Author archive: Nick Breckenfield

For a long time, my artistic pursuits have been concerned with the idea of ‘giving voice’- either by giving a platform to unheard voices from a community or by giving voice to the musicians of an ensemble by weaving in improvisation within notated works. In the same vein, this set of pieces takes the form […]

Read more about Giving Voice:
How three Levantine female singers inspired composer Bushra El-Turk

In the fifteen years since we founded the Dudok Quartet Amsterdam, our group has interacted with a multitude of artists over a wide spectrum of disciplines. From the most obvious neighbouring specialisms such as keyboardist and wind instrument players, we went on to collaborate with singers, dancers, choreographers and conductors, through to audio engineers, TV […]

Read more about Contemplating Commissioning

You never know, two years out when formulating a celebratory weekend, what the weather might hold for you.  Choosing June – the dates originally determined by availability of Wigmore Hall for a whole weekend – might put the odds in our favour for good weather, but it is Britain we’re talking about, with its famously […]

Read more about Verified in Peckham: BBT20 Day 1

In May of 2020 –– yes! Month 2 of pandemic lockdown! –– I received a wonderful message of introduction from Trio Sōra.  Me, a Canadian composer of a certain age based in Ottawa, and them, a young and dynamic piano trio based in Paris!   They had just been awarded the very prestigious Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship, […]

Read more about From There to Here
The Long and Winding Road

In an article written for The Arts Desk, reprinted here with permission, Judith van Driel, first violinist of the Dudok Quartet Amsterdam writes on approaching the elusive and unreachable in four chamber masterpieces as Rubicon Classics releases Brahms String Quartets and his Second String Sextet In every life there are moments of great significance. Experiences […]

Read more about Brahms and Freedom

As part of its focus on Brahms Third String Quartet, originally scheduled for the ‘lost’ 20-21 season, the Dudok Quartet Amsterdam commissioned Dutch writer Jan Brokken for an essay on the work.  Reprinted here with permission and downloadable in both Dutch and English, Brokken’s essay is illustrated with images from the Quartet’s complete recording of […]

Read more about BRAHMS III