Louis Andriessen


Louis Joseph Andriessen was a Dutch composer, pianist and academic teacher. Considered the most influential Dutch composer of his generation, he was a central proponent of The Hague school of composition. Although his music was initially dominated by neoclassicism and serialism, his style gradually shifted to a synthesis of American minimalism, big band jazz and the expressionism of Igor Stravinsky.
Born in Utrecht into a musical family, Andriessen studied with his father, the composer Hendrik Andriessen as well as composers Kees van Baaren and Luciano Berio. Andriessen taught at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague from 1974 to 2012, influencing notable composers. His opera La Commedia, based on Dante's Divine Comedy, won the 2011 Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition and was selected in 2019 by critics at The Guardian as one of the most outstanding compositions of the 21st century.

Life and career

Andriessen was born in Utrecht on 6 June 1939 to a musical family, the son of the composer Hendrik Andriessen and Johanna Justina Anschütz. His father was professor of composition at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague, and later its director. His siblings were composers Jurriaan Andriessen and Caecilia Andriessen, and he is the nephew of Willem Andriessen.
Andriessen originally studied with his father and Kees van Baaren at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague, graduating in 1961 with a first prize, before embarking upon two years of study with Italian composer Luciano Berio in Milan and Berlin. His father introduced him to the works of Francis Poulenc and Eric Satie which he came to love. From 1961–65, Andriessen wrote for the daily De Volkskrant, and for De Gids magazine from 1966–69. Andriessen lived in Amsterdam starting in 1965.
In 1969, he was part of a group of protesters at a concert of the Concertgebouw Orchestra. They disrupted the concert with nutcrackers and bicycle horns, handing out leaflets on the dismal representation of Dutch new music in the orchestra's programming. The next year, he and the other "Nutcrackers" were given one-week prison sentences, and yet their protest sparked something of a social reform in the Dutch music scene.
Andriessen was internationally recognised as a composer with his 1976 De Staat which included texts from Plato's Republic. He was one of the founders of the Hague School, an avant-garde and minimalist movement from the second half of the 20th century. In later decades, he accepted commissions from major orchestras, including the San Francisco Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic. Andriessen was the focus of festivals in Tanglewood, London, Tokyo, Brisbane and New York. In 2008, he was elected an honorary member of the International Society for Contemporary Music ISCM. He held the Richard and Barbara Debs Composer's Chair at Carnegie Hall during the 2009–10 season.

Ensembles

In 1969, Andriessen co-founded Studio voor Elektro-Instrumentale Muziek STEIM in Amsterdam. In opposition to the classical orchestra, a structure seen as "hierarchical", he also helped founding the instrumental groups Orkest de Volharding and Hoketus, both of which performed compositions of the same names, formed by classical, jazz and pop musicians. He later became closely involved with the Schonberg and Asko ensembles and inspired the formation of the British ensemble Icebreaker.

Teaching

Andriessen joined the faculty of the Royal Conservatory in 1974. He taught instrumentation from 1974 to 1978 and taught composition there from 1978 to 2012, where he influenced notable students including Michel van der Aa, Richard Ayres and Steve Martland. Yale University invited him in 1987 to lecture on theory and composition, he was also guest lecturer at New York State University, Buffalo and Princeton. The arts faculty of the University of Leiden appointed him professor in 2004. One of his students was Raminta Šerkšnytė, a Lithuanian pianist and composer.

Personal life

Andriessen was married to guitarist Jeanette Yanikian. They were a couple for over 40 years, and were married in 1996. La Commedia is dedicated to Yanikian. He was married in 2012 a second time to violinist Monica Germino, for whom he wrote several works. In December 2020, she announced that Andriessen was suffering from dementia. He died on 1 July 2021 in Weesp at age 82.
Andriessen had one son, Lodewijk Torenbos-Andriessen, with dancer and theatre director Betsy Torenbos.

Style and notable works

Andriessen began in the style of an intentionally dry neoclassicism, but then turned into a strict serialist. His early works show experimentation with various contemporary trends: post-war serialism, pastiche, and tape. 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. From the early 1970s on he refused to write for conventional symphony orchestras and 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 repeatedly used his music for political confessions and messages, but he also referred to painting and philosophy. His range of inspiration was wide, including the music of Charles Ives in Anachronie I, the art of Piet Mondrian in De Stijl, the visions of Beguine mystic Hadewijch in Hadewijch, and shipbuilding and atomic theory in De Materie Part I.
Andriessen's later style is a unique blend of American sounds and European forms. His mature music combines the influences of jazz, American minimalism, and the music of Igor Stravinsky and Claude Vivier, containing minimalist-influenced polyrhythms, lyrical melodic fragments, and predominantly consonant harmonies disrupted by concentrated dissonance. Andriessen's music thus departs from post-war European serialism and its offshoots. By the 21st century he was widely regarded as Europe's most important minimalist composer.
His notable works include Workers Union, a melodically indeterminate piece "for any loud sounding group of instruments" whose score specifies rhythm and contour but not exact pitch; Mausoleum for two baritones and large ensemble; De Tijd for female singers and ensemble; De Snelheid, for three amplified ensembles; De Materie, 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 and Writing to Vermeer ; and La Passione for female voice, violin and ensemble. His 2008 opera La Commedia, based on Dante's Divine Comedy, won the 2011 Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition and was selected by critics at The Guardian as one of the most outstanding classical compositions of the 21st century in 2019.

