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WONDERFEEL

Wonderfeel
By info@foekjebuijs.com   * 19 September 2018 *
Classical music festival in nature
I have visited Wonderfeel almost every time since its inception several years ago. It is a classical music festival in nature surroundings at a former country estate in 's Graveland. A variety of classical music performances is present at the festival from classical solos to more modern improvisations, poetry and musical plays. I enjoy seeing artists of any age and background performing their music. It is a true plunge in culture. 

This year I went for the full three day programme, and I brought my camera. I chose the full programme to find out whether I missed out by chosing one day in the years before. I made pictures because eventually I want to depict music in art. Additionally, I want to capture the concentration of musicians feeling in full their music in portraits or statues. 

I hope I can make art that stirrs me and hypnotises me as music does. I want to make something inspired by Calder's moving statues. The gravity in his statues captivates me, moves me, I could lose myself dreaming. Calder's statues contain elements of Mondriaan. I find his bubbly Victory Boogie Woogie very impressive, but in other paintings Mondriaan does not entirely win me over for his abstract interpretation of music. It is too clinical to my taste. Music is not just a matter of formal composition; it is emotionally moving, gravity and at times lifely or bubbly. In the painting medium I am impressed by Kandinsky. I want to make a statue with the hypnotising gravity of Calder's statues and self invented shapes stirring similar emotions as the gravity of music and its underlying music lines. Ideally, I want make it possible to distinguish different pieces of music in different statues. 

Below I would like to guide you around at the festival's surroundings to give you a feel for where the music takes place: premises, staff and food. Then I show you how I captured various music performances on camera. The performances I show are not all encompassing, but an impression of my festival visit. I mainly show photos as I do not have much in-depth classical music knowledge, for more photos contact me. My photo show starts with the Wonderfeel Festival orchestra and Camille Thomas. Then the Dutch Wind Instrument Ensemble (Nederlands Blazers Ensemble)

The festival's premises 

Several music venues are scattered across the estate at 's Graveland. It is easy to join and leave the venue during a performance. The themes include solo performances with various music instruments, classical music and improvisations, concerts, poetry and theater. 

With the pictures I would like to give you a feel for the music venues at the estate. Strolling from one music performance to another, surprise music performances in the middle of the woods, cows listening in and more.

Staff and recording

The festival is managed by staff from the public classic music radio NPO 4. Left, broadcasting alone to a radio audience in another universe. And right, staff recording and guiding music performance.

Food and more diversion

While strolling around between performances it is possible to find something to eat at the music venues and in the woods. There are also stands where children can learn to build their own music instruments. 

A few images of the food possibilities, from healthy to unhealthy, and Asian to pizza. 

Start festival with Wonderfeel orchestra and Camille Thomas

Schumanns cello concert, Friday 20 July 12:00, at the main venue The Field
Contact me for more photos

Dutch Wind Instrument Ensemble

Nederlands Blazers ensemble, wind instruments, a blend of saxophone, trombone, double bass, accordion. Friday 20 July, 12:45, Venue Weeshuis van de Hits
Contact me for more photos

Maxwell Quartet

Beethoven's string quartet no. 12, Friday 20 July, 13:45, Venue The Field
Contact me for more photos
And more work in progress.......
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