10, 11, 12 September

Amsterdam-based Yannis Kyriakides is a composer and sound artist querying the act of listening. Communication through music is a recurring theme in his work, which in recent years has explored the relations between words and music. Kyriakides has composed for theatre as well multimedia and electroacoustic works for chamber groups and large ensembles. Since contributing two works for the the Dutch Pavilion at the Venice Biennale in 2011, he’s becoming more known for his sound installations. He is a founding member of the ensemble Maze, and teaches composition at the Royal Conservatory of Music in The Hague.

Kyriakides presents two new compositions entitled 'Order of Thoughts and Things (Tombstone)' and 'Order of Thoughts and Things (House)' as part of the Music for a Busy City project.

The two musical pieces are connected to places in Den Haag associated with the philosopher Baruch Spinoza: De Nieuwe Kerk, next to his tombstone, and the Spinozahuis, Paviljoensgracht 72, his last abode. Both works are titled: ‘The Order of Thoughts and Things'. Located at Spinona Memorial Stone (Nieuwe Kerk) is 'The Order of Thoughts and Things (Tombstone)', whereas at the Spinoza Statue (Paviljoensgracht) we find 'The Order of Thoughts and Things (House)'.

Both works juxtapose processed voice with materials such as stone and glass. In (Tombstone) the voices are made to resonate like glass, and are morphed with the sound of the many seagulls that flock around the church.

In (House) an intimate female voice is stretched around the 4 corners of the square, triggering sequences of intense noise, and percussive sounds. The title of the work is based on a Proposition from Book 2 of the Ethics: The order and connection of ideas is the same as the order and connection of things.