Descendants is a composition by American, Berlin-based media artist and composer Arnold Dreyblatt, commissioned by the Echonance Festival#3 in 2024 for the multiple organs of the main hall of the Orgelpark in Amsterdam, a concert stage focusing on diverse organ-based compositions. It was recorded in Orgelpark in January 2025.
Dreyblatt developed this composition during two residencies at the Orgelpark. This 51-minute, six-part minimalist composition was realized in Dreyblatt’s just-intonation tuning system, derived from the first eleven harmonic overtones and their extensions based on the fundamental C (A = 415 Hz). It uses selected pitches found on the four historic and reconstructed organs of Orgelpark and explores possible tonal combinations. The public was free to
