portrait 13
evelien van den broek

Dutch-Swiss composer, performer and producer Evelien van den Broek creates electronic music for live performance, film, modern dance, installations and soundwalks. She has also released several albums and created multidisciplinary projects that include a vibrant and idiosyncratic mix of electronics, songwriting and classical music, such as most recently “Music for Losers.”

De Nederlands-Zwitserse componist, performer en producer Evelien van den Broek maakt elektronische muziek voor live performance, film, moderne dans, installaties en geluidswandelingen. Ze heeft ook meerdere albums uitgebracht en multidisciplinaire projecten gemaakt, die een levendige en eigenzinnige mix van elektronica, songwriting en klassieke muziek bevatten, zoals recentelijk “Music for Losers”.

plea for the unknown
pleidooi voor het onbekende

“creating new sounds”

starring artist:

evelien van den broek

text notes
haydn*)
joseph hayden (1732 – 1809) was an austrian composer of the classical period. hayden spent much of his career
as a court musician. his music circulated widely and he became the most celebrated composer in europe.
he was also known as the ‘king of symphony’.

beethoven*)
ludwig van beethoven (1770 – 1827) was a german composer, musician and conductor. he is considered to be
one of the first viennese schools and brought classicism to completion. his oeuvre has had a dominant influence
on nineteenth-century music.

satie*)
eric alfred leslie satie (1866 – 1925), artist name: erik satie, was a french composer and pianist. his oeuvre fell
into oblivion after his death. but fortunately a new perception of his works emerged and is sometimes described
as pre-electronic music.

david bowie*)
david, robert jones (1947 – 2016), stage name david bowie, was a british singer, songwriter, music producer and
actor. david bowie was, among other things, one of the pioneers of so-called glam rock and caused a sensation
with his androgynous appearance.

lou reed*)
lewis allen – lou reed (1942 – 2013) was an american musician, singer and guitarist who made extensive use of
distortian and alternative tunings with repetitions (loops) of guitar feed back.

the velvet underground*)
the band ‘the velvet undergrond’ (new york 1964 – 1973 / 1996) became one of the most influential bands in rock,
underground, experimental and alternative music. their provocative subject matter, musical experiments, and
nihilistic attitude, was also instrumental in the development of punk rock and new wave.

sonic youth*)
sonic youth was an new york rock band (1981 – 2011) which emerged from the experimental ‘no wave’ art and
music scene and became a prominent member of the ‘noise rock’-scene; ‘redefined what rock guitar could do’
using unorthodox guitar tunings while preparing guitars with objects like drum sticks and screwdrivers.

p.j. harvey*)
polly jean harvey (1969) is a british guitarist and singer-songwriter. her music is described as hard rock with
influences from punk, blues and grunge. hot press wrote that p. j. harvey has written the most erotic, strongest
and most positive love songs ever. she preferred to be called ‘riot grrrl’.

joy division*)
joy division was a british post-punk group (1976/77 – 1980) that influenced later ‘goth’ and ‘new wave’ bands.
singer ian curtis (✝︎ 1980) in particular is still considered a rock legend.

4-track tape recorder*)
by recording music/sound per track – in this case 4 tracks (developed during the sixties) – music can in fact be
added to the existing recording(s) on any empty track.

cubase*)
cubase is the collective name for various versions of the cubase software, namely the original cubase,
cubase virtual studio technology (vst) and cubase sx.

sequencer*)
a sequencer can play ‘steps’ one after the other at a set interval and output them in the form of control voltages.
this way you can control a synthesizer. if necessary, a pattern (a series of steps) can be repeated (looping).

synthesizer*)
is a radio-electric instrument that generates sounds and noises artificially (electronically). it is possible to
significantly influence the sound to be generated, so that new, not yet existing sounds can be created.

uva*)
‘uva’, the university of amsterdam, dates back to 1632 and houses media studies (film – television) among others.

hku*)
the utrecht university of the arts dates from 1987 and focuses, among other things, on music technology.

jannie pranger*)
the dutch mezzo-soprano jannie pranger is a singer and artist who combines passion with the challenging
experiments of modern and contemporary music.

hans timmermans*)
dutch composer, pianist, researcher music technology (1951)

michel waisvisz*)
michel waisvisz (1949 – 2008) was a dutch composer, performing artist and inventor of experimental electronic
musical instruments such as: ‘de kraakdoos’ (‘the cracking box’) and ‘the hands’. he has been director of ‘steim’
in amsterdam.

steim*)
steim (studio for electro instrumental music 1969 – 2020) was a center for research and development of new
musical instruments in the electronic performing arts, located in amsterdam.

