Work: Canto Ostinato

Dutch composer Simeon ten Holt passed away last November, and groups all over have been honoring his memory by performing what is perhaps his most well known composition, Canto Ostinato.

Simeon ten Holt’s Canto Ostinato is an extraordinary piece of music. It leaves a lot of room for interpretation – the musicians decide what sections they play, and how long they spend playing each section. The sections contain repeat signs, but the musicians decide how often to repeat. As such, every performance is different and you never know exactly what to expect.