The first Serge Modulars were released in 1973. In contrast to existing instruments from Moog, ARP and Buchla, the American Russian composer and creator Serge Tcherepnin had his own idea on what an electronic music instrument should be. Serge modules were designed to bring many aspects of the circuitry out to the front panel so modules can be patched in unusual and creative ways beyond the 'normal' functions of that type of module. To celebrate it’s 50th anniversary we invited Serge specialists Thomas Ankersmit and Floris Vanhoof for two special concerts on the opening day of the festival.

Thomas Ankersmit is a musician and sound artist operating from out of Berlin and Amsterdam. He plays the Serge Modular synthesizer both live and in the studio and has already collaborated with artists like Phill Niblock and Valerio Tricoli. His music has been released on the likes of Shelter Press, PAN and Touch. In his work, Ankersmit combines intricate sonic details and raw electric power with a physical and spatial experience of sound. Acoustic phenomena such as infrasound and otoacoustic emissions (sounds coming from inside the head, generated by the ears themselves) play an important role in his work, as does a deliberate, creative misuse of his equipment.