Ave Maria by J.S. Bach and C. Gounod, played on both piano and chromatic harmonica simultaneously by Hein Zegers.
‘Simple Gifts’ on recorders
‘Simple Gifts’ on triple/double/solo recorder. A celebration of simplicity and simplifying. Melody written by Joseph Brackett (1797-1882), adapted for recorder(s) and performed by Hein Zegers. No instruments were harmed in the making of this clip. đ
'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free, 'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be, And when we find ourselves in the place just right, 'Twill be in the valley of love and Delight. When true simplicity is gain'd, To bow and to bend we will not be asham'd, To turn, turn will be our delight, Till by turning, turning we come round right.
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring on double recorder
J.S. Bach BWV 147 ‘Jesus bleibet meine Freude’ (‘Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring’) interpreted on double recorder by Hein Zegers.
Telemann Recorder Duet TWV 40:101 in H.H. Heverlee
Part I. Soave from Telemann Sonata TWV 40:101 in Bb Major on baroque recorder. Explicitly written for these two simple instruments without basso continuo. Performed in the Heilig Hart Chapel in Heverlee (Leuven, Flanders / Belgium) by Hein Zegers & Krista De Mey.
Bach Prelude BWV 999 in KADOC chapel
J.S. Bachâs Prelude BWV 999 on baroque alto recorder (A=415). With the sun almost magically breaking through the clouds when the musical tension dissolves at the end. An excellent (and extremely challenging!) etude in using the recorderâs entire span of almost 3 octaves. Arranged and performed by Hein Zegers.
Originally an etude written for âLautenwerckâ, an enigmatic instrument that is often characterized by having 3 octaves and extra soft bass notes (gut strings).
Performed in KULeuven Universityâs KADOC Chapel (Documentation and Research Center on Religion Culture and Society). This venue has brilliant acoustics for pseudo-polyphonic pieces such as this one. Pseudo-polyphony is a techique in which the recorder excels thanks to its extremely transparent and direct articulation.
Double Flute Performance in Leuven University Parish Church
Marial Hymn ‘Es ist ein Ros entsprungen’ (first printed in 1599) on double recorder / double flute modeled after the Flemish instrument maker Joannes Hyacinth Rottenburgh (1672-1765). Played by Hein Zegers in the church of the Leuven Beguinage (a tiny houses complex for Beguines, lay religious women who lived in simple communities without taking vows or retiring from the world). The Leuven Beguinage church has excellent acoustics for this instrument. Hymn also known as ‘Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming’, ‘A spotless Rose’, ‘Er is een roos ontsprongen’, ‘Er is een roos ontloken’, ‘Una rosa ha brotado’, ‘Dans une Ă©table obscure’, ‘Det Ă€r en ros utsprungen’, …
Playing in Merlin’s Cave at Tinagel Castle (Cornwall)
Performance in ‘Merlin’s Cave’ at Tintagel Castle in Cornwall, where mythical King Arthur is said to be born. Brilliant acoustics – when the tide is low, that is. When the tide is high, this cave is entirely filled with water. Cheers to Julian Goodacre for introducing me to the Cornish Double Pipes tradition and some of its tunes that can be played on double recorder!
Playing with String Ensemble Rosamunde
String Ensemble Rosamunde, conducted by Peter Pazmany, invited Hein Zegers to play together with them as a soloist on recorder. What a joy to play alongside such passionate musicians! Here are a few impressions (photography by Paul Rogier):
Playing on top of Table Mountain, Cape Town, South Africa.
A musician has got to do what a musician has got to do. Playing on top of iconic Table Mountain in Cape Town.
Playing in Kazachstan
Playing with the Beatles in the very culturally diverse city of Almaty, Kazachstan.
Playing at Thoreau’s Hut at Walden Pond
This is where H.D. Thoreau lived for more than two years in the middle of the woods near Walden Pond. This is where he liked to play his flute. This is also where he got his inspiration for the literary masterpiece ‘Walden’, one of the most influential texts within the Voluntary Simplicity movement.
Bach ‘Air’ on double flute
J.S. Bach: ‘Air on the G string’ on double flute / double recorder by Hein Zegers. Using two alto recorders modeled after Joannes Hyacinth Rottenburgh (1672-1765) as echo flutes. Played in Autobahnkirche Medenbach, where long-distance travelers come and go, day and night, and could do so at any time during this performance.
We wish you a merry Christmas and much more (on double flute)
Bluesy version of ‘We wish you a merry Christmas’ on double recorder / double flute. From classic to swing to crazy. On 2 alto recorders refined with natural beeswax, according to an ancient ‘tibiae pares’ / echo flute tradition. By Hein Zegers.
