Minimal Music Festival 2026 - SOVT (Sarah Hennies) at Muziekgebouw aan t' IJ, Amsterdam

As part of the Minimal Music Festival 2026, Sarah Hennies’ composition "SOVT" will be performed at Amsterdam's Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ. This innovative piece for solo prepared piano utilizes poster putty to mute nearly all the strings, creating a soundscape that blurs the lines between piano and percussion. The title, SOVT, stands for Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract, referencing a vocal exercise often used in voice feminization training, which Hennies encountered during her explorations of voice and identity. The result is a 55-minute exploration of sympathetic vibrations, resonating through the instrument in a way that evokes the sensations of singing through a straw.

Richi Valitutto, a skilled pianist with a background in chamber music and vocal accompaniment, will tackle this intricate work. As a founding member of the ensemble Wild Up and a Julius Eastman scholar, Valitutto approaches the material with a refined sensitivity, ensuring that the emotional weight of Hennies’ composition is communicated effectively. His performance promises to deliver a unique blend of minimalist aesthetics and personal expression, resonating deeply within Amsterdam's vibrant electronic music scene.