Jan Boerman
Encyclopedia
Jan Boerman was born in The Hague
on June 30, 1923. He has been in electronic music
studios since 1959. The Delft Polytechnic in Utrecht
, from which the world-famous Institute of Sonology was developed, housed the first electronic music studio in Holland after the Philips laboratory in Eindhoven, which was not generally open to composers.
A select few composers were invited to work at Eindhoven, including Edgard Varèse
(who created his Poème électronique
there in 1958), but by 1960, Philips decided to close the facilities. It generously passed its equipment on to the Delft Polytechnic, which quickly became the primary site for electronic music in the Netherlands
. Administrative problems, however, caused both Jan Boerman and Dick Raaijmakers to leave Utrecht in 1963, whereupon they began setting up a private studio in the Hague.
Their facility eventually became incorporated into the Royal Conservatory of Music
, and both men became members of the faculty. (Many years later, in 1986, the Institute of Sonology echoed their move by transferring from Utrecht to the Royal Conservatory in the Hague.)
Jan Boerman was trained in the traditional manner as a pianist and composer, and his initial exposure to the electronic music studio was both a shock and a revelation. There was relatively little "repertoire" in this new domain, so, while he had been struggling with serialism
and "finding his voice", Boerman quickly intuited that here was a vast new terrain to explore, quite free from the stylistic pressures (i.e., the triumvirate of Paris, Darmstadt, and Cologne) that were so powerfully felt at that time in Europe. Dick Raaijmakers, on the other hand, had been studying broadcasting, recording, and applied electronics at Philips, so was more naturally drawn into the world of studio composition.
(composition).
From 1956 onwards, Boerman worked in the electronic studios of Delft Polytechnic, Utrecht State University and of The Hague Royal Conservatory of Music, where he has also taught electronic composition (after 1974), and piano.
In the 1960s, Boerman developed a unique method of composition which featured concepts of timbre-movement and tone length proportion that are remarkable. During endless experimentation in the studio, Boerman, like a true alchemist, transformed "dead" tones into "live" sounds. From this untamed world of sound, he brought forth works of great dramatic power through his mastery of the Golden Section. Since the 1970s, he has integrated live electronic music with instrumental and vocal music
. Boerman has also composed theatre and ballet music, "music for the listening museum" and, in collaboration with architect Jan Hoogstad
, "music as architectonic space".
Since 1974, as Professor of Electronic Composition at the Royal Conservatory in the Hague, he has assisted many young composers in finding their way forward. Boerman has received the Matthijs Vermeulen Award
Prize for his entire body of work and the Willem Pijper
Prize for his composition Vocalise 1994. The complete music tape of Jan Boerman appeared in 1998, on CD (CV-NEAR 04/05/06/07/08), and won the Edison 1999 award for Dutch recorded music.
for his entire oeuvre. In 1997, he was awarded the Willem Pijper
Prize for his Vocalise. In 1999, Jan Boerman won the Edison award
for Dutch recorded music, for his aforementioned music tape.
works; the main part of his oeuvre, however, consists of electronic music. He is one of the few composers who persisted in composing for tape. It wasn't until 1976, that Boerman ventured to include "live" sounds in his work: the result was Vocalise - Voorstudie (Preparatory study for a Vocalise). It was followed by an "orthodox" tape: Kompositie 1979. For the ensemble Het Nieuwe Leven, he composed "Weerstand" ("Resistance", 1982) for tape and percussion, and later "Ontketening" ("Unchainment", 1983), for tape and metal instruments. Boerman has also written electronic ballet music
, including "De touwen van de tijd" ("The ropes of time") and "Monument voor een gestorven jongen" ("Monument for a dead boy"). "Muziek voor slagwerk en orkest" ("Music for percussion and orchestra", 1991) was performed during the Holland Festival
of 1991.
The complete tape music of Jan Boerman is published on CD by NEAR / Donemus: CV-NEAR 04/05/06/07/08. See for more information: the NEAR Composer's Voice cd's.
* score published by Donemus, Amsterdam.
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...
on June 30, 1923. He has been in electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
studios since 1959. The Delft Polytechnic in 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...
, from which the world-famous Institute of Sonology was developed, housed the first electronic music studio in Holland after the Philips laboratory in Eindhoven, which was not generally open to composers.
A select few composers were invited to work at Eindhoven, including Edgard Varèse
Edgard Varèse
Edgard Victor Achille Charles Varèse, , whose name was also spelled Edgar Varèse , was an innovative French-born composer who spent the greater part of his career in the United States....
(who created his Poème électronique
Poème électronique
Poème électronique is a piece of electronic music by composer Edgard Varèse, written for the Philips Pavilion at the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair. The Philips corporation commissioned Le Corbusier to design the pavilion, which was intended as a showcase of their engineering progress...
there in 1958), but by 1960, Philips decided to close the facilities. It generously passed its equipment on to the Delft Polytechnic, which quickly became the primary site for electronic music in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. Administrative problems, however, caused both Jan Boerman and Dick Raaijmakers to leave Utrecht in 1963, whereupon they began setting up a private studio in the Hague.
