Sigiswald Kuijken
Encyclopedia
Sigiswald Kuijken (ˌsiɣɪsʋɑlt ˈkœykən, born 16 February 1944) is a Belgian violin
ist, violist
, and conductor
known for playing on authentic instruments.
in 1972. Since 1971 he has taught Baroque
violin
at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague
and the Koninklijk Muziekconservatorium in Brussels
. He is noted for using the older technique of resting the violin on the shoulder without a shoulder rest, rather than held under the chin. He is a member of the Kuijken String Quartet, which he formed in 1986. In recent years, he has also performed as conductor of symphonies of the Romantic era.
His brothers are also known for historically informed performance
: Barthold Kuijken
is a flautist
and recorder
player and Wieland Kuijken
, also a member of the Kuijken Quartet, is a cellist and gambist. They have all worked extensively with harpsichordist
Gustav Leonhardt
.
On 2 February 2007, he was awarded the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa by the Catholic University of Leuven (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
, Belgium
).
and Andrew Parrott
on the authentic performance of Bach's masses, cantatas and passions, Sigiswald Kuijken has also introduced important innovations in the performance of the (religious) vocal music of Bach. He limits the vocal part to a solo vocal quartet (which Bach himself sometimes extended to eight singers) instead of a choir. He also has reduced the number of instrumentalists according to the original personnel. This allows for the fine musical texture and the correct text declamation to come better into its own. Sigiswald Kuijken is adopting this new approach in his recording for Accent Records
of a 17-part CD series entitled Cantatas of JS Bach (being recorded over the period of 2005-2012).
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist, violist
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
, and conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
known for playing on authentic instruments.
Biography
Kuijken was born in Dilbeek, near Brussels. He was a member of the Alarius Ensemble of Brussels between 1964 and 1972 and formed La Petite BandeLa Petite Bande
La Petite Bande is a Belgium-based ensemble specialising in Baroque music played on period instruments. They are particularly known for their recordings of works by Corelli, Rameau, Handel, and Bach.-History:...
in 1972. Since 1971 he has taught Baroque
Baroque music
Baroque music describes a style of Western Classical music approximately extending from 1600 to 1760. This era follows the Renaissance and was followed in turn by the Classical era...
violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague
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:...
and the Koninklijk Muziekconservatorium in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
. He is noted for using the older technique of resting the violin on the shoulder without a shoulder rest, rather than held under the chin. He is a member of the Kuijken String Quartet, which he formed in 1986. In recent years, he has also performed as conductor of symphonies of the Romantic era.
His brothers are also known for historically informed performance
Historically informed performance
Historically informed performance is an approach in the performance of music and theater. Within this approach, the performance adheres to state-of-the-art knowledge of the aesthetic criteria of the period in which the music or theatre work was conceived...
: Barthold Kuijken
Barthold Kuijken
Barthold Kuijken is a Belgian flautist and recorder player, known for playing baroque music on authentic instruments and particularly known for pioneering this manner of performance with his brothers, cellist and viol player Wieland Kuijken and violinist Sigiswald Kuijken and the harpsichordist...
is a flautist
Flautist
A flautist or flutist is a musician who plays an instrument in the flute family. See List of flautists.The choice of "flautist" versus "flutist" is the source of dispute among players of the instrument...
and 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...
player and Wieland Kuijken
Wieland Kuijken
Wieland Kuijken is a Belgian musician and player of the viola da gamba and baroque cello.Kuijken started his career in music in 1952 with the Brussels Alariusensemble of which he formed part until 1972...
, also a member of the Kuijken Quartet, is a cellist and gambist. They have all worked extensively with harpsichordist
Harpsichordist
A harpsichordist is a person who plays the harpsichord.Many baroque composers played the harpsichord, including Johann Sebastian Bach, Domenico Scarlatti, George Frideric Handel, François Couperin and Jean-Philippe Rameau...
Gustav Leonhardt
Gustav Leonhardt
Gustav Leonhardt is a highly renowned Dutch keyboard player, conductor, musicologist, teacher and editor. Leonhardt has been a leading figure in the movement to perform music on period instruments...
.
On 2 February 2007, he was awarded the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa by the Catholic University of Leuven (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven is a Dutch-speaking university in Flanders, Belgium.It is located at the centre of the historic town of Leuven, and is a prominent part of the city, home to the university since 1425...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
).
Cantatas of J.S. Bach
Based on the results of extensive source research by Joshua RifkinJoshua Rifkin
Joshua Rifkin is an American conductor, keyboard player, and musicologist. He is best known by the general public for having played a central role in the ragtime revival in the 1970s with the three albums he recorded of Scott Joplin's works for Nonesuch Records, and to classical musicians for his...
and Andrew Parrott
Andrew Parrott
Andrew Parrott is a British conductor, perhaps best known for his pioneering historically informed performances of pre-classical music. He conducts a wide range of repertoire, including contemporary music. He conducted the premiere of Judith Weir's A Night at the Chinese Opera...
on the authentic performance of Bach's masses, cantatas and passions, Sigiswald Kuijken has also introduced important innovations in the performance of the (religious) vocal music of Bach. He limits the vocal part to a solo vocal quartet (which Bach himself sometimes extended to eight singers) instead of a choir. He also has reduced the number of instrumentalists according to the original personnel. This allows for the fine musical texture and the correct text declamation to come better into its own. Sigiswald Kuijken is adopting this new approach in his recording for Accent Records
Accent Records
Accent Records is a Belgian record label started in 1978 by Adelheid and Andreas Glatt, releasing classical music from between 1500 AD and the 20th century, but primarily from the 17th and 18th centuries.- Artists having recorded for Accent Records include :...
of a 17-part CD series entitled Cantatas of JS Bach (being recorded over the period of 2005-2012).
External links
- Official site of La Petite Bande
- Sigiswald Kuijken turns sixty http://ronnydeschepper.wordpress.com/2009/02/03/sigiswald-kuijken-wordt-zestig
- Sigiswald Kuijken's Bach Project http://www.newolde.com/kuijken_bach_project.htm
- Sigiswald Kuijken & La Petite Bande Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Performers/Kuijken.htm