Elements

Item details

• Description +

  • Elements consists of four movements, each inspired by one of the classical elements—earth, water, fire, and air.
    
    The movement for earth symbolizes the continuously shifting movement of tectonic plates, represented in the music through overlapping rhythmic layers. The main pattern consists of fourteen measures and includes frequent changes in time signature, reflecting the unpredictability and immense force of geological motion.
    
    The movement for water begins with deep, ocean-like sonorities. It incorporates resonances and timbres inspired by whale sounds as well as melodic calls of dolphins. Gradually, a gentle rain emerges and intensifies, suggesting a slow ascent toward the ocean’s surface, where the rain becomes audible “above” the water. The movement concludes in calmness, accompanied by the soft sound of waves. A distinctive feature is the use of poetic phrases translated into Morse code and distributed among different instruments. The following phrases are encoded: graveyard of plastic, waterless abyss, eternal ashes, silent suffering, Poseidon’s wasteland. The movement ends with the final sentence: “The sea is man’s only hope.” In this sense, it can be understood as a lament for the ocean.
    
    The movement for fire captures an explosive, highly dynamic energy. Through metallic timbres, extreme dynamic shifts, and irregular rhythmic structures, it creates an atmosphere evoking constant fiery motion and vivid color. It also references the visual diversity of fireworks by exploring the broad sonic possibilities of percussion instruments.
    
    The depiction of air takes place on a choreographic level. This movement focuses on the gestures performers make in the air before sound production. Intensity, tempo, and dynamics continuously evolve, building toward a climax in which movement and sound merge into a single flowing continuity.
    
    In 2025, I released an EP titled Elements on diverse streaming platforms, featuring recordings of all four movements. These recordings may serve as a reference and provide interpretative inspiration for performers.
    
    Daan Wilms

• Instrumentation +

  • Required Instruments
    
    Player 1
    Bass Drum
    Tomtom (ca. 16")
    Conga Bongos
    Hi-Hat
    China Cymbal
    Ocean Drum (or old timpani head with small metal balls)
    
    Player 2
    Bass Drum
    Tomtom (ca. 16")
    Conga
    Bongos
    Timpani
    Crash Cymbal (optional extra cowbell)
    Old timpani bass drum head
    Splash Cymbal
    Tambourine
    Can filled with small stones
    Music Table
    Crash Cymbal
    Crotales
    
    Player 3
    Bass Drum
    Tomtom (ca. 16")
    Conga
    Bongos
    Sizzle Cymbal
    Tam-tam (medium–large)
    Ocean Drum (or old timpani head with small metal balls)

• Watch+

• About the composer +

  • After completing his Bachelor’s degree at the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp, he pursued Master’s degrees in classical and contemporary percussion at the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich under Prof. Raymond Curfs. In 2024, he became the first student in Germany to successfully complete the newly established postgraduate program “Excellence in Performance.”
    
    Daan’s artistic achievements includes numerous international awards, including First Prize at the Nürnberg Percussion Competition 2022, First Prize at the Belfius Music Competition, and the Kulturkreis-Wettbewerb Gasteig 2023. He has performed internationally and appeared at renowned festivals such as the Salzburger Festspiele, the Biennale di Venezia, Musikwoche Hitzacker, and the Münchener Biennale.
    
    Driven by his passion for contemporary music and innovative performance practices, he has collaborated closely with renowned composers such as Steve Reich, Krzysztof Penderecki, Helmut Lachenmann, Jörg Widmann, and Samir Odeh-Tamimi. These collaborations inspired him to develop his own performance series exploring the intersection of music, theater, and visual art. In 2025, he released three EPs featuring his own ensemble works.
    
    As an orchestral musician, Daan regularly performs with leading ensembles, including the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Munich Philharmonic, the Munich Chamber Orchestra, and the Bavarian State Opera.

• Credits +

  • Front Cover graphics and layout: Nicola Lee
    Photo: Carl Vandervoort
    Printed in Copenhagen, Denmark
    Copyright © Edition SVITZER
    www.editionsvitzer.com
    With support from Koda’s Cultural Funds

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Elements (PDF)