‘tanzen auf dem malerwanderweg*)
‘tanzen auf dem malerwanderweg’ (‘dancing on the painter trail’) is a multi disciplinary performance (2019)
created – included stage and libretto – and directed by jan doms. the music is composed and performed by
evelien van den broek i.c.w. wout kemkens c.s. and ulrike doszmann (dancer).

jan doms*)
jan doms (1949) is an internationally working constructive sculptor; creates large-scale multi-disciplinary projects
at the intersection of art, architecture and urbanism; publishes regularly and organizes exhibitions and projects.

eva baumann*)
eva baumann is a dancer, movement researcher, choreographer. she lives and works in stuttgart and berlin.
2021 she was a guest teacher at the hochschule für schauspiel – department of contemporary puppetry – in berlin.

schattenkind*)
‘schattenkind’ (‘schadow child’) is a dance piece – dance in relation to puppetry – about maternal violence.
it premiered online and in January 2022 it finally premiered for a live audience at tanzforum berlin.

aventurijn*)
‘aventurijn’, ia a one-week online music cure for good luck – available on www.aventurijnmusiccure.com.

false memories*)
‘false memories’ is a collection of songs about memories of events that have never actually occurred.
all lyrics are drawn from anonymous public submissions to a.r. hopwood’s false memory archive.

alastair hopwood*)
alastair hopwood – al hopwood – artist, writer and curator, created amongst others the flash memory archive
at the anomalistic research unit at goldsmiths (london 2011).

biophonica*)
in biophonica, evelien van den broek gives her sonic response to mass extinction caused by mankind. as part
of the material for the project, she has collected field recordings of animals that are extinct or endangered,
such as the northern white rhino.

bernie krause*)
bernard l. krause (bernie, 938) is an american musician and soundscape ecologist. in 1968, he founded wild
sanctuary, dedicated to the recording and archiving of natural soundscapes – including the sound of the white rhino.
into the great wide open festival*)
‘into the great wide open’ is a music-festival on the dutch wadden island of vlieland. the beautiful landscape context
makes the festival very unique.

oosterpark*)
the oosterpark (1891) is a nice city park in the oosterpark neighbourhood in amsterdam east. the design of
the park in english landscape style is by the famous dutch landscape architect, leonard springer.

magisch realisme*)
the term ‘magical realism’ (1925) refers to a movement in art in which an attempt is made to connect reality with
another or higher reality. related to this is surrealism, in which realistic representations are placed in unusual
contexts and environments.

avian humanoids*)
‘avian humanoids’ are a common motif in mythology, folklore, and popular fiction. the term avians usually
refers to an alleged alien species.

loopers*)
a ‘loop’, singular of ‘loopers’ are repetitions of a piece of sound and / or music. for example, a drum or guitar
part, but you can also ‘loop’ vocal parts.

björk*)
björk guðmundsdóttir (1965 Reykjavik) is an icelandic singer and songwriter. the former lead singer of
the sugarcubes, had a solo career under the name björk since 1993. she is known for her interest in a
wide variety of music genres, including pop, jazz, alternative rock, electronic and classical music.

credits projects shown

‘year without a summer’
conseived and composed bij ‘daisy bell’ – live fragment (2014)
performance: daisy bell & ensemble gending
members daisy bell: evelien van den broek, dyane donck and richard van kruysdijk
members ensemble sending: jurien sligter, armeno alberts, bente olie, michel ponsioen, hans witteman.

‘kurkku’ – evelien van den broek – voice and live elektronics
live in budel (2015): part of the program ‘once in a blue moon’

‘tanzen auf der mahlerwanderweg’ – ‘dancing on the painters trail’
premiere at the main theater in tilburg (2017)
stage, libretto and direction: jan doms / assistance: olga doreva
composition, voice and electronics: evelien van den broek – titel song: in collaboration with wout kempkens
(voice and guitar)
other collaborating musicians: ries doms (drums), jarno van es (piano) and ernst bonis and joris bonis
(electronic sound and composition).
dance: ulrike doszmann
supported by: culture fund brabant c, culture alliance municipality tilburg and the dutch ambassy berlin
with thanks to: dance brabant, glasstec düsseldorf, section c – dutch design week (ddw) eindhoven,
bazelmans avr, saint-gobain glassolutions, spierings glass, 360 glass, buitink technology, textilelab tilburg.

