January 24th marks exactly 100 years since Simeon ten Holt was born. He became best known to the general public for his composition Canto Ostinato. KunstNetTV made a short film portrait about Simeon ten Holt in 2012. In his small house in Bergen, he talks about his artistry and that composing came before everything else and not making money.
Simeon ten Holt was born in 1923 in the artists’ village of Bergen (NH). He was the son of the well-known painter Henri ten Holt and developed as a composer under the wings of Jacob van Domselaer, who also lived in Bergen Although his Canto Ostinato premiered in 1979, it was not until after his retirement that ‘the Canto’ became a classical hit. Today, it is one of the Netherlands’ most popular twentieth-century compositions.
For the composer, the composition was a break in his emulation of the then dominant atonal style of composition. He himself said of it, “I had become a barren leaf. The impoverishment was so great (…) that I couldn’t stand it any longer and got behind the piano again, and so Canto began to emerge. It is the history of my own body. The sensuality of life started participating again.”
Simeon ten Holt is an important Dutch composer known for his minimalist style and his use of repetitive patterns in his music. He is considered to be one of the leading figures of the Dutch minimal music movement and his compositions have been performed by many renowned orchestras and ensembles worldwide. His works have been described as meditative, soothing and mesmerizing, often evoking a sense of calm and tranquility. He is known for his large-scale works such as the Canto Ostinato, a piece that can last several hours and is composed of a single repeating pattern that is gradually transformed through the addition of different textures and harmonies. His works are highly influential and continue to inspire new generations of composers, musicians and audiences.
Simeon ten Holt’s Canto Ostinato is considered to be one of his most popular and enduring works, and is known for its minimalist and repetitive style.
One of the reasons for its popularity is that it creates a sense of meditative and contemplative atmosphere, providing a space for the listener to relax and let go of distractions. The repetitive pattern creates a hypnotic and mesmerizing effect that can be both calming and uplifting. It can be performed as a solo piece or with multiple performers playing different variations on the same pattern, creating a rich tapestry of sound. Another reason is the versatility of the piece. It can be played on various instruments and in different arrangements, which makes it accessible to a wide range of performers and audiences. Finally, the Canto Ostinato is also known for its ability to evoke a sense of timelessness, as the listener can lose track of time while listening to it.
Donemus made a playlist on YouTube with 80 recordings of his works:
Composers in the crosshairs of our attention