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Huba de Graaff, Amsterdam 1959, composer
Huba started in the 90s writing opera’s for ‘living’ and moving loudspeakers:
‘loudspeakeroperas’ in which the speakers, like all sound-producing animals and musicians are also physically moving while sound-producing.
Hephaistos (1996) – an opera for several robot-animal-speakers,
and Lautsprecher Arnolt, in 2004:
In ‘Lautsprecher Arnolt’, (with Erik-Ward Geerlings & Bart Visser: speaker-installations) they presented the moving and rotating loudspeakers on stage really as music-theatrical performers.
She did several projects for live-electronics : Corenicken – : computer-controlled moving loudspeakers, computerviolin, a tin-dress : Japon Fuzz, ‘Studie voor piezogrids‘ for 768 piezokeramic elements above the audience.
In ‘Apera’ She did audio research on singing monkeys.
“Singing is pretty weird.
Of course mankind started with singing.
Much later in the evolution we became able to talk.”
In ‘Pornopera‘ she continued investigating the technical ‘art’ of singing.
Before you start singing, just before the vocal chords are perfectly closed,
there is always a tiny bit of moaning and groaning, inhalation etc..
While normally the orgasm lasts about 1,5 minute, in ‘Pornopera’ it takes one hour moaning and groaning,
before the real ‘singing’ starts.
The production: Liebesleid – a gym-performance – was presented at the local gym (2017).
The Naked Shit Songs at the Holland Festival ’17 : a sung television interview from 1996.
in 2019:
‘Pulchalchiajev‘ with Annelinde Bruijs and director Ko van den Bosch, text Erik-Ward Geerlings.
In 2020: Opera: the Lamp
In 2021: new work for Ensemble Electra and actress Imra Dinçer
She works together with author Erik-Ward Geerlings and Britt Verstegen.
The Stichting WILco is supporting all of Huba de Graaff’s projects.
Bowie Verschuuren (photography), Emmy Visser (design), Lonneke van Eden : publicity.
To create a music-performance, music-theatre, you have to work together with many people from all disciplines.
Cooperation is essential in Huba’s work,
She always works together with inspiring musicians, actors, directors, authors, artists, etc.
She organized concert-series with Arthur Sauer (Pokon, Kroko, Haagse KoKodagen).
Huba studied Sonology in Utrecht (1981) and composition at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague with Dick Raaymakers, Louis Andriessen, Fredric Rzewski, Walther Zimmerman and Gilius van Bergeijk.
She frequents the KonCon as a guest-teacher and mentor.
In the early 80’s she played in dutch bands as Transister with RJ Stips , the Tapes, Special Thanx.
(watch: recent interview about Transister in 1980)
“Huba’s music has never been polished, she is not afraid of new sounds or new ways of presenting music, acoustic as well as electronic, dramatic and theatrical.”
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about the organization (stichting wilco)
Composer Huba de Graaff gives composition lessons, mentorship and advice to aspiring creative people of any age at her studio in Amsterdam. She also regularly gives lectures and public presentations at universities, music schools, conservatoriums and festivals around the world. If you would like to book her or you seek composition lessons or become a student you can email her directly at info@hubadegraaff.com
“I can’t understand why people are frightened of new ideas.
I’m frightened of the old ones.”
(John Cage)
