Whispers of the Wind, the Horseman's Gallop
Rembrandt Frerichs
A new composition by jazz pianist Rembrandt Frerichs, merges classical and jazz elements. Inspired by Rumi’s poetry, the piece features both written music and free improvisations, adding depth with each live performance. Frerichs reintroduces improvisation to classical music, echoing practices from composers like Beethoven and Ravel.
On the evening of June 15th, 2024, we made recordings in Pandora Hall - TivoliVredenburg in collaboration with Vrije Geluiden to mark the conclusion of the Dag van de Componist. For the New European Ensemble, jazz pianist and composer Rembrandt Frerichs wrote a brand-new composition: Whispers of the Wind, the Horseman's Gallop, with Frerichs himself playing the piano. The title refers to the poetic works of Rumi, the 12th-century Persian poet, who has always been an inspiration for the composer.The notes composed for the classical ensemble last 16 minutes, but alongside the written piano part, there are also several free passages in the piece, where the composer reflects on the performance in the moment. In every concert, the work gains new depth through different live improvisations.In his work, Frerichs brings the element of improvisation back to classical music: a practice that was also common in the time of Beethoven, Mozart, and even Ravel and Debussy.
