‘An idea for piece or a performance grows slowly and needs a lot of development. Is this the difference between a vulnerable human being and a flawless machine? Is a human that doesn’t need to breathe perfection or utopia? Those are questions that can start a thinking process which will result in a project. Sometimes breathing is seen as an imperfection or a disruptive noise during a performance and is therefore edited out of a recording. As a performer, it is very important to know when to breathe, not just as a singer or a wind instrumentalist, even violinist and pianist use breath as a tool to form their interpretation of a piece. However, breathing always played a central role in a musician’s life. In her research and art, she often explores the process of breathing, a significant function of the human body as well as a vulnerability a theme that really touches the zeitgeist with humanity currently fighting a virus that attacks the lungs and limits the ability to breathe.
Cathy realized that by performing her pieces herself, she had the opportunity to directly share her creative process with the audience. So, she started to experiment with electronic sounds and installations. She wanted to hear her compositions right away, she wanted to perform them and she wanted to explore possibilities beyond traditional frameworks. Having the Classical Music background, Cathy thought very pragmatic about the process of creating sound: A composer writes down notes, which will be played by a musician.īut over time, Cathy realized that she wanted more than just being a composer waiting for her music to be played.
Growing up just behind the building, the Royal Conservatoire was an integral part of her life and so it wasn’t a big surprise that the young, bright woman decided to study Composition in The Hague. She entered the building for the first time when she was only one year old, accompanying her mother to a rehearsal.
This special guest professorship is occupied by leading innovators and researchers in the field of electronic music.Ĭathy and the Royal Conservatoire go way back. The Konrad Boehmer Visiting Professorship is an initiative of the Konrad Boehmer Foundation in collaboration with the Royal Conservatoire. For the coming academic year, Cathy will be our new Konrad Boehmer Visiting Professor at the Sonology Department. She focuses on composing relationships between everyday objects, human performers and sound. Cathy van Eck is a composer, sound artist, researcher and holds a PhD from Leiden University.
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