Canto Ostinato

The composer created a hundred and six small cells called 'sections' of a few bars, which can be played ad libitum and be repeated either one or many more times (some bridges excepted).

Examples of pieces written by Ten Holt in roughly the same way are Lemniscaat (1983), Horizon (1985), Incantatie IV, and Meandres (1997), none of which have become as popular as Canto Ostinato.

The CD recording made by Kees Wieringa and Polo de Haas, published in 1996 by Emergo Classics, received Gold status, which means that more than 10,000 copies were sold (the actual number lies above 15,000).

One particular record was made by Ivo Janssen, released in 2009, which has a total length of around 60 minutes, and is a one-man, one-piano performance of the original composition.

Simeon ten Holt was the official sponsor of the record of "Canto Ostinato" by the Dutch Rondane Quartet published in 2010.

On October 23, 2017, this piece was performed for the first time in Saratov at the opening of the II International Festival of Contemporary Music "Art Modern" in a version for organ, vibraphone, marimba, double bass and piano.

Performers: Olga Kiywovski (organ), Elena Pekarskaya (vibraphone), Anastasia Glavatskikh (marimba), Dmitry Tolochkov (double bass), Vasily Igonin (piano).