Archive 1984 

Two important Canadian composers occupied a substantial part of the 1984 Holland Festival. Henry Brant filled seven evenings—from Carré to De IJsbreker—with changing ensembles; Raymond Murray Schafer was close behind with four concerts in the Oude Kerk and De IJsbreker. But music was not the only highlight: four parts of Karlheinz Stockhausen’s Samstag aus LICHT were performed; Meredith Monk appeared at the Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam; and the fourth Claxon Sound Festival presented new work by Dutch and international composers. 

Was it all music? Certainly not. Willem Nijholt delivered outstanding performances in a number of texts by Camus. Trisha Brown Company appeared with three performances, and there was a night-long debate on what is—or is not—beautiful and valuable, featuring figures such as Konrad Boehmer, Rudi Fuchs and Cees Dam.