JURRIAAN ANDRIESSEN

Pseudonyms

Leslie Cool

Jurriaan Andriessen

Though Juriaan Andriessen was of the generation of musical innovators such as Pierre Boulez and Karlheinz Stockhausen, his main musical influences were pre-war French composers. Andriessen composed an extensive body of music consisting primarily of orchestral, chamber, concert band music and music for theatre, film and radio plays. In his ...
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Instruments

componist, dirigent, producer

Mentioned in the biography of

1939   Louis Andriessen
1970   Ricciotti Ensemble

Biography Jurriaan Andriessen

Though Juriaan Andriessen was of the generation of musical innovators such as Pierre Boulez and Karlheinz Stockhausen, his main musical influences were pre-war French composers. Andriessen composed an extensive body of music consisting primarily of orchestral, chamber, concert band music and music for theatre, film and radio plays. In his book 'Nederlandse Muziek in de Twintigste Eeuw' [Dutch Music in the Twentieth Century], the musicologist Leo Samama evaluates Andriessen’s music as follows: “Most of the works of Juriaan Andriessen consist of music ‘à la manière de’ [...] He was in fact able to playfully re-create any style and any technique [...] As a composer of music for film, radio and television plays, and many other forms of occasional music, that is of course very useful. In his music for the concert hall, however, Andriessen was unable to develop a personal style, though pieces including his symphonic suite 'Rouw past Elektra' [Mourning Becomes Elektra, 1954] and 'Respiration Suite' (1962), both for wind ensemble, are wonderful compositions that certainly will move the listener.”

1925

Juriaan Andriessen is born in Haarlem on November 15. He is the son of the composer Hendrik Andriessen and the elder brother of the composer Louis Andriessen.

Hendrik Andriessen Louis Andriessen

1943 - 1948

Andriessen studies composition at the Utrecht Conservatory with his father and orchestral conducting with Willem van Otterloo. After his final examination in 1947, he continues his studies in Paris, with Olivier Messiaen and others, and immerses himself in film music. Back in the Netherlands, he receives a commission to write music for the open-air play 'Het Wonderlijk Uur' [The Wondrous Hour, 1948], for the 50th anniversary of the reign of Queen Wilhelmina. He is awarded the first Johan Wagenaar Prize for this work.

Willem van Otterloo

1949 - 1951

With grants from UNESCO and later the Rockefeller Foundation, he stays in the United States and visits the Berkshire Music Festival. He studies in Boston and at Tanglewood with the Russian composer and conductor Serge Koussevitzky. On a commission from the Dutch government, he composes his first symphony, the 'Berkshire Symphonies', which is premiered during the 1950 Holland Festival by The Hague Philharmonic conducted by Willem van Otterloo. His ballet 'Jones Beach', choreographed by George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins, is performed by the New York City Ballet throughout the United States and Europe.

1952 - 1956

Upon returning to Europe, Andriessen makes study trips to Italy and Germany. He develops into a versatile composer who writes, in addition to orchestral and chamber music, mostly music for the theatre, film, radio, and later television. In his incidental music for Shakespeare’s 'The Tempest', he first employs electronic instruments. Under the pseudonym Leslie Cool, he performs as a jazz pianist and composes popular music.

1957 - 1960

Andriessen becomes music advisor and composer of the Haagse Comedie theatre company. In 1960, he writes, on a commission from the city council of The Hague, the symphonic rhapsody 'Thai', for the state visit of the king of Thailand, who makes him a Knight in the Order of the White Elephant. In addition to composing, he conducts – often his own music – and serves as a television director in ballet, concert and other broadcasts.

1962 - 1970

Andriessen receives many commissions for special occasions: he writes, for example, the 'Respiration Suite' for a pulmonologists convention and the opera 'Het Zwarte Blondje' [The Black Blonde, 1964] for Het Schoolconcert foundation. He composes 'Entrata Festiva' for the marriage of Princess Beatrix in 1966. The symphony 'Time Spirit' (1970), a music theatre piece for clarinet, orchestra, pop musicians, and a ballet with slides of works by the artist M.C. Escher, are broadcast by NCRV television.

1972 - 1973

For his achievements in music for the theatre, Andriessen is made a Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau. He composes 'Een Prince van Orangien' [A Prince of Orange] for the 25th anniversary of Queen Juliana’s reign in 1973.

1980

Jurriaan Andriessen composes 'Entrata della Regina' for the coronation of Queen Beatrix.

1983 - 1984

Andriessen writes his last important music for theatre: 'Hamlet', for synthesizers, and 'Romeo en Julia', for choir with countertenor.

1996

Jurriaan Andriessen dies in The Hague on August 23.

Photos Jurriaan Andriessen

Audio/Video Jurriaan Andriessen