Their facility eventually became incorporated into the Royal Conservatory of Music
Royal Conservatory of Music
The Royal Conservatory of Music is a music school and performance venue in Toronto, Canada. Other uses of the term include:*The Madrid Royal Conservatory, Spain*The Royal Academy of Music, London, United Kingdom...
, and both men became members of the faculty. (Many years later, in 1986, the Institute of Sonology echoed their move by transferring from Utrecht to the Royal Conservatory in the Hague.)
Jan Boerman was trained in the traditional manner as a pianist and composer, and his initial exposure to the electronic music studio was both a shock and a revelation. There was relatively little "repertoire" in this new domain, so, while he had been struggling with serialism
Serialism
In music, serialism is a method or technique of composition that uses a series of values to manipulate different musical elements. Serialism began primarily with Arnold Schoenberg's twelve-tone technique, though his contemporaries were also working to establish serialism as one example of...
and "finding his voice", Boerman quickly intuited that here was a vast new terrain to explore, quite free from the stylistic pressures (i.e., the triumvirate of Paris, Darmstadt, and Cologne) that were so powerfully felt at that time in Europe. Dick Raaijmakers, on the other hand, had been studying broadcasting, recording, and applied electronics at Philips, so was more naturally drawn into the world of studio composition.
Musical education
He studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music in his home town, with Léon Orthel (piano) and, from 1945, with Hendrik AndriessenHendrik Andriessen
Hendrik Franciscus Andriessen was a Dutch composer and organist. He is remembered most of all for his improvisation at the organ and for the renewal of Catholic liturgical music in the Netherlands. Andriessen composed in a musical idiom that revealed strong French influences...
(composition).
Activities
Since 1959, Boerman has built up a vast body of work featuring electronic compositions of unique quality and unparalleled international stature. He integrates concrete acoustic sounds with devised synthesized sounds within a composition to create "music spaces" that take the listener into the unexplored areas between "tone and noise".From 1956 onwards, Boerman worked in the electronic studios of Delft Polytechnic, Utrecht State University and of The Hague Royal Conservatory of Music, where he has also taught electronic composition (after 1974), and piano.
In the 1960s, Boerman developed a unique method of composition which featured concepts of timbre-movement and tone length proportion that are remarkable. During endless experimentation in the studio, Boerman, like a true alchemist, transformed "dead" tones into "live" sounds. From this untamed world of sound, he brought forth works of great dramatic power through his mastery of the Golden Section. Since the 1970s, he has integrated live electronic music with instrumental and vocal music
Vocal music
Vocal music is a genre of music performed by one or more singers, with or without instrumental accompaniment, in which singing provides the main focus of the piece. Music which employs singing but does not feature it prominently is generally considered instrumental music Vocal music is a genre of...
. Boerman has also composed theatre and ballet music, "music for the listening museum" and, in collaboration with architect Jan Hoogstad
Jan Hoogstad
Jan Hoogstad , is a Dutch architect. His best known building is the VROM Building in The Hague.- Biography :Other projects include the TNO-NiTG Building at the Utrecht Uithof complex and the Enschede Muziekkwartier...
, "music as architectonic space".
Since 1974, as Professor of Electronic Composition at the Royal Conservatory in the Hague, he has assisted many young composers in finding their way forward. Boerman has received the Matthijs Vermeulen Award
Matthijs Vermeulen Award
The Matthijs Vermeulen Award is a Dutch composition prize. It was named after the Dutch composer Matthijs Vermeulen .During the years 1972 through 2004, the prize was awarded annually by the Amsterdam Foundation for the Arts...
Prize for his entire body of work and the Willem Pijper
Willem Pijper
Willem Pijper ; Zeist, 8 September 1894 - Utrecht, 18 March 1947) was a Dutch composer, music critic and music teacher.-Life:Pijper was born at Zeist, near Utrecht, on 8 September 1894 of strict Calvinist working-class parents. His father, who sometimes played psalm accompaniments on the harmonium,...
Prize for his composition Vocalise 1994. The complete music tape of Jan Boerman appeared in 1998, on CD (CV-NEAR 04/05/06/07/08), and won the Edison 1999 award for Dutch recorded music.
Prizes
In 1982, Boerman was awarded the Matthijs Vermeulen AwardMatthijs Vermeulen Award
The Matthijs Vermeulen Award is a Dutch composition prize. It was named after the Dutch composer Matthijs Vermeulen .During the years 1972 through 2004, the prize was awarded annually by the Amsterdam Foundation for the Arts...
for his entire oeuvre. In 1997, he was awarded the Willem Pijper
Willem Pijper
Willem Pijper ; Zeist, 8 September 1894 - Utrecht, 18 March 1947) was a Dutch composer, music critic and music teacher.-Life:Pijper was born at Zeist, near Utrecht, on 8 September 1894 of strict Calvinist working-class parents. His father, who sometimes played psalm accompaniments on the harmonium,...
