Willemijn Knödler
George
Physical and digital album release: 14 November 2025
Distribution: PIAS – Integral NL
Contact persons:
Label/ 7 Mountain Records: Frerik de Jong info@7mntn.com
Willemijn Knödler willemijnknoedler@gmail.com
Short description album:
With her solo album George, Willemijn Knödler pays tribute to her son George and to her cello. George suffers from Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), a rare condition that can cause benign tumours on nerves throughout the body, with life-threatening complications. Willemijn is a passionate cellist and music is a healing and nourishing element in her life. Enjoying everything there is, beauty and joy, not avoiding sadness but embracing it and transforming it into vitality: that is the motto conveyed by this colourful and playful album.
The programme on the album consists of compositions that support Willemijn in every emotion that colours her life. For example, Ligeti’s Sonata for solo cello contains both a desperate internal dialogue (part 1) and a resolute statement of strength (part 2). Gershwin’s Summertime is a comforting lullaby. Kurtág evokes feelings of forgiveness, there is frenzied virtuosity in Crumb’s cello solo sonata, then an adaptation of Jungle Book’s childlike energy, and a lesser-known work by Telemann contrasts this with the freshness and transparency of Baroque music. The album is complemented by Enescu’s rarely performed Sérénade en Sourdine (with star violinist Rosanne Philippens as guest musician) and a commissioned composition by Wijnand van Klaveren that symbolises fighting a dragon.
Because that is what Willemijn, together with her son (and daughter + partner), proves with this album: fight the dragons in life, you will prevail and be rewarded with a zest for life.
The proceeds from this album will be donated to the organisation Let’s Beat NF, which supports research into better treatment and quality of life for children with NF.
Promo video:
Click here for download link to full album
Password: willemijngeorge
Audio fragments:
Georg Philipp Telemann Fantasy No.12 in E-flat Major for Viola da Gamba Solo TWV 40:37: III. Vivace (Arrangement)
George Crumb Sonata for Cello Solo: I. Fantasia (Arrangement)
Georg Friedrich Händel 5th Suite for Harpsichord HWV 430: Harmonious Blacksmith Variations (Arrangement)
György Kurtág Die Sprüche des Péter Bornemisza, Op.7: Az Hit…
George Bruns Scenes from the Jungle Book. (Arrangement)
Tracklist:
Georg Friedrich Händel (1685 – 1759)
1. 5th Suite for Harpsichord HWV 430: Harmonious Blacksmith Variations
Arrangement for cello solo by Gaspar Cassadó. [6’01]
Georg Philipp Telemann (1681 – 1767)
Fantasy No.12 in E-flat Major for Viola da Gamba Solo TWV 40:37
Arrangement for cello solo by Christoph Habicht
2. I. Andante [4’01]
3. II. Allegro [1’52]
4. III. Vivace [2’04]
George Gershwin (1898 – 1937)
5. Summertime. Arrangement for cello solo by Samuel Pegg [2’44]
George Crumb (1929 – 2022)
Sonata for cello solo
6. I. Fantasia [3’34]
7. II. Tema Pastorale con Variazioni [6’04]
8. III. Toccata [2’48]
George Bruns (1914 – 1983)
9. Scenes from the Jungle Book. Arrangement for cello solo by Arthur Klaassens [6’26]
György Ligeti (1923 – 2006)
Sonata for cello solo
10. I. Dialogo [4’18]
11. II. Capriccio [4’14]
György Kurtág (*1926)
12. Die Sprüche des Péter Bornemisza, Op.7: Az Hit… [3’00]
Wijnand van Klaveren (*1975)
13. St. George and the Dragon [2’20]
Georges Enescu (1881 – 1955)
14. Sérénade en Sourdine pour violon et violoncelle* [5’52]
*violin: Rosanne Philippens