Michel van der Aa (1970- )
Dutch
composer Michel van der Aa is one of Europe’s most sought-after
contemporary composers. He completed his training as a
recording
engineer at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague and studied composition
with Louis Andriessen. In 2002 van der Aa completed a program in film
directing at the New York Film Academy. His style is strikingly subtle,
playful, poetic, and transparent but not, however, expressive or
melodious in the traditional sense. His music has an idiomatic sense
for the stage, combining sounds and scenic images in a play of changing
perspectives. Dramatic personages take on various identities or have an
alter ego: musicians on the stage, not always audible, mime or lip-sync
with their electronic counterparts on soundtrack. Van der Aa is in fact
a playwright in music. His sounds-like real people-can be flexible or
stubborn: they either take control or get the short end of the stick;
they reinforce or counteract each other, affecting audiences with their
expressive power. Van der Aa's music has been performed by ensembles
and orchestras worldwide. He has collaborated with several
choreographers and with film directors Hal Hartley and Peter Greenaway.
Michel van der Aa was the first Dutch composer to win the prestigious
International Gaudeamus Prize (in 1999). In 2004 Van der Aa won the
Matthijs Vermeulen prize for his opera One. The Ernst von Siemens
Foundation awarded him a Siemens Composers Grant in 2005. Also in 2005,
Michel van der Aa was awarded the Charlotte Köhler Prize for his
directing work and the interdisciplinary character of his oeuvre.- Seattle Chamber Players
COMPOSITIONS van der Aa Links ~ ~ ~ Works by Genre ~ ~ ~ van der Aa on van der Aa
Auburn, guitar (classical or electric guitar) and soundtrack(1994)
Now [in fragments], dance piece, soprano, clarinet/bass clarinet, cello and soundtrack (1995)
Oog, cello and soundtrack (1995)
Staring at the Space, dance piece, chamber orchestra (1995-96)
Span, ensemble and soundtrack (1996)
Between, percussion quartet and soundtrack (1997)
Quadrivial, flute, violin, cello and piano (1997)
Wake, percussion duo (1997)
Double, violin and piano (1997)
Solo for percussion (1997)
Faust, dance piece, ensemble and soundtrack (1998)
Writing to Vermeer, soundtrack (1999) [electronic music for Andriessen/Greenaway opera]
Above, ensemble and soundtrack (1999)
Caprice, violin (1999)
Attach, ensemble and soundtrack (1999-2000)
See-through, orchestra (2000)
Just before, piano and soundtrack (2000)
The New Math(s), soundtrack for film score (2000) [music by Louis andriessen and Michel van der Aa]
Vuur, voice , ensemble and soundtrack (2001)
Here [to be found], soprano, chamber orchestra and soundtrack (2001)
One, chamber opera, soprano, video and soundtrack (2002)
Here [in circles], soprano and ensemble (2002)
Passage, film score (2002)
Solitaire, dance piece, violin and soundtrack (2003)
Memo, violin and portable cassette recorder (2003)
Here [enclosed], chamber orchestra and soundtrack (2003)
Second Self, orchestra and soundtrack (2004)
Imprint, Baroque orchestra (2005)
After Life, opera, 8 singers, large ensemble, video and soundtrack (2005-2006)
Mask, ensemble and soundtrack (2006)
Spaces of Blank, song cycle in three parts, mezzo-soprano, orchestra and soundtrack (2007)
Das Buch der Unruhe / The book of Disquiet, music theatre for actor, ensemble and film (2008)
WORKS BY GENRE van der Aa Links ~ top of page ~
Dramatic/Theater
Writing to Vermeer, soundtrack (1999) [electronic music for Andriessen/Greenaway opera]
Vuur, voice , ensemble and soundtrack (2001)
One, chamber opera, soprano, video and soundtrack (2002)
After Life, opera, 8 singers, large ensemble, video and soundtrack (2005-2006)
Das Buch der Unruhe / The book of Disquiet, music theatre for actor, ensemble and film (2008)
Dance
Now [in fragments], dance piece, soprano, clarinet/bass clarinet, cello and soundtrack (1995)
Staring at the Space, dance piece, chamber orchestra (1995-96)
Faust, dance piece, ensemble and soundtrack (1998)
Solitaire, dance piece, violin and soundtrack (2003)
Orchestra
See-through, orchestra (2000)
Here [enclosed], chamber orchestra and soundtrack (2003)
Second Self, orchestra and soundtrack (2004)
Imprint, Baroque orchestra (2005)
Chamber/Ensemble
Span, ensemble and soundtrack (1996)
Between, percussion quartet and soundtrack (1997)
Quadrivial, flute, violin, cello and piano (1997)
Wake, percussion duo (1997)
Above, ensemble and soundtrack (1999)
Attach, ensemble and soundtrack (1999-2000)
Mask, ensemble and soundtrack (2006)
Solo Instrument
Auburn, guitar (classical or electric guitar) and soundtrack(1994)
Oog, cello and soundtrack (1995)
Double, violin and piano (1997)
Solo for percussion (1997)
Caprice, violin (1999)
Memo, violin and portable cassette recorder (2003)
Piano
Just before, piano and soundtrack (2000)
Vocal
Here [to be found], soprano, chamber orchestra and soundtrack (2001)
Here [in circles], soprano and ensemble (2002)
Spaces of Blank, song cycle in three parts, mezzo-soprano, orchestra and soundtrack (2007)
Incidental/Film
The New Math(s), soundtrack for film score (2000) [music by Louis andriessen and Michel van der Aa]
Passage, film score (2002)
VAN DER AA LINKS Works by Genre ~ top of page ~
Digitality of the Opera - Two Cases (Jelena Novak, e-volucija)
Portrait: Michel Van Der Aa, Glasgow (Andrew Clements, The Guardian)
Michel van der Aa: Above, Between, Attach, Just before, Auburn and Oog (Frits van der Waa)
Michel van der Aa: Interview (RealTime Arts Magazine)
Michel van der Aa: Interview about After Life (Boosey & Hawkes)
Composer's website
van der Aa @ Wikipedia
van der Aa @ All About Opera
van der Aa @ Answers.com
van der Aa @ Boosey & Hawkes
van der Aa @ Classical Composers Database
van der Aa @ Dilettante Music
van der Aa @ Domemus
van der Aa @ dutchsound.nl
van der Aa @ IMDb (Internet Movie Database)
van der Aa @ IRCAM (translated by google)
van der Aa @ inspirations
van der Aa @ Kalvos and Damian
van der Aa @ MusicWeb International
van der Aa @ MUSOLIFE.com
van der Aa @ Muziek Centrum Nederland also here
van der Aa @ MySpaceMusic
van der Aa @ NationMaster
van der Aa @ The New York Times
van der Aa @ Pianoteq
van der Aa @ Seattle Chamber Players
van der Aa @ Warsaw Autumn
Streaming Audio
van der Aa @ Composer's website
van der Aa @ last.fm
Recordings
van der Aa @ Composer's website
van der Aa @ ArkivMusic
van der Aa @ Discogs
van der Aa @ YouTube
van der Aa @ Vimeo
van der Aa on van der Aa: On the Opera "After Life" (Barbican)
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