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Etude Feminine

One of my favourite guitar ensembles is from the Netherlands.  The Guitar Trio from Amsterdam has an unorthodox style and is extremely good. This threesome produces beautiful CD’s and their performances are just that little bit more exciting than those of a moderate guitarist.  This has become the problem with many classical guitarists because they have become boring and predictable.  A live performance consisted of introversion and everything that was beyond the instrument, was restricted.  Very restricted. 

 

However, this does not apply to Edith Leerkes.  She used to be part of the Guitar Trio of Amsterdam but, 10 years ago, she made a seemingly surprising move to join the musicians of Herman van Veen. A daring step from classical music to the theatre and cabaret. I did not loose sight of her because I find that almost everything that Herman van Veen does, is different and exclusive.  But, I did not really follow her career and the classical guitar much after that.

 

Until last week.  Edith Leerkes presented her first solo CD, Etude Feminine (Gruppo Music GM 27001) through which she not only showed how one can join classic and cabaret, but also how you can keep a guitar recital exceptionally entertaining and inspiring.

 

The result?  My hands itched and are still itching. Also with this, Edith Leerkes was obliging in that the CD with twelve of her own compositions, and where one can sense the spirit of Herman van Veen, does not only consist of the sounds, but also a CD with the written music which one can play.

 

I started with this immediately.  I am enjoying it tremendously and I  have already made a wish list with more classic guitar music on it. 

 

But just between us:  if you want to know how a real guitarist sounds, please buy the CD.

 

Paul Janssen

 

Heaven

 

Edith Leerkes

Etude Feminine

Gruppo Music

 

International class on own soil

 

Since human memory, guitarist Edith Leerkes has been the accompanist of Herman van Veen.  However, this time the roles are reversed as Van Veen takes a side step as producer.  It results in a  compilation of twelve extraordinary instrumental songs creating a colourful sound palette for Edith’s unprecedented technical command of the guitar. 

 

For 25 years she has performed on the stage in various ensembles (such as the Guitar Trio Amsterdam) and this experience pays off in a secure but also subtle performance, assisted by Jasper leClercq (violin, viola), Emile Visser (cello), Elisa Heymerickx (banjo) and Lu Ludji (xylophone). 

 

Edith Leerkes mixes the classical influences ingeniously with traditional music and with that reveals that she, not only as guitarist but also as composer, belongs to the best internationally.

 

A CD-rom with the written notes of the songs is included and allows the music lover to make an attempt themselves.  In order to prevent frustration I advise them to take at least 25 years for this

 

Koos Gijsman

 

 

Edith Leerkes in  ‘Happy moments in the Oude Slot’

 

Heemstede:  She plays the guitar with the same passion which you experience with the guitar masters such as Django Reinhardt and the Rosenberg Trio. On Sunday evening at the concert, which was sold out, a slight gypsy style could be recognised in ‘Etude Feminine’. It was her first solo concert and the program alternated between spoken and sung texts. With  homage to a wonderful man, son, daughter, friend or related stories, whereby she wondered how history would have enfolded if she were a man. Stories about Chopin who never wrote a piece of music for guitar, but how she managed to find a piece for the guitar in a cunning way. How the financial crisis, which entered its 131st day on Sunday, would have been if Edith experienced it, treated it and judged it as a man. Delightful speculations alternated with guitar music from the classical music tradition.  Including mid-European, Jewish and Gypsy sounds which made her Etudes Feminine so diverse.

She has been playing guitar since her 11th year, studied at the Conservatorium in Twente,  thereafter in Spain, was part of the Guitar Trio of Amsterdam for years where she made many classical records.  In 1998 she joined Herman van Veen.  During a masters class, a student once asked her whether it wasn’t  a wonderful change over from one famous trio to accompanying Herman van Veen.  She answered:  ‘The beauty of it is, that not only am I is guitarist, but he is also my singer.’ 

Besides singer, Van Veen is also her producer.   Herman was also amongst the enthusiastic crowd on Sunday evening, relaxing and enjoying the music and texts through which moments of happiness filled the hall.

It was a great evening arranged by Iris Haeck, maker of programs for Friends of the Podium Oude Slot.  Years ago she heard Edith playing on the radio and knew then that she wanted Edith Leerkes in one of her programs. 

Ton van den Brink

 

Colorful

 

 

Guitarist, Edith Leerkes, a member of the World famous Guitar Trio from Amsterdam, made her first CD’s.  With the launching of her CD, Etude Feminine, she has taken the first important step towards a solo career.

 

It consists of twelve of her own compositions in a pleasant style and, with the variation in the tempo, it gives a sense of Gypsy music. By adding other instruments (violin, viola, cello, banjo, xylophone) but also through her skilful playing, she creates beautiful musical colours.  It varies between passionate and static sounds to express different emotions. 

 

Every song has its own story, and this is printed in the booklet accompanying the CD.  What a splendid gesture to also print the musical notes of all the songs on a CD-rom.  (PWL)

 

Edith Leerkes, Etude Feminine, GM 27001/Harmonia Mundi