As part of the project 'Artists and the 50-year-old Berlage building', I was commissioned to come up with a temporary art installation based on the building itself.
For me, it was the Erezaal (Reception Hall) that most captured the spirit of this building, and possibly the architecture of Berlage in general.
The situation of the hall within the building, its dimensions, colour and incidence of light, makes it rise above its own architecture, giving it something spiritual and meditative.
I decided that a fitting tribute to this would be an demonstration of human energy and concentration: 'Day for Berlage' is a movement/sound sculpture where human voices are heard continuously over a twenty-four hour period, starting from silence at 00.00 hours, gradually increasing to a climax at midday and then decreasing to silence again at 24.00 hours.

Situation
The Erezaal, also know as the Reception Hall, has an open structure and may be accessed via the two stairways from the entrance lobby. The hall is lit from above: a 24-piece toplight captures daylight indirectly via a tower with windows higher that is not visible from below.
In the centre of this toplight is an awning which is secured to the tower; at first sight, it appears to float.

Planning for 'Day for Berlage'
Directly below the toplight are 24 chairs placed around a long table. On the table are 4 PC monitors facing in 4 directions. A computer program specially developed for this project measures and regulates the sound in the space over the 24-hour period via microphones installed in the space. The monitors provide constant information on the sound volume generated by the group as a whole.
The program allows for the sound of the voices to rise and fall gradually over the 24-hour period, something which the participants are scarcely aware of.

Organisation
My plan was for the lowest voice volume to come from 2 persons and the highest by 24. Each hour a new group takes over, comprising 2 more, and later, 2 fewer, persons.
In total, we needed 288 persons for the project.
We asked volunteers to take part via posters, adverts and radio announcements. I also drew in volunteers by giving readings about the project at art colleges.
People who expressed an interest were provided with detailed information and instructions, together with a timetable on which they were asked to specify their preferred time slots for participation.
I expressly opted for no rehearsals, so participants had to be clearly informed as to the requirements, with instructions such as:
- choose a volume that you feel you will be able to comfortably maintain for a period of one hour.
- after a sound period, take an equal period of rest.
- no sound variations or improvisations are allowed.

Performance
At 00.00 hours, 2 of the 24 chairs were occupied by 2 persons, each alternately producing a soft tone. The monitors showed whether the sound was producing the correct volume.
Each hour, a larger group sat down in position and took over the sound. This meant that the sound was constantly undergoing changes and variations, even though everyone was doing their best to produce as stable a tone as possible.
Having the group replace one person at a time meant that the sound did not have to be interrupted.
At 12 midday, all 24 chairs were occupied, with volume and tone at its peak.
After that, the entire process was reversed so that at 24 hours, two people were left in silence.

Technology: Steim, Amsterdam. Software: Vango's Zachte Waren.
This project was also made possible due to support from the Visual Arts projects section of the Ministry of Welfare, Health, and Cultural Affairs.

Following the '24 hours for Berlage' project, I produced a print on my own initiative, with the names of all 244 participants listed in order of appearance: this is conveyed as a light/dark/light movement on the sheet.
Print run: 40 signed copies.
Dimensions: 60 x 80 cm.

The 50th anniversary of the music department of the Municipal Museum of The Hague was also celebrated by the VPRO, which broadcast the sound of the voices over a 90-minute period on the programme 'Summertime' by Han Reiziger, interspersed with interviews with composers and visitors.
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year	1985
date	26.09.1985
location	The Gemeentemuseum, Den Haag NL
performed by	288 participants
photography	Henk Geraedts
further information	Sound recording from live broadcasting for VPRO radio 'Summertime' by Han Reiziger
project or event	Artists and the 50 year old Berlage building.
technical	Steim Amsterdam. Software: Vango's Zachte Waren