Kees van Baaren

Kees van Baaren

In his youth, Kees van Baaren played jazz and accompanied the Kabarett der Unmöglichen [Cabaret of the Impossible] to support himself. His great inspiration at the time was the jazz pianist Fats Waller. The pianist – and Van Baaren student – Misha Mengelberg said: “Van Baaren played Waller's music pretty ...
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Biography Kees van Baaren

In his youth, Kees van Baaren played jazz and accompanied the Kabarett der Unmöglichen [Cabaret of the Impossible] to support himself. His great inspiration at the time was the jazz pianist Fats Waller. The pianist – and Van Baaren student – Misha Mengelberg said: “Van Baaren played Waller's music pretty well himself, with much more interesting chords than Waller used, but without a trace of swing.” As a teacher and composer, he stimulated Dutch musical life and the generation of composers who were his students, among whom were Louis Andriessen, Theo Bruins, Reinbert de Leeuw, Misha Mengelberg, David Porcelijn, Peter Schat, Jan van Vlijmen, Jan Wisse and, surprisingly, Harry Bannink. Van Baaren composed mainly orchestral and chamber music.

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1906

Kees van Baaren is born on October 22 in Enschede. The son of a music dealer, he was playing the piano, cello, and harmonica at an early age.

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1923 - 1929

At the Stern'sche Konservatorium, he studies the piano with Rudolf Breithaupt and composition and music theory with Boris Blacher and Friedrich Koch. He performs as a jazz and cabaret pianist under the name Billy Barney.

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1931 - 1936

Van Baaren takes composition lessons from Willem Pijper at the Rotterdam Conservatory. His earliest surviving piece, Quintetto per Archi, dates from 1933; he destroyed all of his other early works. His music often simulataneously incorporates Pijper's germ-cell and Schoenberg's dodecaphonic techniques. He says of this: “To me, there is no difference between the germ-cell and the row. When I told Pijper, he said, 'You're absolutely right, but I can't keep my eye on twelve of them at the same time.' ”

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1936 - 1947

During this period, Van Baaren does not make any of his compositions public. After the war, he teaches at the Rotterdam Conservatory.

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1948

He is named director of the Amsterdam Muzieklyceum.

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1952 - 1959

Pijper exerts a strong influence on him, but despite Willem Pijper's objections to Schoenberg, Van Baaren adopts some of his techniques. This is evident in the 'Septet' (1952), on the basis of which, Van Baaren is praised as “the 'most modern' composer in the Netherlands”. That this music “on a first hearing, sounds more like Pijper than Schoenberg says something about the influence of his [Van Baaren's] teacher”. (Elmer Schönberger: 'Serialisme in Nederland, pro en contra' [Serialism in the Netherlands, pros and cons]). He later repeats this dodecaphonic style in the 1950s in, among other works, 'Musical Self-Portrait' (1957) and 'Sinfonia' (1957) for orchestra. In 1953 he is named director of the Utrecht Conservatory, and in 1958, of the Royal Conservatory in The Hague.

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1959

He establishes his reputation as a serial composer with 'Variazioni per orchestra'. “On the basis of this and later compositions, Van Baaren is seen as the 'father of serialism' in the Netherlands.” (Leo Samama, 2006)

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1969

Kees van Baaren is awarded the Sweelinck Prize for his complete oeuvre. 'Musica per Orchestra' (1966) is his last piece for large ensemble, and 'Musica per Campane' – the second version 1969) – his last completed work. A violin concerto for the violinist Theo Olof remains unfinished.

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1970

Kees van Baaren dies on September 2 in Oegsgeest.

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In the discography you will find all recordings that have been released listed chronologically. We restrict ourselves to the title, the type of audio, year of publication or recording, label, list of guest musicians, plus any comments on the issue.

