Ivo van Emmerik
Encyclopedia
Ivo van Emmerik is a Dutch composer.
Ivo van Emmerik lives and works in Zwolle
, where he teaches twentieth-century music at the Arnhem/Zwolle School of Music (ArteZ Institute of the Arts).
He studied composition with Robert Heppener at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam and Brian Ferneyhough
at the Royal Conservatory
in The Hague
. He attended summer courses in Middelburg given by Morton Feldman
and John Cage
that were of great importance to his musical development.
In 1989 he completed, with honors, his studies in The Hague. Since then, his work has been performed regularly in the Netherlands as well as in other European countries (such as Germany, Russia, Italy).
He wrote for such ensembles and soloists as the Nieuw Ensemble
, orchestra 'de ereprijs', Percussiongroup The Hague, Trio Dolce, pianist Anthony de Mare and Ensemble Kontext Basel.
His composition Thought for three soloists and orchestra (1990), written for the Residentie Orkest
, was premiered during the 1991 Holland Festival
by Het Trio (Harry Sparnaay
, Harrie Starreveld and René Eckhardt) as soloists, Hans Vonk and Alexandru Lascae conducting.
A close association with the Ives Ensemble resulted in a number of large scale works such as Documents pour servir de canevas (1990–1992) a 45-minute cycle of six compositions for ensembles of between three to nine musicians and Birdstone (1998) a composition for two instrumental groups.
Since the mid-1990s spatial elements often come to the fore in Van Emmerik's work, for instance in De Leesmachine A-D (1994), a multi-media composition realized in collaboration with photographer and film-maker Frank Zweers and painter Ellie van der Meer. In this work not only the musicians are placed in two spatially separated groups, but also images and texts are projected into various points in space.
His orchestral work Ventriloquist (1996–1997), dedicated to his former teacher Robert Heppener, was performed for the first time in 1996 by the Nederlands Kamerorkest with Ed Spanjaard
conducting, and it was repeated the following year under Lucas Vis at the occasion of a concert to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Donemus
.
In 1999 he was one of the first Dutch composers who, in close collaboration with visual artists, wrote a work for CD-Rom: Als een gelaat van zand bij de grens der zee (1998–1999), a work which has been performed many times in the Netherlands.
As artistic advisor of the Prime Foundation Groningen he was involved between 1990 and 2002 in organizing festivals around internationally renowned composers such as Morton Feldman (1991), John Cage (1992), Dieter Schnebel
(1993), Christian Wolff
(1994), Luc Ferrari
(1995), Henry Brant
(1997), George Crumb
(2000) and Wolfgang Rihm
(2001).
His music was performed during the following international festivals:
Ivo van Emmerik lives and works in Zwolle
Zwolle
Zwolle is a municipality and the capital city of the province of Overijssel, Netherlands, 120 kilometers northeast of Amsterdam. Zwolle has about 120,000 citizens.-History:...
, where he teaches twentieth-century music at the Arnhem/Zwolle School of Music (ArteZ Institute of the Arts).
He studied composition with Robert Heppener at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam and Brian Ferneyhough
Brian Ferneyhough
Brian John Peter Ferneyhough is an English composer. His music is characterized by the extensive use of complex rhythmic tuplet notation which features in all his works...
at the Royal Conservatory
Royal Conservatory of The Hague
The Royal Conservatory of The Hague is a conservatorium of music, providing higher education in music and dance, it is located in The Hague, Netherlands.-The Conservatory:...
in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
. He attended summer courses in Middelburg given by Morton Feldman
Morton Feldman
Morton Feldman was an American composer, born in New York City.A major figure in 20th century music, Feldman was a pioneer of indeterminate music, a development associated with the experimental New York School of composers also including John Cage, Christian Wolff, and Earle Brown...
and John Cage
John Cage
John Milton Cage Jr. was an American composer, music theorist, writer, philosopher and artist. A pioneer of indeterminacy in music, electroacoustic music, and non-standard use of musical instruments, Cage was one of the leading figures of the post-war avant-garde...
that were of great importance to his musical development.
In 1989 he completed, with honors, his studies in The Hague. Since then, his work has been performed regularly in the Netherlands as well as in other European countries (such as Germany, Russia, Italy).
He wrote for such ensembles and soloists as the Nieuw Ensemble
Nieuw Ensemble
The Nieuw Ensemble was founded in 1980 in Amsterdam. It has a unique instrumental structure, using plucked instruments such as mandolin, guitar and harp in combination with wind, string and percussion. Ed Spanjaard has been the principal conductor since 1982...
, orchestra 'de ereprijs', Percussiongroup The Hague, Trio Dolce, pianist Anthony de Mare and Ensemble Kontext Basel.
His composition Thought for three soloists and orchestra (1990), written for the Residentie Orkest
Residentie Orchestra
Het Residentie Orkest is a Dutch orchestra based in The Hague. Its primary venue is the Dr. Anton Philipszaal....
