NEWS
The petrolsong is travelling the world...
where has it arrived?
The petrolsong (aka The Great Out There) and its pop video have been travelling the world and have since arrived in big places like Montreal, Buenos Aires, Thessaloniki and Paris; in smaller places like Cruden Bay, Huntingdon Valley and Unterbiberg; and it has definitely been heard in parts of Edinburg such as Portobello, Leith Walk and the Stockbridge Colonies. Let me know if you have spotted it elsewhere... No city is too big, no village too small for this van to travel through with its rockin tales...
[the van rocks along - photo: Holzmann]
Where has the petrolsong been heard so far?
watch the petrol song video on youtube
Edinburgh University Sinfonietta
Concert at the Reid Hall
On 23 February 2010 eight composers from the University of Edinburgh Postgraduate Department of Composition had Variations to a theme performed. They had been commissioned by the Edinburgh University Sinfonietta Orchestra and the theme was 'He stole my tender heart away' by Dezede. The whole evening was dedicated to French composers around the turn of the century and was incredibly well performed by this youthful orchestra. Vroni's variation was titled 'He danced on my heart'.
[The Composers - photo: Margaret Bruce]
Sending the petrol song
around the world
The petrolsong (aka The Great Out There) has been digitally released for the first time on December 31st 2009. A pop video was shot just before the release and is now available to watch on youtube. The video involved lots of people getting into the van on a trip to the little town of Rock...
Sadly the strains of the video shoot caused the already ageing Rock Van to pass away to wheely heaven - May You Rust In Peace...
[The Great Out There - photo: Holzmann]
watch the petrol song video on youtube
watch the petrol song video in full quality
Double Take
at the Pregnancy and Parents Centre
Mothers and their toddlers and babies took part in a project aimed to support those who struggle in any way when bringing up children. The project was taking place just before Christmas at the Pregnancy and Parents Centre. It has been organised by Vroni since 2006 and an on-line exhibition with photographs and statements will follow shorty.
[Fudge and Iamba - photo: Holzmann]
photographs of Double Take children
link to the Pregnancy and Parents Centre
The Cabaret With No Name
at the Big Red Door
Vroni, Resi (Karen Harris) and Sepp (Conrad Molleson) joined another circus night at the Big Red Door. Their act followed Mean Ronnie Woodman, who makes rare appearances in Edinburgh as he is usually too drunk or too grumpy. His Blues Gig set the mood brilliantly though for some Bavarian songs and traditions which had the crowd in stitches as well as jumping up and down on their seats...
[Vroni, Sepp and Sepp - photo: Eric Swanepoel ]
Noisy Nights
The Red Note Ensemble at the Traverse Bar
On November 2nd 09 the Red Note Ensemble performed new music with the instrumentation of Flute, Horn, Marimba and Cello. Vroni's piece a quiet room and sparrows was reviewed by the Evening News as "mesmerising in it's rhythm and building melody".
[Noisy Nights - photo: Holzmann]
Kippers Bruncheon
in dedication to the German Reunification
at the Drill Hall in Leith
November 14th 09 saw an eclectic mix of music, some of it German in dedication to the cause, performed at the Drill Hall East-meets-West Arts Cafe in Leith. After beautiful piano tunes by Sam Makin and the Makin Three the audience was presented with contemporary classical compositions followed by Boogie Woogie. The Trio consisted of Joey on cello, Conrad on Double Bass and Vroni on piano. After a rendition of the Rootbeerrag they went away and changed, and when they came back, as usual, everybody had to get up and sit down again countless times and yodel their hearts out. Thanks to Isi for making this event happen, it is one of the most beautiful and inclusive music events in town.
[Joey, Conrad and Vroni at the Drill Hall - photo: Georgios Athanasopoulos]
more pictures from the Bruncheon
Concert of String Theories
at Kings Place, London
and BBC Broadcast
Sara Mohr-Pietsch on BBC Radio 3 presented conversation and music from a diverse and intercontinental group of musicians at the String Theories event at London's Kings Place, which was curated by Nigel Osborne. Amongst a programme including a New York jazz flautist, a French punk guitarist, a Chilean political songwriter and a Japanese ultra-modernist, Vroni's piece looking for something that isn't there was performed by the Edinburgh String Quartet,
Neyire Ashworth on bass clarinet and Kirsteen Davidson Kelly on piano.