Performing on the Charles Bridge in Prague
Last time I visited Prague, I was still a teenager. I hitchhiked around Europe back then, playing street music and searching for the meaning of life. Now, almost 30 years later, I’m doing almost the same, still not much wiser, but having a great time… Here, I’m Playing Smetana’s “Moldau” on the Charles Bridge. Meanwhile, the Moldau River quietly runs underneath.
Solo recorder improv on top of Mount Dobongsang, South-Korea
Playing for the birds. And for one passing friendly monk from a nearby monastery. Early morning, after hiking up to the top of Mount Dobongsan (South-Korea).
Playing ‘Alle Menschen werden BrĂŒder’ in Amman (Jordan)
Playing ‘Alle Menschen werden BrĂŒder’ on two recorders. In Amman (Jordan), also formerly known as ‘Philadelphia’, the ‘city of brotherly love’. On top of its most famous landmark: the Amman Citadel (Jabal al-Qal’a).
Ah vous dirai-je maman / Twinkle Twinkle Little Star on double flute
Pastoral folk song “Ah! Vous dirai-je, Maman”. Mozart- & “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”-variations for double flute (an instrumental practice popular amongst early shepherds).
Performance at the Venice Arts Biennale
Playing Vivaldi on Piazza San Marco during the Venice Arts Biennale
Performance in the worldâs deepest subway station – Kiev, Ukraine
Performance in the worldâs deepest subway station with excellent acoustics for quasi-polyphony. Arsenalna Subway Station, Kiev, Ukraine.
Performing in Nanjing (China)
Playing simple tunes alongside Xuanwu Lake (çæŠæč) in Nanjing (ćäșŹ), China.
HĂ€ndel “Barry Lyndon” Sarabande HWV 437
G.F. HĂ€ndel Sarabande (from the Keyboard Suite D min) HWV 437, first published 1733. Well-known from the Stanley Kubrick Movie “Barry Lyndon”. Variations for double flute (recorder) by Hein Zegers. Using two alto recorders modeled after Joannes Hyacinth Rottenburgh (1672-1765) as echo flutes.
Jingle Bells Swing on double flute
Jingle Bells Holiday Song. Swing version for 2 recorders, simultaneous with some live voice and tongue percussion effects, by Hein Zegers (2014). Original by J. Pierpont (1857).
Chopin Tristesse on solo recorder (Ătude Op. 10, No. 3)
The most beautiful melody ever written by FrĂ©dĂ©ric Chopin (according to himself): Ătude Op. 10, No. 3 (“Tristesse”), 1832. Arrangement for alto recorder solo (2013) by Hein Zegers. Using the old technique of quasi-polyphony. The recorder is one of the best instruments to play quasi-polyphony, thanks to its very direct articulation.
Te Deum – Charpentier (Eurovision Theme) on double flute
Eurovision Theme Music “Te Deum” by Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1643-1704). Arrangement for double recorder by Hein Zegers. Instruments:Â two alto recorders modeled after Joannes Hyacinth Rottenburgh (1672-1765), prepared and used here as echo flutes.
Ode an die Freude / Ode to Joy on double recorder
Ode to Joy (“all people become brothers”), in up to 3 voices on 2 recorders simultaneously.
Rossini William Tell on double recorder
William Tell Overture, a.k.a. The Lone Ranger Theme Song. By Gioachino Rossini (1829). Adaptation for double recorder by Hein Zegers.
Eine kleine Nachtmusik on double recorder
Mozart’s “Eine kleine Nachtmusik” on 2 recorders, using ancient double flute techniques. Arrangement by Hein Zegers of the introductory theme of Mozart’s serenade nr. 13 K. 525.
Playing in front of Red Square / Kremlin (Moscow)
Playing in front of Red Square / Kremlin (Moscow). After playing on so many significant places all around the world, I just had to go and play here as well.
John Cage’s 4’33” on solo recorder
John Cage’s famous 4’33” piece on solo recorder. 3 Parts: I Tacet (on soprano recorder), II Tacet (on alto recorder), III Tacet (on soprano recorder). Performed in a public stairway with excellent acoustics for this instrument. Pedestrians may appear at any moment.
Love Me Tender on solo recorder
Solo recorder improvisation on “Love me Tender”. Playing up to 3 voices simultaneously (quasi-polyphony) in 3 variations by Hein Zegers. Song originally known as “Aura Lee” (1861), written by W.W. Fosdick & G.R. Poulton.
The Lion Sleeps Tonight on recorder
Recorder, recorder & some beatboxing, 2 recorders simultaneously. “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”-variations for solo recorder by Hein Zegers and some wild birds in the background.
Adagio Albinoni on solo recorder
Adagio in G minor by “Albinoni” (Giazotto) on solo recorder (simultaneously playing melody and bass line). Arrangement and performance by Hein Zegers.
Pastoral Concerto for recorder and string orchestra
Pastoral Concerto for recorder and string orchestra (composed by Jan van Landeghem), solo part performed by Hein Zegers in Brussels, Belgium.