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Louis AndriessenDutch composer, historian and music theorist.
Date of Birth: 06.06.1939
Country:  Netherlands |
Content:
Biography of Louis Andriessen
Louis Andriessen is a Dutch composer, historian, and music theorist. He was born in Utrecht, Netherlands, into a highly musical family. His father, Hendrik Andriessen, was a composer, and his brother Jurriaan Andriessen, sister Caecilia Andriessen, and uncle Willem Andriessen were also composers. Louis studied at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague under the guidance of his own father and Kees van Baaren. He spent two years in Milan and Berlin, studying with Italian composer Luciano Berio. Upon returning to the Netherlands, Louis became a teacher at his alma mater, influencing many notable composers including Michael Zev Gordon, Steve Martland, Richard Ayres, Richard Baker, and many others.
In 1969, Andriessen co-founded the Amsterdam studio for electronic and industrial music. He also formed instrumental groups such as 'Orkest de Volharding' and 'Hoketus', which performed compositions with the same titles. Later, Andriessen collaborated with ensembles such as 'Schonberg' and 'Asko', and he was involved in the formation of the British group 'Icebreaker'. Currently, Louis Andriessen is unmarried, but he spent over 40 years with guitarist Jeanette Yanikian, whom he married in 1996. Unfortunately, Jeanette passed away in 2008.
Early Works and Influences
From his early works, Louis Andriessen displayed a strong influence of contemporary stylistic solutions. His rejection of more conservative approaches in Dutch contemporary music quickly earned him a reputation as a radically alternative composer. Starting from the 1970s, Andriessen refused to write for traditional symphony orchestras and instead composed his own, often stylistically wild, instrumental combinations. However, he still incorporated certain traditional elements, such as using congas and electric guitars alongside instruments commonly found in symphony orchestras. In his later music, Andriessen's work demonstrated a strong influence of jazz, American minimalism, Igor Stravinsky, and Claude Vivier. The harmony in his compositions showcased clear minimalism and hints of the post-war European dissonance. Large-scale works like 'De Staat' were clearly influenced by the energy of major musical works by Count Basie and Stan Kenton. Steve Reich also had a significant influence on Andriessen. His music often carried an anti-German and anti-romantic tone, serving as a vivid example of European serialism and its numerous derivatives. Andriessen actively experimented with alternatives to traditional performance styles and was drawn to powerful, energetic, and rhythmic articulations that stood out in comparison to other music.
Notable Works
Among Louis Andriessen's most interesting works, 'Workers Union' from 1975, 'Mausoleum' from 1979, 'Velocity' from 1982, and 'Matter' from 1984 deserve special mention.
