On the Road - ART'uur

Performers

Wim Van Hasselt → trumpet and flugelhorn
Koen Plaetinck → percussion instruments, electric guitar, electronics

Program

"On the Road": A new reality for trumpet, percussion, electronics and visuals. World premieres and works by Nicole Lizée, Wim Henderickx and the duo "ART'uur".

Duo "ART'uur": trumpet, percussion, electronics, visuals

On April 15, 2025, the duo "ART'uur" will take its audience on a journey of sound and images at the College of Music Freiburg: Wim Van Hasselt, professor of trumpet, and Belgian drummer Koen Plaetinck fuse the sounds of trumpet, percussion instruments, electric guitar and electronic music with light shows and video projections. They play their own works with danceable beats and contemporary compositions by Nicole Lizée and Wim Henderickx.

The duo "ART'uur", consisting of trumpet professor Wim Van Hasselt and Belgian percussionist Koen Plaetinck, will perform their new program "On the Road". The two musicians play works by contemporary composers and their own pieces with trumpet, flugelhorn, electric guitar, percussion instruments and electronics that sound very danceable: Delicate trumpet sounds dance over driving beats and electric guitar riffs. However, there is not only something to hear, but also something to see: The two musicians' pieces are accompanied by a light show coordinated with the music as well as videos projected onto a screen and spoken lyrics. "This engages the audience even more and turns our concerts into a cinematic experience. What's more, the visuals are not only fun for the audience, but also for us. I played in orchestras for many years and enjoy breaking out and creating something new," says Wim Van Hasselt.

Sometimes meditative, sometimes driving, with a fine trumpet voice

The concert begins with two pieces by contemporary Belgian composer Wim Henderickx. His music is characterized by influences from India, Nepal and African countries. "The first piece is very calm, almost meditative. This mood is enhanced by a light show and a fog machine that we programmed and coordinated with the music," explains Wim Van Hasselt. This will be followed by a piece by the award-winning Canadian composer Nicole Lizée: the world premiere of "Music for Television" with computer animation in the background. The duo will also perform their own compositions, some of which are world premieres, such as "Shattered Stories and Flowers". This song is about an impossible love: While the duo "ART'uur" brings dark sounds of electric guitar, beat and marimba sounds to the stage, over which the sound of the trumpet floats, a black and white film plays in the background, showing a couple on a cliff who eventually fly off into the sky.

Whether solo trumpet or with different instruments, Wim Van Hasselt is certain that their music is easy to listen to for a wide audience: "Our pieces come from different sub-genres of pop music, such as trip-hop. You can groove along and take in the unexpected visuals. The concert will be a breathtaking sound journey, an explosive fusion of instruments, electronics and images that challenges the senses."