Frank Denyer: Muted Music

The Luna String Quartet is renowned for playing very silent music. BBC called them ‘Quiet Music Specialists’. In the intimacy of the KlankKleurFestival and the beautiful acoustics of the Uilenburgersjoel, the extremely soft volume of British composer Frank Denyer's music comes into its own. For those seeking a counterbalance to an ever-increasing volume around us - traffic, fireworks, music in shopping halls and underground stations, the telephone, the noise pollution plaguing our world - this concert is an antidote and a breath of fresh air.

Denyer travelled around Africa in the 60s and 70s as a musicologist. This is how he fell under the spell of the sounds of Africa and African music. He himself comes from the classical tradition, as a choirboy in his youth, and later as a pianist/composer. In the 1970s, he worked extensively with Morton Feldman. A deep artistic friendship developed with the Luna Quartet, following their collaboration in String Quartet No. 2 and the ‘Melodies’ project. Since then, String Quartet No. 3, 4 and 5 have also emerged. The magical and abstract rarefied sounds of the string quartets are full of life. You hear the small, the soft: insects under a stone, new life emerging in decayed matter, the inner singing of a lonely woman, expressing her pain in a gentle melody. The sound of the oppressed, the unheard, the call of a crow.

Image maker
Double talent Jellantsje de Vries (besides being a violinist, she is also a clothing designer) designed the outfits of the musicians for this performance.

Luna String Quartet:
Janneke van Prooijen - violin
Jellantsje de Vries - violin
Elisabeth Smalt - viola
Katharina Gross - cello

Leo Verbree - technique

KlankKleurFestival 2025
The KlankKleurFestival 2025 presents a sparkling mix of visual art and chamber music. Through interaction between sound makers and image makers new adventurous combinations are created. During three days you can see, hear and experience the results of this mix in the Uilenburgersjoel in Amsterdam. The theme of edition 2025 (June 6-8) is Light and Shadow.

The festival consists of an exhibition and various performances, some of which are free of charge.

Participating visual artists have each made a shadow lamp and a light lamp. These take center stage and connect the beginning and end of the festival. The hall will be transformed twice: Friday evening into a Berlin café with the shadow lamps and Sunday evening into a New York dance hall with the light lamps.

Find the full program on the KlankKleurFestival website.

A passe-partout gives access to all concerts of the festival.

PLEASE TAKE NOTE: This concert will take place in de Uilenburgersjoel - Nieuwe Uilenburgerstraat 91