On Sunday afternoon, September 28, a special inclusive concert entitled Reflections will take place at the Jacobus Church in Feerwerd.
Cellist Annette Scholten and pianist Nanke Flach perform an innovative program inspired by the work of contemporary composer Arvo Pärt, who celebrates his 90th birthday this year. The concert is expressly open to people with hearing loss, cochlear implants or auditory hypersensitivity. Through a thoughtful choice of music, instruments and location, the listening experience is made possible for a wide audience.
The musicians use acoustic instruments with a mild, overtone character. The piano and cello are interspersed with the lame sonore, also known as singing saw. This rarely heard instrument produces a warm, smooth tone without sharp tonal attacks. Combined with the minimalist idiom of Arvo Pärt, it creates a sound that is clear but not fatiguing. The low dynamics and ample silences in the program contribute to a soothing aural environment.
The Jacobus Church in Feerwerd is a medieval church with quiet, uncluttered acoustics. Unlike larger church spaces with strong reverberation, this location offers an intimate and mild sound environment. This keeps the music intelligible and reduces sound distortion, even for people who use hearing aids or CIs. For listeners sensitive to auditory strain, this setting offers a rare comfortable listening experience.
Cellist Annette Scholten studied at the conservatory in Groningen and took master classes with Anner Bijlsma and Ernst Reijsiger, among others. She worked with various orchestras, including the North Netherlands Orchestra and the North Pole Orchestra, and for many years was active in the ensemble Nova Zembla, which focused on contemporary music. Scholten has specialized in new sound forms and is one of the few Dutch musicians to play the lame sonore – an instrument ideally suited for listeners sensitive to sharp or complex sounds.
Pianist Nanke Flach grew up in northern Groningen and pursued her piano studies at the conservatories of Groningen and Utrecht. She specialized in chamber music and musical accompaniment, making her debut with Scholten at Carnegie Hall in New York in 2015. In addition to her performing work, she is an educator with a specific focus on learning issues in music education. Her playing is characterized by subtle sound control and a careful balance between support and expression.
Previous performances by Scholten and Flach have also focused on auditory accessibility. Their joint work is characterized by attention to listeners with hearing loss, sensitivity to stimuli or other auditory experiences.
Central to the program is Pärt’s well-known composition Spiegel im Spiegel, which will be heard in multiple performances: both with cello and with the musical saw. Subtle choreography will also be used to visually support the musical lines. For listeners who wish to express themselves visually, there will be room for meditative drawing during the concert.
Date: Sunday, September 28, 2025
Time: 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: Jacobuskerk, Valgeweg 3, Feerwerd
Admission: €17.50 including snacks and drinks
A repeat of the concert is scheduled for November 2 in Oudeschans.
For more information: click here
This concert is made possible in part by the Province of Groningen.