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Louis Andriessen
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Louis Andriessen (June 6, 1939) is a Dutch composer and pianist based in Amsterdam. He teaches composition at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague. He was recipient of the Gaudeamus International Composers Award in 1959.
iessen was born in Utrecht into a musical family, the son of the composer Hendrik Andriessen (1892-1981), brother of composers Jurriaan Andriessen (1925-1996) and Caecilia Andriessen (1931-), and nephew of Willem Andriessen (1887-1964).
Andriessen originally studied with his father and Kees van Baaren at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague, before embarking upon two years of study with Italian composer Luciano Berio in Milan and Berlin.
His wife was Jeanette Yanikian, a guitarist (1935-2008).
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Encyclopedia
Louis Andriessen (June 6, 1939) is a Dutch composer and pianist based in Amsterdam. He teaches composition at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague. He was recipient of the Gaudeamus International Composers Award in 1959.
Family and early life
Andriessen was born in Utrecht into a musical family, the son of the composer Hendrik Andriessen (1892-1981), brother of composers Jurriaan Andriessen (1925-1996) and Caecilia Andriessen (1931-), and nephew of Willem Andriessen (1887-1964).
Andriessen originally studied with his father and Kees van Baaren at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague, before embarking upon two years of study with Italian composer Luciano Berio in Milan and Berlin.
His wife was Jeanette Yanikian, a guitarist (1935-2008). They were a couple for over 40 years, and they got married in 1996.
Style and notable works
Andriessen's early works show experimentation with various contemporary trends: post war serialism (Series, 1958), pastiche (Anachronie I, 1966-67), and tape (Il Duce, 1973). His reaction to what he perceived as the conservatism of much of the Dutch contemporary music scene quickly moved him to form a radically alternative musical aesthetic of his own. Since the early 1970s he has refused to write for conventional symphony orchestras and has instead opted to write for his own idiosyncratic instrumental combinations, which often retain some traditional orchestral instruments alongside electric guitars, electric basses, and congas.
Andriessen's mature music combines the influences of Igor Stravinsky, jazz and American minimalism. His harmonic writing eschews the consonant modality of much minimalism, preferring post war European dissonance, often crystallised into large blocks of sound. Large scale pieces such as De Staat ['Republic'] (1972-76), for example, are influenced by the energy of the big band music of Count Basie and Stan Kenton and the repetitive procedures of Steve Reich, both combined with bright, clashing dissonances. Andriessen's music is thus anti-Germanic and anti-Romantic, and marks a departure from post war European serialism and its offshoots. He has also played a role in providing alternatives to traditional performance practice techniques, often specifying forceful, rhythmic articulations, and amplified, non-vibrato, singing.
Other notable works include Workers Union (1975), a melodically indeterminate piece "for any loud sounding group of instruments"; Mausoleum (1979) for 2 baritones and large ensemble; De Tijd ['Time'] (1979-81) for female singers and ensemble; De Snelheid ['Velocity'] (1982-3), for 3 amplified ensembles; De Materie ['Matter'] (1984-88), a large four-part work for voices and ensemble; collaborations with filmmaker and librettist Peter Greenaway on the film M is for Man, Music, Mozart and the operas Rosa: A Horse Drama (1994) and Writing to Vermeer (1998); and the recent La Passione (2000-02) for female voice and ensemble.
Andriessen's music is published by Donemus in the Netherlands and Boosey & Hawkes in the United Kingdom. His recordings appear on the Nonesuch Records label.
Ensembles
Andriessen helped to found the instrumental groups Orkest de Volharding and Hoketus, both of which performed compositions of the same names. He later became closely involved in the ongoing Schonberg and Asko ensembles.