, was premiered during the 1991 Holland Festival
Holland Festival
The Holland Festival is The Netherlands' oldest and largest performing arts festival, and takes place every June in Amsterdam. It comprises theater, music, opera and modern dance. In recent years, multimedia, visual arts, film and architecture were added to the festival roster...
by Het Trio (Harry Sparnaay
Harry Sparnaay
Harry Sparnaay is a noted Dutch bass clarinetist, composer, and teacher. He is the most well-known player of new music for the bass clarinet and has won the following: First Prize Gaudeamus Contest , Swedish Record Prize , Bulgarian Composers Union Award , Inaugural Sounds Australian Award ,...
, Harrie Starreveld and René Eckhardt) as soloists, Hans Vonk and Alexandru Lascae conducting.
A close association with the Ives Ensemble resulted in a number of large scale works such as Documents pour servir de canevas (1990–1992) a 45-minute cycle of six compositions for ensembles of between three to nine musicians and Birdstone (1998) a composition for two instrumental groups.
Since the mid-1990s spatial elements often come to the fore in Van Emmerik's work, for instance in De Leesmachine A-D (1994), a multi-media composition realized in collaboration with photographer and film-maker Frank Zweers and painter Ellie van der Meer. In this work not only the musicians are placed in two spatially separated groups, but also images and texts are projected into various points in space.
His orchestral work Ventriloquist (1996–1997), dedicated to his former teacher Robert Heppener, was performed for the first time in 1996 by the Nederlands Kamerorkest with Ed Spanjaard
Ed Spanjaard
Eduard Philip Spanjaard is a Dutch conductor and pianist.-Early life:Ed Spanjaard his father was psychiatrist and amateur pianist, and his mother played the flute. Spanjaard studied at the Conservatorium van de Vereniging Muzieklyceum at Amsterdam and afterwards at the Guildhall School of Music...
conducting, and it was repeated the following year under Lucas Vis at the occasion of a concert to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Donemus
Donemus
Donemus is the Dutch institute dealing with the documentation of contemporary music composed in the Netherlands....
.
In 1999 he was one of the first Dutch composers who, in close collaboration with visual artists, wrote a work for CD-Rom: Als een gelaat van zand bij de grens der zee (1998–1999), a work which has been performed many times in the Netherlands.
As artistic advisor of the Prime Foundation Groningen he was involved between 1990 and 2002 in organizing festivals around internationally renowned composers such as Morton Feldman (1991), John Cage (1992), Dieter Schnebel
Dieter Schnebel
Dieter Schnebel is a composer. From 1976 until his retirement in 1995, Schnebel served as professor of experimental music at the Berlin Hochschule der Künste.-Career:...
(1993), Christian Wolff
Christian Wolff (composer)
Christian G. Wolff is an American composer of experimental classical music.-Biography:Wolff was born in Nice in France to German literary publishers Helen and Kurt Wolff, who had published works by Franz Kafka, Robert Musil, and Walter Benjamin. After relocating to the U.S...
(1994), Luc Ferrari
Luc Ferrari
Luc Ferrari was of an Italian heritage but French born composer, particularly noted for his tape music.-Biography:...
(1995), Henry Brant
Henry Brant
Henry Dreyfuss Brant was a Canadian-born American composer. An expert orchestrator with a flair for experimentation, many of Brant's works featured spatialization techniques.- Biography :...
(1997), George Crumb
George Crumb
George Crumb is an American composer of contemporary classical music. He is noted as an explorer of unusual timbres, alternative forms of notation, and extended instrumental and vocal techniques. Examples include seagull effect for the cello , metallic vibrato for the piano George Crumb (born...
(2000) and Wolfgang Rihm
Wolfgang Rihm
Wolfgang Rihm is a German composer.Rihm is Head of the Institute of Modern Music at the Karlsruhe Conservatory of Music and has been composer in residence at the Lucerne Festival and the Salzburg Festival...
(2001).
His music was performed during the following international festivals:
- Eerste Internationale Blokfluitweek (Amsterdam, 1988)
- Festival Nieuwe Muziek Zeeland (Middelburg, 1988)
- Nederlandse Muziekdagen (Utrecht, 1989 & 1990)
- Ferienkurse für Neue Musik (Darmstadt, 1990)
- Off Holland Festival (Amsterdam, 1990)
- Nuove Sincronie (Milaan, 1990)
- Holland FestivalHolland FestivalThe Holland Festival is The Netherlands' oldest and largest performing arts festival, and takes place every June in Amsterdam. It comprises theater, music, opera and modern dance. In recent years, multimedia, visual arts, film and architecture were added to the festival roster...
(Amsterdam and Den Haag, 1991) - Music Biennale ZagrebMusic Biennale ZagrebMusic Biennale Zagreb is an international festival of contemporary music in Zagreb, Croatia, organized by the Croatian Composers' Society. The Biennale, founded by Milko Kelemen and held every spring of the odd years since 1961, has become one of the most important festivals of contemporary music...
(1991) - But What About the Noise..." (Groningen, 1992)
- Visual Minds (Groningen, 1994)
- Tweede Internationale Accordeonweek (Amsterdam, 1995)
- Gaudeamus Vertolkers ConcoursGaudeamus International Composers AwardThe Gaudeamus International Composers Award is a European award issued by the Music Center the Netherlands...
(Rotterdam, 1996) - Animato Festival (Rome, 1996)
- Festival SpatioMusica (Cagliari, Sardinia, 1998)
- Terry Riley Festival (Groningen, 2002)
- Transit Festival (Leuven, 2004)