Andriessen drew inspiration from minimal music when composing De Staat, but applied minimalism in his utterly unique way. Bettison has written his piece for the same ensemble as De Staat. He sees his work as a ‘nocturnal wonderland’. A group of pianos, harps, and guitars are positioned centre stage, with some musicians changing positions. The singers incite the brass players and invoke the night.

Extra: the state of De Staat

Louis Andriessen wrote De Staat as a reflection on the 
relationship between music and politics. As a result, 
Asko|Schönberg, Gaudeamus, Musica Festival (Strasbourg), 
Ensemble Klang and Muziekgebouw aan’t IJ invited 
seventeen very diverse and surprising European composers 
and artists to make their personal reflection on this 
theme. In Utrecht (Gaudeamus Festival), Amsterdam and 
Strasbourg the works (installations, graphic scores,
videos) are shown to the public and the musical works 
performed by Asko|Schönberg.
Participating composers and artists:

Pelumi Adejumo writer, lucid dreamer, singer
Zeno van den Broek composer, artist
Thanasis Deligiannis transdisciplinary artist, director, composer
Cathy van Eck composer, performer, sound artist
Joy Guidry bassoonist, improvisator, performance artist, composer
Valérian Guillaume actor, scenographer, writer
Ted Hearne composer, performer, conductor, band leader
Janne Kosmos composer, versatile artist
Dmitri Kourliandski composer
Johannes Kreidler composer, performer, conceptual media artist
Moor Mother poet, musician, activist
Genevieve Murphy composer, performer
Keir Neuringer saxophonist, composer
Stephanie Pan voice artist, composer, interdisciplinary maker, performer
François Sarhan composer, installation artist, writer
Maya Verlaak composer, performer
Jennifer Walshe composer, librettist
With the support of the Performing Arts Fund NL.