Works
- Nuit d'été (1957) for piano 4 hands
- Séries (1958) for 2 pianos
- Nocturnen (1959) (text by the composer) for 2 sopranos, orchestra
- Prospettive e Retrospettive (1959) for piano
- Trois Pièces (1961) for piano left hand
- Ittrospezione I (1961) for piano 4 hands
- Joli commentaire (1961) for piano 4 hands
- Étude pour les timbres (1962) for piano
- Triplum (1962) for guitar
- Ittrospezione II (1963) for large orchestra
- Sweet (1963) for recorder (dedicated to Frans Brüggen)
- Registers (1963) for piano
- Ittrospezione III (Concept II) – Fragment (1965) tenor saxophone ad libitum, 2 pianos (section of Ittrospezione III [Concept II]; may be performed separately)
- Beatles Songs (1966) (satirical arrangements of four Beatles songs) for female voice and piano
- Souvenirs d'enfance (1966) for piano
- Anachronie I (1966-67) for large orchestra
- The Garden of Ryoan-gi (1967) for 3 electronic organs
- Choralvorspiele (1969) for barrel organ
- Anachronie II (1969) for oboe, small orchestra (4 horns, harp, piano, strings), 1969; Hoe het is, 52 strings, live electronics
- Reconstructie (1969) (with Reinbert de Leeuw, Misha Mengelberg, Peter Schat, Jan van Vlijmen, libretto by Hugo Claus, Harry Mulisch) Morality opera for soloists, 3 mixed choruses (4 voices each), orchestra (11 winds, 7 brass, 2 guitars, 11 keyboards, 10 strings), live electronics
- De negen symfonieën van Beethoven (1970) for ice cream bell, orchestra
- Spektakel (1970) for improvisational ensemble (saxophone [+ bass clarinet], viola, bass guitar, electronic organ [+ piano], percussion [or other instruments]), small orchestra (12 winds, 4 horns, 6 percussion)
- La voile du bonheur (1971) for violin and piano
- In Memoriam (1971) for tape
- Canzone 3.Utinam (1972) (text from the Book of Job) for soprano, piano, 1962; Thanh Hoa (text by Nguyen Thay Mao), voice, piano
- Il Duce (1973) for tape
- Il Principe (1974) (text by Niccolò Machiavelli) for 2 mixed choruses, 8 winds, 3 horns, tuba, bass guitar, piano
- Wals (1974) 1974 for piano
- Symfonieën der Nederlanden (1974) for 2 or more symphonic bands (minimum 32 players)
- De Staat (1972-74) (text by Plato) for 2 sopranos, 2 mezzo-sopranos, 4 oboes (3rd, 4th + English horn), 4 horns, 4 trumpets, 3 trombones, bass trombone, 2 harps, 2 electric guitars, 4 violas, bass guitar, 2 pianos
- De Staat (1972-76) for 2 pianos (version of vocal work)
- Nederland, let op uw schoonheyt (1975) for symphonic band
- Workers Union (1975) for any loud sounding group of instruments
- Mattheus passie (1976) (text by Louis Ferron) Music theatre work for 8 mixed voices, 2 oboes (both + English horn), Hammond organ, string quartet, double bass
- Hoketus (1975-76) for 2 panpipes, 2 alto saxophones ad libitum, 2 bass guitars, 2 pianos, 2 electric pianos, 2 congas
- Orpheus (1977) (text by Lodewijk de Boer) Music theatre work for 8 mixed voices, lyricon, electric guitar, bass guitar, synthesizer, percussion
- Symphonie voor losse snaren (1978) for 12 strings
- Laat toch vrij de straat (1978) (text by Jaap van der Merwe) for voice, piano
- Hymne to the Memory of Darius Milhaud (1978) (version of chamber work)
- Felicitatie (1979) for 3 trumpets
- Mausoleum (1979 rev. 1981) (texts by Mikhail Bakunin, Arthur Arnould) for 2 high baritones, orchestra (12 brass, 2 harps, cimbalom, 2 pianos, 2 percussion, minimum 10 strings, bass guitar)
