Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet
Encyclopedia
The Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet is a professional Dutch recorder quartet which was founded in 1978 by four students of the Sweelinck Conservatory Amsterdam; Daniël Brüggen, Bertho Driever, Paul Leenhouts and Karel van Steenhoven. Following its formation, the ensemble's reputation grew quickly and was further strengthened at the 1981 Musica Antigua Competition in Bruges
where, challenging the competition rules, it performed an unusual arrangement of a Stevie Wonder song and emerged as the winner.
, Utrecht
, London
and Sapporo, and regularly tour throughout Europe, the USA and Japan. They also perform separate from festivals in concert halls. In 1998, 2001, 2004,2009, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands
requested the quartet to perform for her during official festivities.
Since its formation, the quartet has continually explored the boundaries of the recorder consort, playing a mix of recorder music from all ages of music, especially from the Renaissance
, Baroque
and twentieth-century. A number of composers have been inspired to write for the Quartet, which has helped create a new repertoire that proves the recorder
to be an important voice of our time.
A few years ago, both Bertho Driever and Paul Leenhouts left Loeki Stardust in order to pursue another career in music. They were replaced by Daniel Koschitzki and Andrea Ritter. After internal struggle, it was decided to end the ensemble which lead to a farewell concert in November 2007. After seeing each other in private, the four founding members of the group decided to regroup in order to celebrate their 30th anniversary in 2008, but not to make plans after that since they do not wish to re-establish an ensemble. At present, about 50 concerts are planned all over the world.
Bruges
Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country....
where, challenging the competition rules, it performed an unusual arrangement of a Stevie Wonder song and emerged as the winner.
History
During the last 30 years, the Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet has enjoyed an international career and are recognized as a serious ensemble of unparalleled virtuosity. They have appeared together at many early music festivals including those in BerlinBerlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Utrecht
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Sapporo, and regularly tour throughout Europe, the USA and Japan. They also perform separate from festivals in concert halls. In 1998, 2001, 2004,2009, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands
Beatrix of the Netherlands
Beatrix is the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands comprising the Netherlands, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and Aruba. She is the first daughter of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. She studied law at Leiden University...
requested the quartet to perform for her during official festivities.
Since its formation, the quartet has continually explored the boundaries of the recorder consort, playing a mix of recorder music from all ages of music, especially from the Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
, Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
and twentieth-century. A number of composers have been inspired to write for the Quartet, which has helped create a new repertoire that proves the recorder
Recorder
The recorder is a woodwind musical instrument of the family known as fipple flutes or internal duct flutes—whistle-like instruments which include the tin whistle. The recorder is end-blown and the mouth of the instrument is constricted by a wooden plug, known as a block or fipple...
to be an important voice of our time.
A few years ago, both Bertho Driever and Paul Leenhouts left Loeki Stardust in order to pursue another career in music. They were replaced by Daniel Koschitzki and Andrea Ritter. After internal struggle, it was decided to end the ensemble which lead to a farewell concert in November 2007. After seeing each other in private, the four founding members of the group decided to regroup in order to celebrate their 30th anniversary in 2008, but not to make plans after that since they do not wish to re-establish an ensemble. At present, about 50 concerts are planned all over the world.
Recorded music
The Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet has made a wide range of recordings on CD of recorder music throughout the ages. Two of them were awarded with an Edison Award.- Fade Control (2007)
- Nocturne (2005)
- Fugue around the clock (2003)
- Fantazia (2002)
- Time Signals
- Die Kunst der Fuge
- Dutch Masters volume 40
- La Spagna
- Consort Songs
- Pictured Air
- Concerti di Flauti
- Capriccio di Flauti
- A Concorde of Sweete Sound
- The Image of Melancolly
- Italian Recorder Music
- Extra Time (1991)
- Italian Recorder Music
- Virtuoso Recorder Music
- Alte Musik im Linzer Schloß