Music
Once upon a time, when she was five years old, Wietske’s musical journey started with the violin. Since then, she has completed decades of training, explored the realms of various instruments and vocal traditions, has performed internationally as a soloist as well as with orchestras and choirs in genres ranging from European classical music to Islamic music, from jazz to Bulgarian choral music, has released two studio albums, Witness and Reminder, and has composed over forty choral compositions.
Columbus, Ohio | A picture on stage after a concert in the Ohio Theatre where Wietske performed Mozart’s Mass in C minor as a first soprano in the Columbus Symphony Chorus.
Los Angeles, California | Wietske tuning her violin before a performance with the LLS Orchestra.
Bodegraven, The Netherlands | A detailed photograph by Tamar Oderwald of Wietske’s beloved guitar, the Luna Henna Oasis, which was the first big purchase of her life in her teens.
Columbus, Ohio | A joyful moment during a recording session for her first album, Witness, in Vaughan Music Studios.
Studio albums
Witness
Witness is a collection of ten original songs and two recitations of the call to prayer (adhan). The album, in many ways, represents Wietske’s spiritual journey as a Muslim and is purposefully eclectic. The diversity of topics addressed in the lyrics reflects the many ways in which the Islamic message may be witnessed by Muslims, and the ways in which they may themselves be witnesses of the Creator. The album was generously sponsored by Usuli Music and the cover features the artwork “Goldfinch Alchemy” by Linda Edwards, depicting three goldfinches.
Reminder
Reminder is a collection of twelve songs that echo many of the themes of Witness; a ‘reminder’. The overarching theme of the songs is the journey of remembrance (dhikr), which never ceases to be challenging for a people inclined to forget. Some of the songs highlight moments of remembrance, others the experience of forgetfulness and its consequences. The album was generously sponsored by Usuli Music, and the cover features the artwork ‘Overgrown Terraces’ by Linda Edwards, which depicts a hoopoe embraced by gold in a blue garden.
Interview with Grace Song about Wietske's first album Witness (2022)
Live performance of When (2015)
Choral compositions
There is no instrument quite as intimate, powerful, or moving as the human voice. Over the years, Wietske has written over forty choral compositions for different occasions, voices, and with different themes. Most of her music falls within the tradition of sacred music, merging both Islamic and Christian musical styles. She is currently working on her biggest project thus far: an oratorio about the life and message of the Prophet Muhammad, Mercy.
If you would like to collaborate with Wietske or would like to request sheet music for one of her compositions to be performed by your chorus or vocal ensemble, you can reach out to her via the contact page on this website.
Raji’un - A Requiem for Palestine | Wietske composed this vocal piece for female voices (SSAA) in late 2023, as endless bombings were slowly turning Gaza, its people, animals, plants, and buildings into dust. It is a requiem (Latin for ‘rest’), a funeral piece and prayer for all the souls lost in Palestine. The music is inspired by the choral musical tradition of Bulgaria and the sound of the Armenian duduk, the heartbreaking cry of which often accompanies funerals and is a painful reminder of the beauty of a culture and people that could not be turned to dust, even in the Armenian genocide.
Asma Allah Al-Husna is an SSAA composition for female voices on the text of the ninety-nine names of God that are often meditated upon in the Islamic spiritual tradition, highlighting different aspects of the divine.
Sunshine on a Rainy Day is an SSAA composition for female voices. The lyrics of the composition, Sunshine on a Rainy Day, are a poem written by Wietske, about a journey to a loved one.
Prayer of Light is an SATB choral composition on the text of the Prayer of Light (Allahumma ja’al fi qalbi nuran). In many ways, this composition is a reflection upon the spiritual journey to An-Nur, ‘The Light’, one of the names of God in the Islamic tradition.
Salawat is an SATB choral composition praying for peace and blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad. Wietske wrote and recorded this piece around the time of the commemoration of the Prophet’s birthday (mawlid), which is usually a time filled with song and prayerful gatherings.
A gallery of musical encounters
From Duke University Chapel to De Westerkerk in Amsterdam to the cafes of Jakarta, from jazz to nasheed to classical music, there are few things in life more meaningful to Wietske than musical encounters with friends. All of the moments in this gallery are dear to her heart, not because they were perfect performances—many of them were spontaneous—but rather because they were opportunities to connect through music.