[Technical Rehearsal of String Theories - photo: Holzmann]
listen to the BBC podcast of the String Theories Concert - listen now
new piano recordings
A piano album Vroni is working on will come out at the end of the year. For the moment she has recorded her newest material as an EP which is available * for free * here, just get in touch with Vroni and she will send you a copy. The sheet music for these pieces has also found a publisher, this will be published in the new year.
[Vroni for Wandelung - photo: GSFP]
Noisy Nights at the Traverse Bar
A piece for viola, horn and trumpet titled 'Mary dancing' was performed in Edinburgh's Traverse Bar on October 12th by the Red Note Ensemble. It had been written especially for the night and this might well have been its sole performance for ever. Vroni is still trying to get her hands on a recording of this but try the link below for this uniquie experience. The night was also flavoured by a composition by Derek Ball which had three different time signatures at the same time which the audience was dancing to. Whether the dancing was gracefull or not will be up to the composer to decide as it was all his idea.
[Noisy Nights - photo: Holzmann]
listen to 'Mary dancing' one day
Treasure Hunt Movie
A film about a day in the Royal Museum has been completed and entered into international film festivals. A little girl (Sophie O'Riordan-Holzmann) bounces around the museum on a Treasure Hunt from the Art Cart. She doesn't always find all the right answers but has huge amounts of fun and makes most of the vast space on her quest.
A piano piece and a little song were recorded for the film's sound track. Having been titled 'sausage feet' this song is bound to go far...
[Treasure Hunt - photo: film still / Grohe]
Stow Oktoberfest
Stow is a lovely little Borders town. This year its beer hall (especially created for the event) was pleased to see the arrival of a Bavarian Maiden for its annual Oktoberfest. Although living in Scotland for over a decade she claimed to have just arrived from Bavaria especially for the event and proceeded to sing songs about pigs, carots, ladders, beer drinking and drinking beer.
[Stow Oktoberfest - photo: Cameron Jack]
Street Piano at the Festival 2009
The little street piano was seen in the Meadows and on the Royal Mile this festival. Go to the Meadows on a sunny day and you can still catch Vroni play Ragtime, Stride and Boogie Woogie in the open air.
While playing the Royal Mile this summer Vroni had an encounter which led to her receiving a little film from Traquair Festival years ago. Please watch for some out door piano fun.
[Meadows August 2009 - photo: Ana Mayor]
The Big Red Door
Bavarian Traditions were performed at the most unexpected occasion on 29th of August 09. The Big Red Door is a Festival venue that features weird and wonderful characters and circus acts during the Festival. Vroni's performance highlight was the human microphon stand and two enthusiastic Austrians who were happy to demonstrate the ancient Bavarian Tradition of 'getting up and sitting down again' although they had never done it before. The beertent transformation was perfect though and by the end everyone was yodelling...
[Tepooka Night - photo: Eric Swanepoel]
find out more about the Big Red Door and Tepooka
Concert at Saint Giles Cathedral
PIano Cycles the cross is gone and Wandelung were performed at a Concert on 28th of July 2009 at Saint Giles Cathedral on the Royal Mile. These compositions have been written by Vroni between 2001 and 2009. The Piano Cycle Wandelung will build part of her Masters portfolio for Edinburgh University. This piano music is minimalistic and narrative and designed to give the listener space to reflect.
[Saint Giles Concert - photo: Eric Swanepoel]
Noisy Nights
Vroni's piece 'Abendlicher Gang' for bass clarinet, cello and double bass was performed in Edinburgh's Traverse Bar on June 8th and in Glasgow at the Arches on June 29th by the Red Note Ensemble. Noisy Nights and its Glasgow equivalent What happened are initiatives to get new music performed. All works have been selected from works composed especially for the occasion.
[What Happened #2 - photo: Holzmann]
listen to 'Abendlicher Gang' performed at the Traverse Bar
Bavarian Traditions in Leith
The Bavarian Tradition Show was performed to a full House, or rather Beer Hall, at the Out of the Blue / Drill Hall Cafe on 30th of May 2009. With the usual crew and a new Ersatz-Seppl it didn't take long for everyone to schunkel and yodel and for the beer to run out...
[Resi und Bene - photo: Eric Swanepoel]
see Bavarian Traditions in Leith
'looking for something that isnt there'
Vroni had a work for bass clarinet and piano performed as part of her Masters Degree at Edinburgh University. On March 10th, as part of a lunchtime concert at the Reid Concert Hall, Antony Clare (piano) and Sarah Watts (bass clarinet) performed 'looking for something that isnt there', a piece written by Vroni in January 09.
