On Friday, June 13, the beautiful and intimate book Grensvariaties was presented in Haarlem—a modern fairy tale by writer P.F. Thomése and illustrator Thé Tjong-Khing. This lyrical story, full of wonder and memory, captures the experience of growing up through evocative prose and melancholic illustrations.

What makes Grensvariaties truly special is its musical dimension: alongside the book, a CD was released featuring music by composer Martijn Padding. His compositions form a sonic landscape that deepens the story’s emotional resonance—an aural borderland where memory, melancholy, and imagination meet.

The New European Ensemble is proud to collaborate with Martijn Padding, a composer known for his distinctive voice and refined sense of storytelling. His music doesn’t just accompany the book—it brings it to life, inviting the listener to drift and wander, just like the boy in the story who searches for his way among trees, rivers, and memories of his father.

Grensvariaties is neither a traditional children’s book nor a classical composition. It is a sensory experience, weaving together text, image, and music. A gentle invitation to pause, reflect, and perhaps quietly ask again: Dad, where are you?

Photo’s: Kees Schafrat