Tomma

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photo © Denis Brissinck

There is no well-researched description of the recorder as an instrument for contemporary music that composers can use when writing for the instrument. This led Tomma Wessel to write such a descriptive study of the recorder. She has thoroughly investigated the instrument and its sound parameters and has studied both traditional and extended techniques, taking into account the differences that result from the huge number of recorder types and sizes.

Tomma Wessel has years of experience with performing contemporary recorder music and this has constantly influenced her research. It has helped her make inevitable choices both with regard  to the selection of the material and the way in which it will be presented.

As part of the research project, pieces for different combinations of instruments have been commissioned from composers representing varying styles. Tomma Wessel’s research benefits from frequent discussions with these composers about artistic as well as practical problems.

Tomma Wessel studies at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Leiden (NL) and at the Orpheus Institute in Ghent (B). Her PhD adviser is Prof. Gerd Lünenbürger (Universität der Künste Berlin), PhD supervisor is Prof. Frans De Ruiter (Universiteit Leiden).