[Sarah Watts and Antony Clare - photo: Holzmann]
listen to 'looking for something that isn't there' - coming soon
a fishy performance
Ragtime with a fish on the double bass must be a fairly rare phenomenon. A kipper was seen to play the bass with Vroni on the piano at the Out of the Blue Drillhall Cafe's Kipper's Music Brunches 1st birthday bash on January 10th in Dalmeny Street. Underneath the mask of course is Conrad Molleson, and while he didn't smell so good he actually played very well. This is not true, he didn't smell at all and played fabulously. Despite not being able to see anything.
[Kippers 1st birthday - photo: Eric Swanepoel]
'
Time to get your drinking pants on'
(Edinburgh Evening News)
THE BAVARIAN TRADITION SHOW - THIS IS HOW IT WENT
The Bavarian Tradition Show was a success with excellent reviews and high attendance (apart from the 12 people audience one rainy Monday evening). The two Free Beer Shows were a sell out had there been tickets sold, and the Maidens and Seppls were exhausted after long nights drinking beer long after the audience had gone home. Bavarian traditions must be kept alive, and this is with and without an audience!
[Vroni at the Premiere - photo: Cameron Jack]
The Reviews
The Bavarian Tradition Show
WEBSITE LAUNCHED
The new website has been launched. It contains details of crew and performance and a lot of information about essential Bavarianisms. Please go and see this little cultural treat by using the link below. Also please delight us with your attendance and by drinking beer with us.
[Seppl beim Fensterln - photo: Vroni Holzmann]
The new Bavarian Tradition Show website
Lady Veronique at Traquair
Punters at the Family Fair at Traquair were not gonna be stopped enjoying themselves by a few drops of rain. Lady Veronique had to wait for sunshine though to take her little piano out and perform Ragtime and Boogie Woogie to a colourful audience of all ages.
[Traquair 08 - photo: Cameron Jack]
streetpiano website
more about Traquair
The Bavarian Tradition Show
Edinburgh Fringe 2008
August 11 - 16, 18 - 25
Venue: Counting House
It is an interesting fact that Scottish citizens don't know many of the beautiful Bavarian Traditions. Vroni will attempt to change this single-handedly by introducing old rituals like bringing mountain flowers to the window of your desired, and other important ancient traditions like drinking beer. See for yourself at the Counting House this summer whether Bavaria is worth a visit, and if you don't make it there yourself then this show will be the next best thing.
[Schunkeln at Neue Liebe Cabaret - photo: Eric Swanepoel]
The Bavarian Tradition Show - Free Fringe Show
Grow Slow
Sunday Herald Magazine
Vroni and Sophie have been featured in the Sunday Herald Magazine (May 10th 2008) in an article about Parenting by Vicky Allan: '
Some parents, fed up with competitive child-rearing, are looking to alternative strategies to produce balanced human beings at a gradual pace'. The article is a response to a newly published book about the pressures of parenting.
[Sophie - photo: Malcolm Cochrane]
read Grow Slow article
Mean Ronnie Woodman
and Punk Yodel Anarchy
at
Neue Liebe Cabaret
On March 30th 2008 Vroni and Band played the Neue Liebe cabaret night at the Voodoo Rooms.
Mean Ronnie Woodman, as famous for his Blues and Boogie Woogie piano talents as for his grumpy attitude, was accompanied on electric guitar by Tall Andy Anaconda (of Sara and the Snakes), and the Mystery Rhythm Man who turned out to be Cammy the Man of Orkestra Del Sol ...
The big Bluesman was followed by Punk Yodel Anarchy entertaining the crowd with Bavarian Pigsong and Yodelkunst.
[Punk Yodel Anarchy - photo: Eric Swanepoel]
pictures of the night
Nikolaus visits Tollcross
On the 6th of December 2007 a very special visitor came to Tollcross. Nikolaus and his helper Krampus arrived to give presents to the children. He brought a Golden Book in which was noted how well the children had behaved over the year. Even though Krampus was a bit scary for some children, it was a happy evening, thank you Nikolaus and Krampus for visiting!
