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COMPOSER IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Composer in the Spotlight
by Michel Khalifa, february 2009
‘Mayke Nas poses questions, many, many questions. When she had to write a piece about the future of concert practice, she sent a list with dozens, or possibly hundreds of questions.' (...)

In love with sounds
by Joke Dame, september 2008
‘The moment you are in a hall and you are profoundly moved is often inexplicable. It has to do with high quality or an ingenious invention. On such a moment you feel: this is it, this is why we, all of us, are making music.' (...)

Perhaps I am an occasional composer
by Anthony Fiumara, november 2006
The other day I had to give a talk
about my work, about what I am
doing as a composer. I suddenly
realised:  maybe I am an occasio-
nal composer. I do not mean (...)

Keeping one's promise
by Makis Solomos, july 2004
In listening to your music and
talking with you, I have the im-
pression I understand the diffe-
rent facets of your mental and
musical world, yet their (...)


10 reasons to compose
by Thea Derks, july 2003
Only this june she graduated at
the Royal Conservatory of The
Hague. Even so, Mayke Nas al-
ready composed for the tele-
visonprogram 'Reiziger in (...)

Music Center The Netherlands, february 2009
By Michel Khalifa

Mayke Nas poses questions, many, many questions. When she had to write a piece about the future of concert practice, she sent a list with dozens, or possibly hundreds of questions. Also in her compositions the questions are equally important as the answers. Every new work has an unique point of departure that many a time evokes surprise. Not so long ago, in Douze mains she placed all six members of Ensemble Continuum around an open grand piano and let them pluck, bow, rub and bang on the strings. Do we see the influence of John Cage or Fluxus in this slightly absurdist tableau? Mayke Nas does not consider herself part of any school or movement. She takes composing very seriously, but is always searching for lightness.

On stage her music may sound carefree, but during the composition process Mayke Nas is in a constant struggle with herself. Following the initial inspiration, she invents all kind of diagrams and dream structures only to let them go as soon as she stumbles across unexpected ideas. Because she wants to surprise not only the audience, but also herself. What is always apparent is her playing with the tonal feeling of the listener, as well as her predilection for unusual sounds and lively, often swinging rhythms.

3 characteristic statements by Mayke:
It is almost ready...
Sorry I am so late.
Mmm... nice!

Mayke’s interests:
Playing for time, trying things out, mouth-watering, searching, getting lost, listening without knowing what you are listening to.

Mayke’s heroes and inspiration:
Stravinsky’s orchestration, Bartók’s whirls, Bauckholt’s sounds, Kagel’s theatricalism, Webern’s perfectionism, the Beatles’ catchiness, Kourliandski & Neuwirth’s here and now.