People

Slagwerk Den Haag is – since its founding in 1977 – fascinated by everything concerned with sound, pulse and materials that produce sound. The percussionists are highly versatile podium artists and (co-)creators that aim to amaze and enrich time in every setting imaginable. Both on the traditional arsenal of percussion instruments, as well as on amplified donkey jaws, solar panels or digital muscle sensors.

Slagwerk Den Haag performs over 150 concerts/performances per year – reaching an audience of more than 55.000 in 2019 – and is one of the most active percussion groups in the field of contemporary classical music in Europe. The percussion ensemble has worked with composers like Steve Reich, Michael Gordon, Guo Wenjing and Yannis Kyriakides and performes in venues like the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Konzerthaus Dortmund and Teatro Colon/Buenos Aires for the South American premiere of Xenakis’ Pleïades. Besides concerts Slagwerk Den Haag specializes in music-theatre/dance productions and is active in the field of education and participation.

The playing field is extensive; from Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ (Amsterdam) to underground clubs, from Holland Festival to the slums of Cairo to the Oerol open air theatre festival. Some 30% of SDH’s concerts are performed outside The Netherlands; from venues all over Europe, to venues in China, Japan, Israel, Indonesia, USA and Uruguay.

For an impression of our repertoire and sound-approach visit our (COVID 19-) project Loading Dock Sessions on our site or YouTube-channel.