Research Catalogue

an international database for artistic research

• 3. Internal publication Research published in this issue are only for internal circulation within the Royal Conservatoire, The Hague.
• 2. Royal Conservatoire Investigations Royal Conservatoire Investigations
• 1. Master Research Projects All research in KC

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  Performing Music Inspired by Visual Art: Interpreting G. Silvestrini’s Six Études pour Hautbois through the Impressionist paintings that inspired them (2025) author(s): Zoë Loxley Slump published in: KC Research Portal
  This research explores the intersection of music and visual art through the lens of Gilles Silvestrini’s Six Études pour Hautbois and the Impressionist paintings that inspired them. By critically analysing existing studies, interviews, and articles, this study identifies five key techniques composers and performers may use to translate visual elements into music. These approaches not only deepen the understanding of Silvestrini’s work but also offer performers a structured framework for interpretation. This theoretical framework formed the starting point for experimentation and reflection both in the practice studio and with live audiences. This process challenges conventional classical performance practices by examining the balance between a composer’s intent and a performer’s interpretative autonomy. While Silvestrini does not explicitly prescribe a connection between the études and their corresponding paintings, this study argues that performers should embrace their own interpretative choices, enriching both the performance and the audience experience.
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  L'eco dal popolo (2025) author(s): Francesca Campo published in: KC Research Portal
  Name: Francesca Campo Main Subject: Master Classic Harp Name of Research Supervisor: Andrew Wright Title of Research: L'eco dal popolo: Exploring 19th-Century Southern Italian Musical Tradition Research Question: How can music and musical tradition in Sicily be used nowadays to present the identity of the Sicilian people through a harp concert? Summary of the Results of the Research: Sicily, a land shaped by diverse influences due to its geographical position, has a rich but often overlooked musical tradition. This research explores the role of the harp in narrating the cultural and musical identity of Southern Italy in the 19th century. Through historical analysis and experimental methods, I have revived forgotten harp works and transcribed compositions originally written for other instruments or orchestras, giving a voice to composers who expressed the emotions and struggles of their time. Structured as a journey with defined stages, the research begins with an exploration of the historical context and the "Hymn of Sicily," which lays the foundation for understanding the island's musical heritage. The route then leads to the evocative "Sicilian Vespers," highlighting the region’s strong sense of identity. The journey continues in Naples, the historical capital, where urban musical dynamics come to the forefront. In Palermo, the intricate interplay between the musical traditions of Naples and Sicily is explored, revealing the cross-cultural influences that shaped the region. Finally, Sikelia concludes the journey by showing how something new can be created from past inspirations, demonstrating how music helps express the cultural richness of this land. The results highlight how music—particularly through the harp—serves as a powerful means of preserving heritage and defining cultural identity. The research not only revives the voices of the past but also demonstrates the ongoing relevance of tradition in contemporary music, culminating in a unique composition born from the research's development and collaboration with the Composition Department of Palermo. Biography: Francesca Campo is a harpist and music researcher who blends tradition and innovation, exploring the musical roots of Sicily, her homeland. Born to Castelvetranese parents and raised in Verona, she has always navigated between Northern and Southern identities, developing a deep connection with Sicilian culture. After earning her Bachelor's degree in Harp in Italy, she continued her studies at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague. She is a harpist who blends tradition and innovation, exploring the musical roots of Sicily, her homeland. Her research focuses on 19th-century Southern Italian folk music, rediscovering forgotten composers and highlighting music as a powerful expression of identity and culture.
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  Seeing Each Other Through Music (2025) author(s): Ron Aviv published in: KC Research Portal
