Jozef Van Wissem & R. Keenan Lawler

Jozef Van Wissem

Jozef Van Wissem is renowned for his ability to appropriate the Renaissance and Baroque lute in the context of contemporary experimental music.  By cutting and pasting classical pieces, reversing melodies, "medieval sampling" and adding processed field recordings, Jozef is able to bridge the language of 17th century music with that of the 21st century without compromising the timbre and resonance of traditional lute playing techniques.  He runs the Incunabulum label, lectures on 'the liberation of the lute' ( Harvard, Wesleyan Universities, Mills College) and performs throughout the world.  He did five releases on Important Records. Most recently he has been commissioned by London's National Gallery to compose a sound piece to Hans Holbein's painting "The Ambassadors".