Julian talks about the collaboration with Kathryn Cok and his piece:

'In September, I was asked by Kathryn Cok to write a piece for the anniversary concert of the SCGN, the 'Nederlands Clavecimbel Genootschap'. The idea was a solo piece for harpsichord inspired by Scarlatti.

Kathryn's expertise on Scarlatti and early music was of great help to me in understanding Scarlatti's style, which I wanted to incorporate into the composition. Moreover, Kathryn's interpretation contains all kinds of Baroque elements that she brings in at the right moments, which further magnifies the splits of the piece, the ancient Scarlatti style in a modern context. I am very satisfied with the result and I found the collaboration very inspiring. Her imagination in interpretation, which takes the composition to a new level, was a joy to hear.

The composition is based on Scarlatti's style, abstracted in modern idiom. The musical material is formed by various elements from Scarlatti's sonatas. The form of the piece is built entirely on Scarlatti's sonata form which, unlike the classical sonata form, consists of two movements with the climax between them. The first movement consists of an introduction of several themes which, after a climax in the transition to the second movement, are then developed thereafter. This form reminded me of the recitative-aria form. In the recitative, the narrative is introduced; the scene is set in all its mystery and drama, to be succeeded in the aria by a poetic, emotional or even metaphysical reflection.'

The concert will take place on Saturday 7 December during the celebration of 30 years of the Clavecimbel Genootschap at the Uilenburger Synagoge. More information