Imagine the contemporary classical composition ‘Why Patterns?’ by Morton Feldman as a self-contained world, subject to specific laws and recurring patterns like other planets. It would have its own unique atmosphere, rotating on its axis and orbiting a star.
Imagine if we could analyse a recording of ‘Why Patterns?’ using the same mathematical algorithms employed to study exoplanets, and we were able to discover and analyse unique patterns. What if, based on these recurring patterns, we could attribute unique surface characteristics to the world of ‘Why Patterns?’, allowing us to shape this world and represent its evolution over time in an abstract visual narrative? What if this method also enabled us to interact with other so-called celestial bodies within the Feldman universe, such as the new compositions by Jean-Luc Fafchamps and David Fennessy?
Het Collectief – Chamber Music Quintet asked composers David Fennessy (IRL) and Jean-Luc Fafchamps (B), both of whom have a strong affinity with Feldman’s work, to compose new works for the same unique ensemble. I was asked to develop a visual counterpart for these three compositions.
In this project, Professor Leen Decin, an astrophysicist at the Institute of Astronomy at KU Leuven, and her team play a key role. Her research on exoplanets, which uses mathematical algorithms, offers an innovative approach to analyse the recording of Feldman’s ‘Why Patterns?’ in a similar way. By examining patterns in the music as one would with exoplanets, her contribution provides new insights that help shape the visual representation of the composition. This scientific perspective enriches the artistic interpretation, making the potential patterns in Feldman’s work visible to the audience.
The performance consists of the following works:
Why Patterns? (1978) Morton FELDMAN (1926-1987)
New work by (2026) David FENNESSY
For Morton Feldman (2025) Jean-Luc FAFCHAMPS
Why Patterns? (2026) Klaas VERPOEST
Performed by Het Collectief
Toon Fret, flute
Thomas Dieltjens, piano
Tom De Cock, percussion
Klaas Verpoest, video performance
In collaboration with
Prof. Leen Decin, Institute of Astronomy KUL
Mediated Environments Reserach Cluster, LUCA School of Arts
March 2026: Première Belgium – Kortrijk Festival, Kortrijk (B)
April 2026: Première Ireland – New Music Festival, Dublin (IRL)
27.05.2026: TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht (NL)
Het Collectief in coproduction with Kortrijk Festival (B), New Music Festival Dublin (IRL) and TivoliVredenburg Utrecht (NL)