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Compositions Kees van Baaren

Eerste strijkkwartet : 1932-1933 / Kees van Baaren

order Publisher: Amsterdam : Donemus, cop. 1977
Number: 00983
Classification: Strijkkwartet (2 violen, altviool, cello)
Members: 2vl vla vc
Duration: 15'

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Concertino voor piano en orkest : 1934 / Kees van Baaren

order Publisher: Amsterdam : Donemus, cop. 1952
Number: 07348
Classification: Piano en orkest
Members: 1110 sax-a 1000 str(8.8.6.4.4.) pf-solo
Duration: 13'

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Trio : per flauto, clarinetto e fagotto : (1936) / Kees van Baaren

order Publisher: Amsterdam : Donemus, cop. 1950
Number: 01878
Classification: Houtblazersensemble (2-8 spelers)
Members: fl cl fg
Duration: 9'

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Recueillement : pour chant et piano : 1947 / Kees van Baaren; [texte] (Ch. Baudelaire)

order Publisher: Amsterdam : Donemus, [19--?]
Number: 04887
Classification: Zangstem en piano
Members: sopr-m pf
Details: Voor mezzosopraan.
Duration: 3'

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Three poems : voor 3-stemmig vrouwenkoor : 1947 / Kees van Baaren; [text] by Emily Dickinson

order Publisher: Amsterdam : Donemus, cop. 1948
Number: 06717
Classification: Vrouwenkoor
Members: VK4
Details: Koorbez.: resp. SSMzsAAA, SMzsAA en SMzsAA.
Duration: 6'

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The hollow men : voor sopraan- en baritonsolo, gemengd koor en orkest : 1948/55 / Kees van Baaren; [2nd version 1955]; [tekst] (T.S. Eliot)

order Publisher: Amsterdam : Donemus, cop. 1956
Number: 07063
Classification: Gemengd koor en orkest
Members: sopr bar GK4 3333 4331 timp perc str
Details: Koorbez.: SATB. - Opgedragen aan Sodalicium Studiosorum Musicum J. Pzn. Sweelinck.
Duration: 19'

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Sonatina : for piano / Kees van Baaren

Publisher: Amsterdam : Broekmans & Van Poppel, cop. 1984
Classification: Piano
Members: pf
Details: In memoriam Willem Pijper. - Jaar van comp.: 1948. - Oorspr. cop., Amsterdam : Donemus
Duration: 5'

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The hollow men : 1948 / Kees van Baaren; [tekst] T.S. Eliot

order Publisher: Amsterdam : Donemus, cop. 1949
Number: 06994
Classification: Gemengd koor en orkest
Members: sopr bar GK4 2fl 2ob 2cl 2fg 2h 2trp timp perc str
Details: Voor soli SBr, koor SATB en orkest. - Opgedragen aan het Sodalicium Studiosorum Musicum "J. Pzn. Sweelinck".
Duration: 25'

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Suite : (1951) : voor schoolorkest / Kees van Baaren

order Publisher: Amsterdam : Donemus, cop. 1953
Number: 03788
Classification: Schoolorkest
Members: 2010 0100 4perc pf4h (acc g ad lib.) str
Details: Bez.: 2 fluiten, klarinet ad lib., trompet ad lib., slagwerkers, gitaar ad lib., accordeon ad lib., piano 4h en strijkorkest (contrabas ad lib.). - In opdracht van de stichting Jeugd en Muziek.
Duration: 19'

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Septet : for wind quintet, violin and double-bass : (1952) / Kees van Baaren

order Publisher: Amsterdam : Donemus, [1981]
Number: 02227
Classification: Blaas en strijkinstrument(en)
Members: fl ob cl fg h vl cb
Details: Voor fluit, hobo, klarinet, fagot, hoorn, viool en contrabas. - In opdracht van de stad Amsterdam. - Cop. 1952.
Duration: 15'

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Ichnaton : voor mannenkoor : (1952) / Kees van Baaren; ([tekst] H. Marsman)

order Publisher: Amsterdam : Donemus, cop. 1952
Number: 06844
Classification: Mannenkoor
Members: MK4
Details: Koorbez.: TTBB. - In opdracht van het Ministerie van Onderwijs, Kunsten en Wetenschappen

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Alpejagerslied : mannenkoor a cappella : 1952 / Kees van Baaren; op tekst van Paul van Ostaijen

order Publisher: Amsterdam : Donemus, cop. 1952
Number: 06845
Classification: Mannenkoor
Members: MK4
Details: Koorbez.: TTBB. - In opdracht van het Ministerie van Onderwijs, Kunsten en Wetenschappen.
Duration: 4'