- George Sand (1980) (text by Mia Meyer) Music theatre work for 8 mixed voices, 4 pianos
- Un beau baiser (1980) for mixed chorus
- Ende (1963) for double recorder (dedicated to Frans Brüggen)
- De Tijd (1979-81) (text by St. Augustine of Hippo) for female chorus, percussion ensemble, orchestra (6 flutes, 2 alto flutes, 3 clarinets, contrabass clarinet, 6 trumpets, 2 harps, 2 pianos, Hammond organ, strings, 2 bass guitars)
- Commentaar (1981) (text by Wilhelm Schön) for voice, piano
- Ende (1981) for 2 alto recorders (1 player)
- La voce (1981) (to a text by Cesare Pavese) for cello, voice
- Disco (1982) violin, piano
- Overture to Orpheus (1982) for harpsichord
- De Snelheid (1982-83 rev. 1984) for 3 amplified ensembles
- Y después (1983) (text by Federico García Lorca) for voice, piano
- Menuet voor Marianne (1983) for piano
- Trepidus (1983) for piano
- Doctor Nero (1984) Music theatre work
- Berceuse voor Annie van Os (1985) for piano
- De Lijn (1986) for 3 flutes
- Dubbelspoor (1986 rev. 1994) Ballet music for piano, harpsichord, celesta, glockenspiel
- De Materie (1984-88)(texts from the Plakkaat van Verlatinge, Nicolaes Witsen, David Gorlaeus, Hadewijch, M.H.J. Schoenmaekers, Madame van Domselaer-Middelkoop, Willem Kloos, Marie Curie, Françoise Giroud) Music theatre work for soprano, tenor, 2 female speakers, 8 amplified mixed voices, amplified orchestra (15 winds, 13 brass, harp, 2 electric guitars, 2 pianos [one + electric piano], off-stage upright piano, celesta, 2 synthesizers, 6 percussion, minimum 9 strings, bass guitar. Two of its four sections may be performed separately as concert works: [2] Hadewijch, [3] De Stijl
- De Toren (1988, rev. 2000) for carillon
- Nietzsche redet (1989) (text by Friedrich Nietzsche) for speaker, alto flute, English horn, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, 2 violins, viola, 2 celli, double bass, 2 pianos
- Facing Death (1990) for amplified string quartet
- Dances (1991) (text by Joan Grant, choreography by Bianca van Dillen) For soprano, small orchestra (amplified harp, amplified piano, percussion, strings). May be performed as a concert work.
- M is for Man, Music, Mozart (1991) (texts by the composer, Jeroen van der Linden, Peter Greenaway) for female jazz voice, flute (+ piccolo), soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, horn, 3 trumpets, 2 trombones, bass trombone, double bass, piano (TV score; may be performed as a concert work with one additional song)
- Lacrimosa (1991) for 2 bassoons
- Hout (1991) for tenor saxophone, electric guitar, piano, marimba (+ woodblocks)
- Romance voor Caecilia (1991) for piano
- Nadir en Zenit (1992) improvisations on poems by Sybren Polet for voice, piano (+ synthesizer)
- ...not being sundered (1992) (text by Rainer Maria Rilke) for soprano, flute, cello
- Song Lines (1992) for 3-6 saxophones
- Deuxième chorale (1992) for music box
- The Memory of Roses (1992) for piano (+ toy piano)
- Chorale (1992) for piano
- M is Muziek, Monoloog en Moord(1993) (text by Lodewijk de Boer) Music theatre work
- Lied (1993) for piano
- Rosa - A Horse Drama: The Death of a Composer (1993-94) (libretto by Peter Greenaway) Opera for 2 sopranos, tenor, 2 baritones, female speaker, 8 mixed voices, orchestra.
