Canto Ostinato

Starting early 2025, Tailcoat is interpreting Simeon ten Holt’s Canto Ostinato. We have completed two focused work periods, the second in collaboration with composer and pianist Nik Bärtsch. Throughout 2026 we continue analyzing and interpreting the piece and will present our first concert performance.

Composed in 1976, Canto Ostinato is a seminal piece in minimal music, built from repeating cells that allow performers to shape form and duration in real time. Its open structure and meditative character make it both a collective and deeply personal work — qualities that resonate strongly with Tailcoat’s approach to ensemble performance.