oculaire (II)'and 'A Hard Day's Night'Performed by Maya Verlaak & Andy IngamellsConcert at Montfort University, Leicester, PACE studio 1 |
13 March2017 | Performance of 'Johann Ludwig Luig'Performed by Patrick EllisConcert at the Recital Hall, Birmingham Conservatoire (UK) |
2 March2017 | Performance of 'Tape Piece' by Maya Verlaak and Andy IngamellsPerformed by Kirkos EnsembleConcert at New Music Dublin Festival Club, National Concert Hall, Dublin, Ireland |
12 February2017 | Concert in collaboration with Robert BlattPerformance of 'Clavecin Oculaire' and 'A Hard Day's Night' (performed by Joseph Kudirka)Concert at Keith, Berlin |
10 February2017 | Performance of 'Tape Piece' by Maya Verlaak and Andy IngamellsPerformed by Andy Ingamells and Edward HendersonNew Teeth IV, Hackney Showroom, London, UK |
8 February2017 | New work in collaboration with Robert Blatt.Concert at Studio Loos, Den Haag (NL) |
2017-2018 | Collaboration with Karin de Fleyt (Flute) |
27 January2017 | New work in collaboration with Robert Blatt.Concert at Birmingham Post Paradise Series,(UK) |
9 December 2016 | Presenting work in the subject of 'Composing as Performing' at the Hessian Theatre Academy,Künstlerhaus Mousonturm, Frankfurt am Main.In collaboration with Paul Norman and Andy Ingamells. |
3 December2016 | 'Hexenhaus', written for 'Dag in de Branding' festival, Den Haag (NL)Concert at Korzo Theater, Den Haag. |
5-26 November2016 | Creating new work in residency with the 'Inlets ensemble', Miami, USAConcert at AUDIOTHEQUE, Miami. |
6 November 2016 | Performance of 'Tape Piece' by Maya Verlaak and Andy IngamellsPerformed by Lia Kohl and Nick MeryhewConcert at BOP STOP @ the Music Settlement, Cleveland, Ohio, USA |
4 November2016 | 'A Hard Days Night'(Woo!), Written for Digbeth's first friday event at East side projects, Birmingham, UK |
8 October2016 | "Dance"(2016) Rewritten for a smaller ensemble:Germaine Sijstermans (clarinet), Ana Graça (French Horn), James Hewitt (violin), Cody Takács (double bass) Leo Svirsky (piano), Emil Tan Erten (percussion)At Studio Loos, Den Haag (NL) |
27 September2016 | "Greensleeves II" for Duo and "Tape Piece"Performed by Andy Ingamells and Maya VerlaakAt ICC BirminghamPrivate performance for the 3rd M3C cohort. |
2016 - 2017 | Curating "Post Paradise", A Birmingham(UK) based New Music Concert Series!At Centrala, Birmingham. |
22 September2016 | "Process"(2016)Performed by Howard Skempton and Maya VerlaakAt Birmingham Conservatoire PhD presentations. |
29 July-14 August2016 | Darmstadt Summer course (DE)Workshop/performance for 'Composer-Performer' with David Helbich and Jennifer Walshe. |
2 July 2016 | New work: "Process"Performed by Howard Skempton and Maya VerlaakAt RMA Music and/as Process 4th Annual Conference, Bath Spa University, UK |
26 June2016 | New work: "Carrier".Commissioned by Birmingham Conservatoire.A fanfare for the final concert at the Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham Conservatoire.Performed by Birmingham Conservatoire Symphony Orchestra.Tickets and information here. |
6-20 June2016 | "Sand Songs"Residency in The Hague, Netherlands.In collaboration with Ana Smaragda Lemnaru, Grzegorz Marciniak, David Pocknee, Adam Basanta.Information about the iiinitiative ResidencyFacebook event link |
1 June2016 | New work: "Scacciare Pensieri"Commissioned by 840 series, written for Percussion Quartet: Abstrukt.At St James’ Church, Islington, N1 8PF, London. Tickets and information here |
20 May2016 | New work: "Dance"Commissioned by x.y ensemble, UK.At I'klektik Gallery, Lambeth SE1 7LG, London, 20:00 |
30 April2016 | "Tape Piece"(2012) by Andy Ingamells and Maya VerlaakPerformed by David Pocknee, Michael Baldwin, Louis d’Heudieres, Andy Ingamells and Maya VerlaakAt Weisslich series: Nexus Art Café Manchester (UK) |
14 April2016 | "Tape Piece"(2012) by Andy Ingamells and Maya VerlaakPerformed by Mocrep ensemble (USA) at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, (USA) |
University email address: Maya.Verlaak@mail.bcu.ac.uk
Website: http://www.maya.ricercata.org
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/MayaVerlaak