- Een lied van de zee (1994) (text by Hélène Swarth) for female voice
- Zilver (1994) for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, vibraphone, marimba
- Base (1994) for piano left hand
- Odysseus' Women (1995) (text by Homer, choreography by Beppie Blankert) for 2 sopranos, 2 altos, sampler
- De komst van Willibrord (1995) for carillon
- To Pauline O (1995) for oboe
- Machmes Wos (1996) for voice, piano
- Trilogie van de Laatste Dag (1996-97) (each of its three sections may be performed separately: (i) The Last Day (texts by Lucebert, folksong A Woman and Her Lass) for boy soprano, 4 male voices, orchestra; (ii) TAO (texts by Laozi, Kotaro Takamura) for 4 female voices, piano [+ voice, koto], small orchestra [5 winds, 2 horns, harp, piano (+ celesta), 2 percussion, minimum 14 strings]; (iii) Dancing on the Bones (text by the composer) for children's chorus, orchestra, 1997)
- De herauten (1997) for 3 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani
- Not an Anfang (1997) for piano
- De eerste minnaar (1998) (text by Ton Tellegen) for boy soprano, organ, 1998 (section of music theatre work Oldenbarneveldt; may be performed as a concert work)
- Tuin van Zink (1998) for viola, live electronics
- Writing to Vermeer (1997-99) (libretto by Peter Greenaway) Opera for 2 children's voices, 2 sopranos, mezzo-soprano, female chorus, orchestra (7 winds, 2 horns, 2 trumpets [2nd + bass trumpet], 2 harps, 2 electric guitars, cimbalom, 2 pianos, on-stage harpsichord, 2 percussion, minimum 22 strings), CD (music by Michel van der Aa)
- Woodpecker (1999) for percussion
- Image de Moreau (1999) for piano
- Dirck Sweelinck Missed the Prince (1999) for harpsichord
- Passeggiata in tram in America e ritorno (1999) (text by Dino Campana) for female Italian voice, violin and piano
- What Shall I Buy You, Son? (2000) for voice, piano
- Boodschappenlijstje van een gifmengster (2000) (text by the composer) for vocalist (also writes), voice (may be performed as Shopping List of a Poisoner [translated by Nicoline Gatehouse]
- Inanna's Descent (2000) for mezzo-soprano, piccolo, oboe, violin, piano, 2 percussion ensembles (4-12 total players)
- The New Math(s) (2000) (text by Hal Hartley) for soprano, transverse flute, violin, marimba, CD (music by Michel van der Aa), 2000 (film score; may be performed as a concert work)
- Feli-citazione (2000) for piano
- Passeggiata in tram in America e ritorno (2001) (text by Dino Campana) for female Italian voice, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, electric guitar, electric violin, double bass, piano, percussion, 1998 (also version for voice, flute, horn, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, amplified violin, double bass, piano
- De vleugels van de herinnering (2001) (text by Larissa Tiginachvili [Dutch translation]) for voice, piano
- Fanfare om te beginnen (2001) for 6 groups of horns
- La Passione (2000-02) (text by Dino Campana) for female jazz voice, violin, small orchestra (7 winds, 7 brass, electric guitar, cimbalom, 2 pianos, synthesizer, 2 percussion, 3 violins, bass guitar)
- Very Sharp Trumpet Sonata (2002) for trumpet
- Strijkkwartet No. 2, 'Tuin van Eros (2002) for string quartet
- Klokken voor Haarlem (2002) for piano, celesta, synthesizer, vibraphone (+ glockenspiel)
- Inanna (2003) texts by Hal Hartley, Theo J.H. Krispijn) for 4 voices, 3 actors, mixed chorus, contrabass clarinet, 4 saxophones, violin, film (by Hal Hartley)
- Letter from Cathy (2003) (text from a letter by Cathy Berberian to the composer) for female jazz voice, harp, violin, double bass, piano, percussion
- Tuin van Eros (2003) for violin, piano
- RUTTMANN Opus II, III, IV (2003) for flute, 3 saxophones, horn, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, double bass, piano
- Haags Hakkuh – The Hague Hacking (2003) for 2 pianos
- Racconto dall'inferno (2004) (text by Dante Alighieri) for female jazz voice, small orchestra (8 winds, 6 brass, guitar, cimbalom, 2 pianos, 2 percussion, minimum 8 strings, bass guitar)
- Xenia (2005) for violin
Notable students
External links
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