PROJECTS
LOUIS ANDRIESSEN

WORKERS UNION (1975)
 
"symphonic movement for any loud sounding group of instruments"

A few words by Andriessen about his work:

“....Workers Union was written for the Dutch orchestra De Volharding (Perseverance) in which I myself figured as a pianist at that time. This piece is a combination of individual freedom and severe discipline: its rhythm is exactly fixed; the pitch, on the other hand, is indicated only approximately, on a single-lined stave.

It is difficult to play in an ensemble and to remain in step, sort of thing like organising and carrying on political action....” ( L. A. )

Workers Union is often performed by different ensembles in various combinations and occasions in Holland and abroad. However, in my experience so far I have had the opportunity to be part of several different projects based on that piece, working in close collaboration with Louis Andriessen himself:

  • ‘Industrieproject 1: KLM-Cargo’ of the Theatergroep Hollandia
  • Solo Version for percussion installation, sound track and visual arrangement
  • Workers Union performed by De Volharding, T. Koleva-percussion, VJ EBOMAN


  • In 1998 the Theatergroep Hollandia developed a theatre play ‘Industrieproject 1: KLM-Cargo’ that was performed in the ‘Freight Station’ of KLM - Cargo, Schiphool, The Netherlands, where people and machines work 24 hours per day - non stop. During this performance the composition had been realised by percussion, sound track, piano and 12 actors. The sound track was developed by the members of De Veen studio and recorded by Ton van der Meer, Paul Koek, Tatiana Koleva and Florentijn Boddendijk.

  • In the solo version, the set-up for the Workers Union is derived from the ‘Industrieproject 1: KLM-Cargo’ of the Theatergroep Hollandia. It is a performance for percussion installation, sound track and visual arrangement and is based on the idea of collectivism. Work and Workers are present and performed in the audio track, and the theatre approach of the performance of the percussionist.
    Even as a solo version, the entire piece is made possible by the efforts of musicians and artists and the player becomes a part of the performing and theatrical mechanism as well as from the working team.

    Sound track: Ton van der Meer, Paul Koek, Tatiana Koleva, Florentijn Boddendijk
    Direction advise: Paul Koek
    Visual realisation: Tatiana Koleva


  • Workers Union performed by De Volharding, T. Koleva-percussion, VJ EBOMAN

    This project was an initiative of De Volharding and myself. For its realisation we approached also the VJ EBOMAN. His image manipulations are made possible by using triggers attached to the the percussion set-up while playing life. In that version the piece has been performed several times with a great success.