Awards and honours

Works

Andriessen's primary publishers are Boosey & Hawkes and Donemus.
Complete list of works:Rondo Barbaro for pianoSonata for flute and piano Elegy for cello and pianoElegy for double bass and piano Nuit d'été for piano four handsQuartet in two movements for string quartetSéries for 2 pianosNocturnen for 2 sopranos, orchestra Percosse for flute, trumpet, bassoon and percussionProspettive e Retrospettive for pianoTrois Pièces for piano left handAanloop en sprongen for flute, oboe and clarinet in BbIttrospezione I for piano 4 handsJoli commentaire for piano 4 handsPaintings for one flutist and one pianistÉtude pour les timbres for pianoTriplum for guitar Canzone 3 for voice and pianoConstructions for a Ballet for orchestra, including Ondine, timbres voor orkestPlein-chant for flute and harp Ittrospezione II for large orchestraSweet for alto recorder Registers for pianoA flower song II for oboe soloA flower song III for violoncello soloIttrospezione III for 2 pianos and 3 instrumental groupsDouble for clarinet and piano Ittrospezione III – Fragment tenor saxophone ad libitum, 2 pianos Beatles Songs for female voice and pianoSouvenirs d'enfance for piano. Including amongst others: Nocturne, Ricercare, Allegro Marcato, As you like it, Blokken, Strawinsky, Rondo opus 1, Étude pour les timbres, dotted quarter note = 70Rage, rage against the dying of the light for 4 trombonesAnachronie I for large orchestraThe Garden of Ryoan-gi for 3 electronic organsWorum es ging und worum es geht for orchestraContra tempus for large ensembleChoralvorspiele for barrel organAnachronie II for oboe, small orchestra Hoe het is for 52 strings and live electronicsSonate op. 2 nr. 1 for piano with interruptions from string quartet Morality opera for soloists, 3 mixed choruses, orchestra, live electronicsDe negen symfonieën van Beethoven for ice cream bell, orchestraSpektakel for improvisational ensemble, small orchestra Vergeet mij niet for oboeLe voile du bonheur for violin and pianoeen, twee for organ, 10 instrumentalists and pianoIn Memoriam for tapeVolkslied for an unlimited number and kinds of instruments De Volharding for piano and wind instruments Dat gebeurt in Vietnam for wind ensembleArrangement of Solidaritätslied by Hanns Eisler for wind ensembleArrangement of Streikslied by Hanns Eisler for wind ensembleArrangement of In C by Terry Riley for wind ensembleArrangement of Bereits sprach der Welt by Hanns Eisler for wind ensembleArrangement of Tango by Igor Stravinsky for wind ensembleArrangement of La création du monde by Darius Milhaud for wind ensembleThanh Hoa for voice and pianoCanzone 3: Utinam for soprano, piano, 1962; Thanh Hoa, voice, pianoOn Jimmy Yancey for 9 winds, piano and double bass Voor Sater for wind ensembleAmsterdam Vrij for wind ensembleIl Duce for tapeThe family for ensemble Melodie for alto recorder and pianoArrangement of Ipanema and Gavea from Saudades do Brasil by Darius Milhaud for wind ensembleIl Principe for 2 mixed choruses, 8 winds, 3 horns, tuba, bass guitar, pianoWals for pianoSymfonieën der Nederlanden for 2 or more symphonic bands Nederland, let op uw schoonheyt for symphonic bandWorkers Union for any loud-sounding group of instrumentsDe Staat for 2 sopranos, 2 mezzo-sopranos, 4 oboes, 4 horns, 4 trumpets, 3 trombones, bass trombone, 2 harps, 2 electric guitars, 4 violas, bass guitar, 2 pianos Mattheus passie Music theatre work for 8 mixed voices, 2 oboes, Hammond organ, string quartet, double bassHoketus for 2 panpipes, 2 alto saxophones ad libitum, 2 bass guitars, 2 pianos, 2 electric pianos, 2 congasOrpheus Music theatre work for 8 mixed voices, lyricon, electric guitar, bass guitar, synthesizer, percussionSymphonie voor losse snaren for 12 stringsLaat toch vrij die straat for voice and pianoHymn to the Memory of Darius Milhaud Felicitatie for 3 trumpetsToespraak for speaker who also plays tromboneMausoleum for 2 high baritones, orchestra Music for the film The Alien George Sand Music theatre work for 8 mixed voices, 4 pianosUn beau baiser for mixed chorusMesse des pauvres by Erik Satie, arrangement by Louis Andriessen for choir, 15 solo strings, accordion, contrabass clarinet and harp Ende for 2 alto recorders Anfang for sopranino recorder and pianoDe Tijd for female chorus, percussion ensemble, orchestra Commentaar for voice and pianoLa voce for cello and voiceDisco for violin and pianoOverture to Orpheus for harpsichordDe Snelheid for 3 amplified ensemblesY después for voice and pianoMenuet voor Marianne for pianoTrepidus for pianoDoctor Nero Music theatre workBerceuse voor Annie van Os for pianoDe Lijn for 3 flutesDubbelspoor Ballet music for piano, harpsichord, celesta, glockenspielDe Materie . Music theatre work for soprano, tenor, 2 