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Sinfonia : 1956/'57 / Kees van Baaren

order Publisher: Amsterdam : Donemus, cop. 1958
Number: 03414
Classification: Orkest
Members: 2222 2200 timp str
Details: Voor orkest. - In opdracht van de gemeente Amsterdam.
Duration: 16'

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Variazioni per orchestra = (Variations for orchestra) : (1959) / Kees van Baaren

order Publisher: Amsterdam : Donemus, 1982
Number: 03409
Classification: Orkest
Members: pic 2fl 2ob 2cl 2fg 3h 4trp 2trb tb 9-11perc hp pf4h str
Details: In opdracht van het Ministerie van CRM. - Cop. 1959.
Duration: 8'

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2o quartetto per archi : "Sovraposizioni I" : 1962 / Kees van Baaren

order Publisher: Amsterdam : Donemus, cop. 1962
Number: 01331
Classification: Strijkkwartet (2 violen, altviool, cello)
Members: 2vl vla vc
Details: In opdracht van het Ministerie van Onderwijs, Kunsten en Wetenschappen. - …
Duration: 10 18 p. 1 partituur'

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Quintetto a fiati : Sovraposizioni II : 1963 / Kees van Baaren

order Publisher: Amsterdam : Donemus, 1997
Number: 01514
Classification: Blaaskwintet
Members: fl ob cl h fg
Details: In opdracht van het Danzi Kwintet. - Cop. 1963.
Duration: 10'

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Musica per campane = (Muziek voor carillon) : per 72 campane : 1964 / Kees van Baaren

order Publisher: Amsterdam : Donemus, cop. 1969
Number: 03277
Classification: Beiaard
Members: car
Details: Voor 72 klokken. - Er bestaan meer werken met deze titel. - Voorw. tevens in het Engels. - In opdracht van de University of Chicago.30"
Duration: 8'

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Musica per campane = (Muziek voor carillon) : 1964 / Kees van Baaren

order Publisher: Amsterdam : Donemus, cop. 1969
Number: 03338
Classification: Beiaard
Members: car
Details: Voor 47 klokken. - Er bestaan meer werken met deze titel. - Voorw. tevens in het Engels. - Versie 1969. - In opdracht van de University of Chicago.
Duration: 7'

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Concerto per pianoforte e orchestra : 1964 / Kees van Baaren

order Publisher: Amsterdam : Donemus, cop. 1964
Number: 07556
Classification: Piano en orkest
Members: pic fl ob eh cl cl-b fg cfg 4h 3trp 3trb tb timp 4perc hp str pf-solo
Details: In opdracht van de Johan Wagenaar Stichting. - Opgedragen aan Theo Bruins.
Duration: 13'

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Musica : per flauto solo : (1965) / Kees van Baaren

order Publisher: Amsterdam : Donemus, [1979]
Number: 01282
Classification: Fluit
Members: fl
Details: Er bestaan meer werken met deze titel. - Cop. 1965.
Duration: 5'

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Musica per orchestra : 1965-'66 / Kees van Baaren

order Publisher: Amsterdam : Donemus, cop. 1966
Number: 03518
Classification: Orkest
Members: fl fl(pic) fl-a 2ob eh 2cl cl-b 2fg cfg 4h 3trp 3trb tb timp 3perc vibr mar cel pf hp str
Details: Er bestaan meer werken met deze titel. - Versie 1968.
Duration: 17'

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Musica per organo : 1968/69 / Kees van Baaren

order Publisher: Amsterdam : Donemus, cop. 1969
Number: 02399
Classification: Orgel
Members: org
Details: Er bestaan meer werken met deze titel. - In opdracht van het Ministerie van C.R.M. - Opgedragen aan Charles de Wolff
Duration: 12'

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Partita : harmonie-fanfare / Kees van Baaren; [directie B mol]

Publisher: Wormerveer : Molenaar, cop. 1961
Classification: Harmonieorkest, Fanfare
Details: In opdracht van de gemeente Amsterdam. - Jaar van comp.: 1953

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Photos Kees van Baaren

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