Water is an ongoing artistic project by percussionist and composer Daan Wilms, exploring water as a musical material, an instrument and a source of movement.
The project began during Wilms’ postgraduate Excellence in Performance studies at the University of Music and Theatre Munich. What started as a series of experiments gradually developed into compositions, self-built instruments and performance setups in which water became an active musical element.
Water as an instrument
Rather than using water simply to create an atmosphere, Wilms approaches it as an instrument in its own right. Water is poured, struck, moved and set into vibration. Different quantities, movements and depths influence resonance, pitch, articulation and timbre, while hydrophones reveal sounds from beneath the surface. Percussion instruments interact directly with water and water-filled objects, extending the traditional instrumental world of the percussionist.