About Us :

The poetic term "GoYa," rooted in Urdu, encapsulates the suspension of disbelief that occurs through captivating storytelling : GoYa is a realm of fantasy, a gateway to dream worlds, where sounds seamlessly transform into narratives. For us musicians, each piece we interpret is a unique story in itself, and GoYa is that fleeting instance when time momentarily ceases to exist, when we take the listener's hand, guiding them into the unfurling of the musical narrative.

We are the GoYa Quartet, an international quartet based in Amsterdam and Brussels. After years of dedicated collaboration, refining our sound and quartet identity, we are thrilled to announce our debut CD, to be recorded on the 18th-20th May 2024. For more information about us, visit our website.

Beyond our professional endeavors, we are primarily four individuals embracing the richness & complexities of today's society, with all its challenges. Through our music, we strive to convey messages of peace, respect, and humanity. Witnessing the beautiful world we live in deteriorate on such a large scale deeply saddens us, and at times, we feel powerless and ineffective because the structure of a traditional concert rarely allows for raising awareness in the face of this climate emergency. That is why we would like to organize a concert where these essential matters find a space for expression, where various art forms converge converge to pay homage to Life in all its forms.

Join us in creating a space for change, where art speaks for a world in need ! Donate now !

Our Project :

This project aims to give Nature a voice through music, visual art & poetry, fostering awareness of environmental distress, advocating for gender equality by playing a piece by a female composer, and supporting rising talents by providing an opportunity for a young Dutch painter to be discovered by the audience.

For the recording of our first CD, we've selected pieces by Claude Debussy, Edward Grieg, Toru Takemitsu, and Imogen Holst (daughter of Gustav Holst), each evoking a strong connection to the natural elements and humanity's relationship with nature.

We aim to elevate our recording beyond the conventional studio by capturing the vibrant essence of shared music-making. The foundation will be a live concert at Waalse Kerk in Amsterdam on May 18th. This event goes beyond music, inviting the audience on a multi-sensory journey through musical and visual landscapes : enhancing the experience, we'll feature an exhibition of paintings by talented artist Rosa Meertens on the concert day (see her biography below).

Sounds, Visual art, and... Language. As a third component, the poetry and power of words will also be present.
Author and nature guide Ruben Jacobs will enhance the event with the music of his own words : a journey to nurture awareness, share insights, and pose poetic & philosophical questions — all crafted to weave a tapestry of contemplation, cultivating consciousness.

The detailed program of our recording includes :

- Imogen Holst's “Phantasy quartet”
- Edward Grieg's 1st quartet in G minor
-“Automn leaves”, Joseph Kosma/Toru Takemitsu
- Claude Debussy's quartet in G minor

The theme of our program is "the elements in music": Debussy, Grieg, Takemitsu, and Imogen Holst all use nature as a source of inspiration in their respective string quartets, allowing the four elements to be palpable and audible in their music.

Debussy might have had Grieg's quartet in mind as a model for his own quartet: both in G minor with similar structures but different styles - one with impressionistic colors, the other with Norwegian landscapes, Scandinavian melancholy, and folk dances.

We also aim to introduce the audience to Imogen Holst's enchanting "Phantasy Quartet," immersing us in an English pastoral atmosphere. Imogen Holst (1907-1984) was a British composer, conductor, and educator. Known for her neoclassical-folk compositions like "The Wandering Scholar" and "Mass in A minor," she also arranged folk music. She played a key role in music education, serving as the artistic director of the Aldeburgh Festival and contributing significantly to 20th-century British music.

Takemitsu's "Autumn Leaves" reflects the changing seasons, particularly the melancholy beauty of autumn. The composition captures the essence of falling leaves, cool breezes, and the introspective mood associated with the season. Takemitsu often drew inspiration from nature, and "Autumn Leaves" is a prime example of his ability to translate the subtleties of the natural world into music.

Originally, "Autumn Leaves" is a jazz standard written by Joseph Kosma with lyrics by Johnny Mercer in 1945. Toru Takemitsu later composed his version of "Autumn Leaves" in 1956 for the soundtrack of the Japanese film "Kohayagawa-ke no aki" ("The End of Summer"), directed by Yasujirō Ozu.

All these composers create sonic landscapes mirroring the reflective nuances of the seasons. Listeners find themselves transported to a contemplative realm, enveloped by the transient beauty of musical landscapes, further enhanced by Rosa's paintings and stirred by the fleeting melody of Ruben's words. Amidst the resonances of those various artistic languages, the audience is drawn into profound contact with the depths of their souls.

About Rosa Meertens :

Rosa Meertens (2000) is a student at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie, where she primarily engages in painting. In her work, she explores themes such as transience, fleeting moments, existence and non-existence, and memories. In her free time, she frequently attends concerts, with music being her greatest source of inspiration.

About Ruben Jacobs :

Ruben Jacobs (1984) is a writer, lecturer at the Utrecht School of the Arts, and currently undergoing training as a nature guide. His work primarily focuses on the relationship between humans and nature. Previously, he worked as a journalist for VPRO, NTR, and Brainwash, and has authored several books, including 'Iedereen een kunstenaar’ ('Everyone an Artist', 2014), ‘Artonauten’ ('Artonauts', 2018), and 'De eeuw van Felix' (‘The Century of Felix', Thomas Rap, 2022). Currently, he is working on a book about a historical kitchen garden in the woods of Gooi, which presently serves as a therapeutic garden (scheduled for release in early 2025 by Thomas Rap publishers).

Practical information :

We plan to record in collaboration with the label Gutman Records and sound engineer Guido Tichelman. The recording is scheduled for May 18th-20th 2024, at Waalse Kerk in Amsterdam, with a live concert on May 18th at 16:00.

Not only do we want to produce it in the form of CDs, but we also want to create a limited number of Vinyl (LP) editions, attesting to the growing enthusiasm for this nostalgic way of savouring music.

A professional camera crew will ensure high-quality video recordings that we'll use for platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. These recordings are crucial for promoting our upcoming CD, where a well-produced video holds significant importance.

While the total costs for such a project exceed this campaign's goal, the funds raised here will specifically contribute to :

• sound engineer/recording
• video recording of the concert
• production of CDs & a limited number of VINYL (LP) exemplars
• graphic design for concert advertising
• guest artist's fee (Rosa Meertens & Ruben Jacobs)
• renting painting easels for the exhibition

Why choose Crowdfunding

We've chosen to partially fund our project through voordekunst crowdfunding because establishing a connection with an audience and nurturing that relationship holds immense significance for us. We believe that art thrives on this interaction between the artist and the audience. In today's era of social media and playlists, what we find lacking is a deeper level of engagement. This platform provides an opportunity for us to connect with individuals interested in supporting our album, all while raising the necessary funds to bring this project to life.

We are truly grateful for any support, your contribution is deeply valued and appreciated !

And of course another very good way to support our project is to come to our concert on Saturday 18th of May at 16:00 in the Waalse Kerk, and bring many friends/beloved ones with you ! This is the link the the Waalse Kerk's website, to get your tickets.
We would be so pleased to see some of you there !

You can also follow us on our instagram and facebook pages to be updated about the development of our project.
Please share this Crowdfunding campaign widely to your own social circle, this makes a big difference !

More about the artists :