The Netherlands’ most famous composition? More frequently heard than the national anthem? It very well could be. The mesmerizing *Canto Ostinato* by Simeon ten Holt appears on music stands with astonishing frequency. Perhaps it helps that it can be performed on a variety of instruments. It sounds wonderful on keyboard and wind instruments, especially when played by organist Aart Bergwerff and trumpeter Eric Vloeimans.

April 25, 1979. That was the day of the premiere at the Ruïnekerk in Bergen (North Holland). It was like a seismic shift. Until then, Ten Holt, and virtually everyone else, had avoided easily accessible harmonies or simple, singable lyrical motifs. Yet this monumental work proved to be extraordinarily relevant and quickly gained popularity among listeners and musicians. The CD made by Polo de Haas and Kees Wieringa sold over 15,000 copies—a rare feat for a Dutch composer of ‘serious music.’ And all with a piece that features the continuous repetition of a short musical motif. Brilliant repetition that never gets boring.