‘schattenkind’ (2020-2022)
choreography, dance, stage, video: eva baumann
music: evelien van den broek
costume, building stage elements: katrin wittig
puppet making: jördis meister
assistance puppet making: sarah loscher
light: doris schopf
artistic co-worker, outside eye: jan jedenak
introduction: blomst! nina kurzeja
outreach program: janina ulmer (2021),

‘aventurijn’ – online music treatment: https://aventurijnmusiccure.com/home/
concept, music, voice, synths, recordings and production: evelien van den broek
audio mix: sandor caron
mastering: uwe teichert – studio elektropolis
artwork designed by: mees joachim van Amersfoort
photography: richard ayres
available via: band camp
supported by: performing arts fund, #music investment fund, @bumastemra, @minocw

‘false memories’
composition, arrangements, production: evelien van den broek (2016)
lyrics: a.r. hopwood
vocals, electronics, programming: evelien van den broek
trombone: koen kaptijn
moog and OB-6 synths, clavinet, wurlitzer: tony roe
percussion & electronic beats: richard van kruysdijk
recorded at: roe music productions and studio evelien van den broek
mix: gijs van klooster at redhouse
mastering: jarno volman at gold soundz mastering
video stills and interactive visuals: marcel wierckx
cover design: richard van kruysdijk
liner notes: rené van peer
live shows:
light design: ate jan van kampen
sound engineer: sandor caron
manager: peter van amstel
production: lysanne kok
supported by: the sena performers music production fund and by edith eymann
the live show is supported by: the performing arts fund nl and the culture fund with the hausta donans fund
a production of: mono foundation with support of november music

‘biophonica’
premiere: november music festival den bosch (nl 2019)
composition, electronics, texts, production: evelien van den broek
trumpet, electronics: mark nieuwenhuis / allison wright
visuals: timo hoogland
bird design sound modules: edo paulus
live sound engineer: sandor caron
studio production and -mix: gijs van klooster
graphic design: richard van kruysdijk
mary river turtle photo: chris van wyk
supported by: the performing arts fund nl, edith eymann and evelien van den broek
field recordings in “part I – rainforest” by bernie krause, phd. © 2021 wild sanctuary
many thanks to: bernie krause, dr. ivana cinková, chris van wijk and splendor for their contributions.

‘fanfare’
interactive soundwalk at festival ‘into the great wide open’, vlieland (nl 2022)
concept, music: evelien van den broek
audio recordings: marcel de rooij and evelien van den broek
mix, mastering: evelien van den broek
musicians – members of neo-fanfare 9×13: arthur kerklaan (trumpet), wim van den haak (alto horn),
anton van houten (trombone), arne visser (helicon), jeroen geevers (drums)
conductor: hardy li
web app programmer: roald van dillewijn
illustration: jeroen murré
thanks to: studio ‘de slapende hond’ (‘the sleeping dog’) – marcel de rooij), edo paulus, dyane donck,
and all the fanfare web app guinea pigs
supported by: the performing arts fund nl

‘false emories’
premiere: at the november music festival den bosch (nl 2016)
credits album:
composition, arrangements, production: evelien van den broek
lyrics: a.r. hopwood
vocals, electronics, programming: evelien van den broek
trombone: koen kaptijn
moog and ob-6 synths, clavinet, wurlitzer: tony roe
drums & electronics at the live shows: richard van kruysdijk
recorded at: roe music productions and studio evelien van den broek
mix: gijs van klooster at redhouse
mastering: jarno volman at gold soundz mastering
video stills and interactive visuals: marcel wierckx
cover design: richard van kruysdijk
liner notes: rené van peer

video portrait 13 evelien van den broek
camera and video editing: tom pijnenburg
research, editorial, text titles: jan doms

leader:
graphic design: jan doms
opening sequence: pieter reijnen & tom pijnenburg
sound: aspa petrov – prefuse 73 dvořák
ernst bonis – composition taksim