Jurriaan Andriessen

Jurriaan Hendrik Andriessen (November 15, 1925–August 23, 1996) was a Dutch composer, whose father, Hendrik, brother Louis, and uncle Willem have also been notable composers. Andriessen studied composition with his father at the Utrecht Conservatory before moving to Paris where he studied with Olivier Messiaen.

Related Topics:
November 15 - 1925 - August 23 - 1996 - Dutch - Hendrik - Louis - Willem - Utrecht Conservatory - Paris - Olivier Messiaen

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The bulk of Andriessen's output is for the stage; his study in Paris was primarily in writing film music. He had a variety of musical influences which he drew upon, including American film music, Aaron Copland's ballets, folk music of various cultures, neoclassicism, and serialism; this eclecticism combined with his compositional skill made his writing well-suited to scoring dramatic works. His first stage composition was incidental music for "The Miraculous Hour", a play premiered at the celebration of the 50th year of Queen Wilhelmina's reign, in 1948. In 1954 the Haagse Comedie (now the Nationaal Toneel, or "National Theatre") appointed him resident composer, where he wrote scores for Eugene O'Neill's Mourning Becomes Electra and Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, among numerous others.

Related Topics:
Film music - Aaron Copland - Folk music - Neoclassicism - Serialism - Queen Wilhelmina - 1948 - 1954 - Nationaal Toneel - Eugene O'Neill - Mourning Becomes Electra - Tom Stoppard - Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

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His stay in the United States on a Rockefeller Foundation fellowship from 1949 to 1951 was a fruitful one for his orchestral writing, another notable area of his work; during this time he composed the Tanglewood Overture for Serge Koussevitsky, and the Berkshire Symphonies, later used as ballet music by George Balanchine. His compositions were commissioned for state celebrations, including the wedding and the coronation of Queen Beatrix and the silver jubilee of Queen Juliana.

Related Topics:
United States - Rockefeller Foundation - 1949 - 1951 - Serge Koussevitsky - Ballet music - George Balanchine - Queen Beatrix - Silver jubilee - Queen Juliana

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In addition to the theatre works he is most noted for, Andriessen was also a prolific composer of chamber and vocal works, many of which were meant to be performed by amateurs; he has also been a director for television.

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