International Composition Contest at Kampen by Lex Gunnink

Lex Gunnink International Composition Contest at Kampen
Het ORGEL 102 (2006), nr. 1, 32-36 [summary]

On 19 November, composer and organist Paul Takahashi (Brussels) won the International Composition Contest in the Bovenkerk at Kampen. The second prize was awarded to Willem van Twillert; the third prize to Jaap Jan Steensma. The jury had selected six composers in advance; the others were Rob van der Hilst, Arend Jan Kettelarij and Allan Segall. The theme of the competition was ‘European Folksong’, which meant that the compositions had to refer to one or more songs from Europe. The members of the jury were Hans Fidom, Wim de Ruiter and Joris Verdin.
Takahashi won with his composition Invisible Motions, based on Rumanian folk music and dances from Bulgaria and Macedonia. The composition combines minimal music elements with dance rhythms. Remarkable also is the ‘middle part’: a recitative for a solo stop, to be played ‘rubato’.
Van Twillert received with his Toccata à la Chaconne the prize of the audience as well. He used the sonorities of the contest organ, the Hinsz organ from 1743, very well, resulting in a sparkling piece of music.
Jaap Jan Steensma kept his Idee voor orgel simple. Starting from the melody of ‘Ik wil mij gaan vertroosten’, he combined monodic phrases, bitonality and a small number of carefully selected chords to a composition with a strong form and of great eloquence.
 

Translation: The crosses indicates improvisation on basis of the notes below. The theme is in the pedal.