COMPOSITIONS / CHORAL / HET GOUDEN KALF (2022)

CHORAL

Het Gouden Kalf (2022)

For mixed choir, ensemble and narrator

  • 36 min
  • Donemus Publishing
  • September, 2022

De Graaff and librettist Jibbe Willems are now exploring the world of the Biblical Exodus. Their oratorio HET GOUDEN KALF (‘The Golden Calf’, 2021) is inspired by the epic exodus of a people in search of a new future. Timeless matter that is powerfully reflected in our time. Studium Chorale and the South Netherlands Philharmonic will give this current music drama its world premiere during the Musica Sacra Maastricht festival.

​The composition commission for the Oratorium was given at the initiative of the South Netherlands Philharmonic in collaboration with Musica Sacra and Studium Chorale, partly on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Studium Chorale and the 25th anniversary of Musica Sacra. 

2022-2023 season production

StagingMichel Sluysmans
NarratorDries Vanhegen
EnsembleStudium Chorale
Philharmonie Zuidnederland

General information

Libretto Jibbe Willems
Instrumentation Voice (narr.) SATB Chorus 0.1(+ca).0.0 0.1(+flh).0.0.1.1.1.1.1
Commissioned by Philharmonie Zuidnederland Musica Sacra Studium Chorale/td>
Maurice Wiche
Limburger

"Give the young Dutchman (30) a text and, as it turns out, he paints a canvas full of color, sound variation and melodic flexibility. After that the focus quickly shifts to the dramatic: firm accents pile up to searing climaxes."

Maartje Stokkers
De Volkskrant

"De Graaff's music for five strings, English horn, trumpet and percussion is a cleverly constructed mirror of the text. When Moses tells the people that they will climb Mount Sinai, an unresolved chord emphasizes the people's rising questions."

Preview the Score

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GET THE FULL SCORE

Interviews

“Zelf wilde ik vooral de emoties laten horen waar het volk doorheen gaat. Die woede, maar ook de verleiding wanneer ze op Aäron inpraten.”

MARGARETHA COORNSTRA, 
Read the full article (NL)

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