female speakers, 8 amplified mixed voices, amplified orchestra for carillonNietzsche redet for speaker, alto flute, English horn, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, 2 violins, viola, 2 celli, double bass, 2 pianosFlora Tristan for mixed choir a cappella Facing Death for amplified string quartetFacing Death for saxophone quartet Dances For soprano, small orchestra. May be performed as a concert work.M is for Man, Music, Mozart for female jazz voice, flute, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, horn, 3 trumpets, 2 trombones, bass trombone, double bass, piano Lacrimosa for 2 bassoonsLacrimosa for 2 flutes Hout for tenor saxophone, electric guitar, piano and marimba Romance voor Caecilia for pianoNadir en Zenit improvisations on poems by Sybren Polet for voice and piano ...not being sundered for soprano, flute, celloSong Lines for 3–6 saxophonesDeuxième chorale for music boxThe Memory of Roses for piano Chorale for pianoM is Muziek, Monoloog en Moord Music theatre workLied for pianoRosa – A Horse Drama: The Death of a Composer Opera for 2 sopranos, tenor, 2 baritones, female speaker, 8 mixed voices, orchestra.Een lied van de zee for female voiceZilver for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, vibraphone and marimbaBase for piano left handOdysseus' Women for 2 sopranos, 2 altos, samplerDe komst van Willibrord for carillonTo Pauline O for oboeMachmes Wos for voice, pianoTrilogie van de Laatste Dag The Last Day for boy soprano, 4 male voices, orchestra; TAO for 4 female voices, piano, small orchestra ; Dancing on the Bones De herauten for 3 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpaniNot an Anfang for pianoDe eerste minnaar for boy soprano, organ, 1998 Tuin van Zink for viola and live electronicsWriting to Vermeer Opera for 2 children's voices, 2 sopranos, mezzo-soprano, female chorus, orchestra, CD Woodpecker for percussionImage de Moreau for pianoDirck Sweelinck Missed the Prince for harpsichordPasseggiata in tram in America e ritorno for female Italian voice, violin and pianoWhat Shall I Buy You, Son? for voice, pianoBoodschappenlijstje van een gifmengster for vocalist, voice for mezzo-soprano, piccolo, oboe, violin, piano, 2 percussion ensembles The New Math for soprano, transverse flute, violin, marimba, CD, 2000 Feli-citazione for pianoPasseggiata in tram in America e ritorno for female Italian voice, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, electric guitar, electric violin, double bass, piano, percussion, 1998 for voice, pianoFanfare om te beginnen for 6 groups of hornsLa Passione for female jazz voice, violin, small orchestra Very Sharp Trumpet Sonata for trumpetTuin van Eros for string quartetKlokken voor Haarlem for piano, celesta, synthesizer, vibraphone Pupazzetti by Alfredo Casella, arranged by Louis Andriessen for ensemble in 2002–2003Inanna for 4 voices, 3 actors, mixed chorus, contrabass clarinet, 4 saxophones, violin, film Letter from Cathy for female jazz voice, harp, violin, double bass, piano, percussionTuin van Eros for violin and pianoRUTTMANN Opus II, III, IV for flute, 3 saxophones, horn, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, double bass, piano Haags Hakkûh for 2 pianos. Renamed to Haags Hakkûh Stukje in 2008.Racconto dall'inferno for female jazz voice, small orchestra. Part II of La Commedia.De Opening for ensemble Vermeer Pictures concert suite for orchestra from Writing to Vermeer XENIA for violinHymn to the memory of Darius Milhaud for ensemble Hellende Fanfare for voice and ensemble Raadsels for solo violinJohann Sebastian Bach's Prelude in b minor from the Well-Tempered Clavier BWV 866, arranged for string quartet with the first six bars augmented with a viola part by Igor Stravinsky, completed by Louis Andriessen ..miserere... for string quartetThe City of Dis or: The Ship of Fools for voices and ensemble. Part I of La Commedia.La Commedia. Film opera in five parts Haags Hakkûh for two pianos and large ensembleChristiaan Andriessens uitzicht op de Amstel for ensembleLife for ensemble, with film by Marijke van WarmerdamAnaïs Nin for singer, ensemble and film
  • La Girò, for violin solo and ensembleMysteriën, for orchestraTapdance, concerto for percussion and large ensembleTwo way ticket, for pianoTheatre of the World, a 'grotesque stagework' in nine scenes Mach's mit mir, Gott, for organSigns and Symbols, for wind ensemble and percussionAhania Weeping, for mixed chorusDe goddelijke routine, for organRimsky or La Monte Young, for pianoAgamemnon, for speaker and large orchestraSearching for unison, for pianoThe Only One, song cycle for female jazz singer and large ensemble, dedicated to Nora Fischer, who premiered the work at The Proms 2019May, for choir and orchestra