In 2000 the Karina Erhard together with Fie Schouten founded 
Kaida. During 7 years they worked intesively and played many concerts. They worked as a duo, with pianists and a lot of composers.
One of their main goals was to explore the connection between contemporary written and improvised music. Their refreshing approach to music and high level of playing are convincing: in 2003 Karina Erhard and Fie Schouten received the special prize for best improvisation at the ‘International Gaudeamus Interpreters Competition’* as well as the special prize ‘Buffet-Crampon’ during the ‘International Chamber-music Competition Illzach’ (France). In 2001 the ensemble received the ‘Stichting Tera de Marez Oyens Fonds’ prize.
*Het Parool 3.3.2003 – De 26-jarige Britse pianist Philip Howard heeft gisteravond in de Rotterdamse Doelen de finale van het 34ste International Gaudeamus Vertolkers Concours gewonnen. .. De internationale jury koos de winnaar uit ruim zeventig musici uit dertig landen. Zaterdagavond kregen de leden van het Kaida Trio al de Speciale Prijs voor de beste improvisatie… de Nederlandse basklarinettiste Fie Schouten, de Duitse fluitiste Karina Erhard.
NRC, Ernst Vermeulen 3.3.2003 De finale van het 34ste Internationaal Gaudeamus Vertolkers Concours met als thema ‘improvisatie en open vorm’ werd zondag op het podium van de Rotterdamse Doelen beslecht door vijf solisten en ensembles die elkaar niet veel ontliepen. De prijs van 2250 euro voor de beste improvisatie was zaterdag al na de tweede ronde uitgereikt aan het duo Karina Erhard (fluit) en Fie Schouten (basklarinet), te verdelen met de tubaist Shinya Hashimoto.
Apart from playing regular concerts, the ensemble performed at various large festivals in the Netherlands and abroad, including the International Gaudeamus Musicweek 2002 NL, Festival Spazio Musica Cagliari and Festival Nuovi Spazi Musicali Roma (Italy), Ferienkurse für Neue Musik Darmstadt (Germany), the Ciclo de Musica Contemporanea at Tenerife and Bassclarinetfestival of Catalunia (Spain), the festival Music Accord in Illzach (France).
Kaida is an Indian word meaning ‘improvisation on a basic rhythmic pattern’ and the title of the first piece they played: Kaida (1990) by Jan Rokus van Roosendael for flute, bass clarinet and piano.
Duo CD
Of Villages and Spaces (2005) Karnatic Lab Records – KLR006
Fie Schouten (bass) clarinet – Karina Erhard flutes
Listen and/or buy via Bandcamp or order (€15 excl shipping) via info@bassclarinet.nl
Karina Erhard and Fie Schouten have taken Holland’s new music scene by storm over the last several years with their group, Kaida. This debut shows why they’ve been winning prizes throughout Europe, whether playing in small city clubs, at the Darmstadt music festival or in the Concertgebouw. Between the funky grooves from David Lang and the ambient sounds of Salvatore Sciarrino, the music here is haunting, wild, and beautiful, and always impeccably played.
Reunion 2020 in duo and in quartet
Kaida meets The Great Boredom, live at Projektraum Streitfeld, München
The Great Boredom:
Nicolas Schulze- fender rhodes piano/sampler & Daniel Kartmann- drums
Recordings of pieces composed for Kaida:
Gift of the Gab (2004) – Marco Beck
Duo + live electronics, 9min
__________
Mutationen (2003) – Stefan Busch
Trio + soundtrack, 12min
Kaida + Stefan Busch, piano
__________
Bezonken (2004) – Stefan Busch
Trio + soundtrack, 12min
Kaida + Stefan Busch, piano
__________
The Recurring nightmare of Kubla Kahn (2004) – Dominy Clements
Duo + accordeon (Theo Bodewits), 10min
__________
Border Towns of Central Europe (2004) – Joe Cutler
Duo, 8min
(CD Of Villages and Spaces, KLR006)
__________
Veeg (2004) – Jorrit Dijkstra
Alto flute, bass clarinet, soundtrack, 7min
(CD Of Villages and Spaces, KLR006)
__________
Struisvogelmuziek (2005) – Christiaan de Jong
__________
Mensole salvaspazio (2005) – Andrea Fontemaggi
Trio, 12min
Kaida + Nora Mulder, piano
__________
Vertige fixe (2004) – Nicolas Gilbert
Duo, 5min
__________
Urban Turban (2003) – Ned McGowan
Trio, 8min
Kaida + Nora Mulder, piano
__________
Digit#1b (2004) – Mayke Nas
3 pairs of hands, 4min
__________
Rainbow 3 (2003) – Hanna Kulenty
Trio, 12min
Kaida + Nora Mulder, piano
__________
Sleep, sleep, gypsy (2003) – Vanessa Lann
Trio + microphone, amp, 12min
Kaida + Nora Mulder, piano
__________
Bogus bogey (2005) – Tobias Klein
Trio, 7min Kaida + Nora Mulder, piano
(CD Chambery 2018, ATT 2018.156)
__________
Double Palindrome (2004) – Seung-Won Oh
Trio 13 min
Recording (Kaida + Nora Mulder, piano)
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The Pillar (2003) – Filippo Perocco
Trio 9 min
Kaida + Nora Mulder, piano
__________
Trio (2002) – Calliope Tsoupaki
Trio 15min
Kaida + Sonsoles Alonso, piano