Friday at 20:45 on the 2nd of april, 2021, LOOS CHANNEL will air a documentary by Bas Andriessen that features Dutch composer Cornelis de Bondt and his composition “DEUS”.

The documentary presents preparations for the piece during several rehearsal & research dates in the Orgelpark Amsterdam, as well as an interview with Cornelis about his philosophy and inspiration. The finale of the film is the entire first performance that took place on the 3rd of May, 2019.

Initially the director of the documentary, Bas Andriessen, planned to make an extensive documentary about Cornelis, including his other upcoming works. However, as the filming took place, the musical materials of the premiere of “DEUS” were captivating enough to make the executive decision to release a separate documentary just for this work. Because it is important - according to Bas Andriessen - to hear complete performances of Cornelis’ music. Why not make a separate film of "DEUS"?

So what made “DEUS” and Cornelis’ music so interesting to Bas?

Bas: "DEUS" is in its concept & approach part of Cornelis' quest for 'pure art'. Cornelis criticizes the kind of role that art/music in our totally capitalist & consumerist society has got. In our society it is entertainment & escape, largely meant to make money. Cornelis searches for music that is not determined by other things than only musical matters. But I am sure my explanation fails to address the complexity of his thoughts."

Additionally, Bas believes all of the music of Cornelis has impact. The composer’s music is viewed as a criticism on the entertainment mentality & approach towards music/art. He composes unique monumental pieces that don't fit in the consumer kind of (making & listening) music. Cornelis’ music is also music about music. It always refers to music from the past. So history is important for him, but only in a way that he knows that he is part of a certain tradition & mentality. But never is his music a pastiche of former 'styles'. His music transgresses history, which makes him a modernist in his own way.

The Music

In "DEUS" Cornelis 'uses' music of Bach. Especially in the structure of the piece is a reference to the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. Cornelis explains this in the film. What Bas also considers rather special is how in his composition, Cornelis uses all the organs of Het Orgelpark in combination with contemporary midi equipment. The resulting sound of "DEUS" is very unique. "At least to my ears. And overwhelming. It's a great piece".

Bas Andriessen studied Political science & Mass Communications (specialty art criticism). He worked a lot in music: organised lots of concerts of & programs around contemporary composed music, jazz and improvised music, made radio programs for VPRO and NOS, wrote a book about Dutch improvised music called "Tetterettet", wrote aticles for magazines. The last 12 years he produced an art program on local tv in his hometown Nijmegen called "De Muzen" in which a variety of contemporary composed and improvised music was covered with concert registrations & documentaries. He also made 6 films about the legendary Dutch ensemble "Hoketus" (which can be seen on YouTube). Currently he is working on the documentary on Cornelis, but also on a longer documentary on the project "Muted" by the American dutch violin player Monica Germino.