  Musical performance is not only an aesthetic endeavour, but also a captivating social environment. Hence, this research utilizes principles from social communication theory, mainly through Communicating (Berko et al., 2016), to explore new ways of highlighting and enhancing connections with and among music audiences. A starting point for this study is that most concerts nowadays are built in a similar style to public speaking but use some anachronistic views and inefficient communication methods, thus missing opportunities to convey a message more directly and achieve greater impact. Through literature study and practical experimentation, I will review and test the influence of different factors from interpersonal-communication style – elements that have not been documented and researched enough in this context. These include, among others, performer-audience eye contact, synchronized activity (based on entitativity studies), and vulnerability and openness. The experimental process will be limited to my own artistic practice as a classically trained pianist and free-improviser, and this focus is present in the gathered literature as well. As a qualitative study, the data analyzed is assembled from observations, feedback, and reflection. Results demonstrate how different social and communicational tools create varying levels of engagement, and how challenging the normative role of the listeners can create a more demanding experience yet with more fulfilling outcomes. A performance that really involves the audience enriches everyone, and I hope this paper can inspire new ideas for musicians and artists of any kind to explore this topic further, and to communicate better with the human environment around them.
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  𝘎𝘦𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴: The Search for Liberty in Authenticity Through Franz Liszt's Interpretation of Beethoven's music (2025) author(s): Aruth Masrangsan published in: KC Research Portal
  This work explores the balance between tradition and innovation in classical music performance, focusing on Franz Liszt's interpretation of Beethoven's music and the concept of Geist (spirit). It traces Liszt's evolution from his early studies with Carl Czerny, a direct pupil of Beethoven, through his virtuosic performance years, to his later focus on preserving Beethoven's legacy as a teacher. Drawing on sources from musicians and scholars, the study examines the philosophical and practical challenges of authenticity, highlighting the tension between historical accuracy and artistic expression. It argues that authenticity should not rigidly reproduce the past but should capture the spirit of the music in a way that resonates with contemporary audiences. Ultimately, the study advocates for a balanced approach, honoring historical sources while allowing for personal creative interpretation. By examining Liszt's legacy, this work aims to inform and inspire my own performance practices, blending historical performance studies with personal expression.
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  A teatro dai Secco Suardo (2025) author(s): Irene Luraschi published in: KC Research Portal
  In Bergamo, a small city in Northern Italy, in 1687 a new theatre was opened: the Teatro Secco Suardo, the only example of “teatro impresariale” that existed in this city. Its story is full of interest and allows us to observe a glimpse of the musical and cultural life of a provincial city in the period of Venetian domination and the resulting cultural influence. For this reason, I felt the need to narrate the story of this place in my own way, trying to combine the historical narration of facts and the discovery of music that was brought to life in our theatre. The play I wrote includes both real and fictional characters and develops following the path of historical facts but with some dramatic escamotages. The music plays two different roles, on one side accompanying the story as a sort of comment, and on the other, showing a glimpse of the "behind the scenes" of the work of the musicians. All the music is extracted and selected from the five operas that took place in the Teatro by Domenico Gabrielli, Marcantonio Ziani, Antonio Sartorio and Francesco Ballarotti, all composers of the Venetian area. The aim and the message of the play is to show the sometimes difficult attempts of people to bring cultural initiatives and spaces in smaller and provincial cities. And I hope that my play will be an example of this drive toward cultural vibrancy, with a future performance by the connection with local theatre groups.
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  Blast die wohlgegriffnen Flöten: Understanding and comparing J.S. Bach’s use of recorder and traverso (2025) author(s): Dante Jongerius published in: KC Research Portal
  As a recorder and traverso player, J.S. Bach’s works form a crucial part of my repertoire. They include some of the most technically advanced music written for the recorder, in which the instrument seems to be pushed to its limits. Meanwhile, the traverso is welcomed into the orchestra, and it has come to stay. In order to understand the many problems surrounding the recorder and traverso parts from Bach’s music, I need to know how Bach used each instrument specifically. And to be able to make the right artistic choices, I need to know why he chose the recorder for one composition, and the traverso for the other. In answering these questions, I have used my experience in playing both woodwinds to my advantage. My journey has led me through an analysis of terminology, tessitura, symbolism, clefs and pitch surrounding Bach’s flute parts. And for context, I have compared Bach’s use of the recorder and traverso with that of his contemporaries. With my research, I present an overview of the characteristic differences between the two instruments in Bach’s music, giving my own artistic view on some of the unsolved mysteries surrounding Bach and his use of flutes.
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