Prize for his Vocalise. In 1999, Jan Boerman won the Edison award
The Edison Award
The Edison music award is an annual Dutch music prize, awarded for outstanding achievements in the music industry. It is one of the oldest music awards in the world, having been presented since 1960.-Origins:...
for Dutch recorded music, for his aforementioned music tape.
Compositions
Boerman has composed a number of orchestral and chamber musicChamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
works; the main part of his oeuvre, however, consists of electronic music. He is one of the few composers who persisted in composing for tape. It wasn't until 1976, that Boerman ventured to include "live" sounds in his work: the result was Vocalise - Voorstudie (Preparatory study for a Vocalise). It was followed by an "orthodox" tape: Kompositie 1979. For the ensemble Het Nieuwe Leven, he composed "Weerstand" ("Resistance", 1982) for tape and percussion, and later "Ontketening" ("Unchainment", 1983), for tape and metal instruments. Boerman has also written electronic ballet music
Ballet (music)
Ballet as a music form progressed from simply a complement to dance, to a concrete compositional form that often had as much value as the dance that went along with it. The dance form, originating in France during the 17th century, began as a theatrical dance. It was not until the 19th century that...
, including "De touwen van de tijd" ("The ropes of time") and "Monument voor een gestorven jongen" ("Monument for a dead boy"). "Muziek voor slagwerk en orkest" ("Music for percussion and orchestra", 1991) was performed during the 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...
of 1991.
- no date Adagio, for orchestra no date Scherzo, for orchestra
- no date Symfonisch rondo, for orchestra
- no date Muziek tegen 2 dansers, balletmusic for piano
- 1950 4 Stukken voor piano (Four Pieces for Piano) 30'
- 1955 Kleine toccate, for piano (published by Alsbach, Amsterdam)
- 1956 Prelude, Rondo, Fantasia, Finale, for 2 piano's* 30'
- 1959 Musique concrèteMusique concrèteMusique concrète is a form of electroacoustic music that utilises acousmatic sound as a compositional resource. The compositional material is not restricted to the inclusion of sounds derived from musical instruments or voices, nor to elements traditionally thought of as "musical"...
, electronic music - 1960 Alliage, electronic music 10'
- 1960 Rhinoceros (text: Ionesco), electronic theatermusic
- 1961 Etude sonore, electronic music
- 1961 Alchemie 1961, electronic music 13'
- 1963 Illusie, balletmusic
- 1964 Een groot dood dier (text: B. Schierbeek), electronic theatermusic
- 1964 De bouwers van het rijk (text: B. Vian), electronic theatermusic
- 1965 Monument voor een gestorven jongen, electronic balletmusic
- 1965 De zee I, electronic music* 26'
- 1966 De zee II, electronic music* 18'
- 1968 Zonnesteen (tekst: O. Paz), for speaking voice and electronic music* 35'
- 1970 The ropes of time, electronic balletmusic
- 1970 Negen varianten, electronic music
- 1970 Kompositie voor twee piano's, for two piano's
- 1972 Kompositie 1972, electronic music* 13'
- 1974 Kompositie 1974, electronic music 12'
- 1976 Vocalise-voorstudie, electronic music
- 1979 Kompositie 1979, electronic music* 18'
- 1980 3 Stukken voor 2 piano's 45'
- 1981 Weerstand, music for el. guitar and tapes* 22'
- 1983 Ontketening I, for 3 aluminium plates and tapes 28'
- 1984 Ontketening II, for percussion, electronics and tape* 30'
- 1988 Maasproject, for brass, Fairlight computer-synthesizer and 16 track tape
- 1988 Vlechtwerk, electronic music* 13'
- 1989 Kompositie 1989, (het evenwicht), electronic music* 19'
- 1989 Die Vögel, for choir, brass quartet and 2 tapes* 40'
- 1990 Voor de Fabriek, electronic music
- 1991 Tellurisch, electronic music*32'
- 1991 Muziek voor slagwerk en orkest*, for percussion and orchestra 22'
- 1992 Cortège, for 2 pianos* 17'
- 1993 Scherzo, for 2 pianos* 15'
- 1993 Vocalise, electronic music 32'
- 1994 Vocalise 1994, electronic music*
- 1994 Fuga, for 2 piano's
- 1994 Maasproject (Klank-Kleur-Beweging), electronic music* 36'
- 1994 Kringloop I-II-III, electronic music* 40'
- 1995 Muziek voor het Maasproject I-II, electronic music*
- 1995 Kringloop I-II, electronic music*
- 1996 Introductie en fuga, for 2 piano's* 11'
- 1997 Ruïne, electronic music* 16'
The complete tape music of Jan Boerman is published on CD by NEAR / Donemus: CV-NEAR 04/05/06/07/08. See for more information: the NEAR Composer's Voice cd's.