[Dec 6/07 - photo: Erin Maguire]
more photos of Nikolaus and Krampus
Outstanding Amateur Competition
in September 2007 Yamaha and The Pianist Magazine chose Vroni as one of the Semi-Finalists at their bi-annual competition to find the best amateur pianist in the country. The categories are classical and jazz, and the prizes are £10.000 towards a Yamaha piano. Vroni had entered under Jazz, and made the journey to the Milton Keynes Yamaha headquarters to play the semi-finals.
[Berlin Neukoellner Dom - photo: Christine Mueller]
Scottish Parliament Photo Competition
Two of Vroni's images were chosen to be exhibited in an exhibition at the Scottish Parliament. The exhibtion features winners of a competition to cover the Opening Ceremonies of the Third Session of the Parliament on 30th of June 2007. The greatest feat was to persuade Sophie to pose with nine axe-wielding Vikings from Shetland.
[Sophie and the Vikings - photo: Vroni Holzmann]
read article on Parliament Website
Neue Liebe in Leith
Bavarian Tradition Songs were performed as part of the Leith Festival at the Neue liebe Night in Leith, Queen Charlotte Rooms 7/6/07. When calling for volunteers it was Vroni's lucky night : there was a Bavarian maiden in the audience...!
Neue Liebe is a cabaret night with diverse performances ranging from poetry and music to the burlesque dancing of the Gipsy Charms.
[Sepplhut - photo:
Peter Merridew]
Publication of Double Take Booklet
A Booklet with photography and statements from 'What is my future?', the Double Take exhibition, is now available at Word Power Books.
buy the booklet
read booklet review
What is my future? - a booklet published by BabyPhotographie
[Eve - photo: Vroni Holzmann]
online exhibition coming soon
What is my future?
Double Take exhibition opens
What is my future ? The Double Take exhibtion has now opened at the Ocean Terminal. Photographs and statements of the participants are showing for the next five weeks on the 2nd floor of the Ocean Terminal in Leith.
The exhibition will run from the 28th of January until the 4th of March 2007.
The exhibition has been mentioned in a column by Vicky Allan for the Sunday Herald Seven Days Magazine on 11/2/07.
[Sue and Danny - photo: Vroni Holzmann]
read Vicky Allan's take on impending motherhood here
Tour of Europe 2006
The Tour of Europe was a street piano adventure. In 5 and a half weeks 16 cities were covered and the piano loaded and unloaded until no-one wanted to load no more. Vroni has recovered but is still playing Susi's Diner in West Nicholson Street, the Veggie place that has the best food in town.
Her little piano is soon gonna go into winter hiding, hopefully to a charming French restaurant where she will play no french music, but yet more ragtime, once a week. Read about this tour in an article by the Sunday Herald published 29/10/06.
[Linz/Austria at the Danube - photo: Guenter Touschek]
Tour of Europe News
Tour of Europe 2006 in pictures
Double Take
A big thank you to all participators of Double Take! You and your babies were great. Vroni is now preparing the exhibition and looking into more funding to hopefully turn this project into a support programme.
Double Take is a project supporting mothers and their babies. For those who feel vulnerable after having a baby Double Take offers the opportunity to meet other mums, learn about photography and take away a portrait of their baby for free.
At the moment
there are no more spaces available on this programme but hopefully it will be possible to set it up as an on-going support to new mothers.
[Mia and her mum - photo: Vroni Holzmann]
Wood Scapes
all photographs are taken around Edinburgh, at Newbattle Abbey Grounds, the Innocent Railway and the Meadows. They are meant to have a calming and relaxing effect, the way trees naturally would. The photographs have been printed onto linen in order to give them texture and allow the material its own individual structure.
The hard wood framed photographs combine photographs of maple
tree bark framed by maple wood and cherry tree branches framed by
cherry wood, the frames made by Vroni especially for this purpose.
[Wood Scapes3 - photo: Vroni Holzmann]
Lady Veronique
Lady Veronique made her first appearance at this year's Victorian festival in Portobello, Edinburgh. She is a keen pianist although in her day it is not very proper to work in this profession. Lady Veronique has been hoping to find a rich bachelor at one of the parties she is invited to, but has not gotten lucky yet. So she will have to keep playing her ragtime piano in order to support little Miss Sophie who is very dependent on her mother's fortunes. Lady Veronique can be the life and soul of a party but in her heart she has the sadness of a bygone era gone forever.
[Lady Veronique and Miss Sophie - photo: Erin Maguire]