The Inquisitive Musician, Stedelijk Museum

The Inquisitive Musician, The Stedelijk Museum and Holland Festival, June 22-23, 2013
Curated by Hendrik Folkerts

During the Holland Festival the Stedelijk Museum will be alive with a battle between ‘beer fiddlers’ and ‘art pipers’. The American artist Cindy Bernard collaborating with New York / New Zealand musician David Watson adapted composer Johann Kuhnau’s 17th century German satire Musicus Curiosus for a 21st century audience, centering on the perennial struggle between the academically trained artist and those who play by ear. The issue at hand? Who is the better musician – the state sponsored ‘Kunstpfeifer’ or the improvising ‘Beerfiddler,’ performing in taverns? It’s a ongoing confrontation between two cultures which finds a merry continuation with this performance featuring live music, spoken word and video at the Stedelijk.

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