Wim Mertens
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Wim Mertens (b. Neerpelt, Belgium, May 14, 1953) is a Belgian composer, countertenor vocalist, pianist, guitarist, and musicologist.
Mertens studied social and political science at the University of Leuven (graduating in 1975) and musicology at Ghent University; he also studied music theory and piano at the Royal Conservatories of Ghent and Brussels.
In 1978, he became a producer at the then BRT (Belgian Radio and Television). For Radio 2 (Radio Brabant) he produced concerts by Philip Glass, Steve Reich, Terry Riley, Meredith Monk, Urban Sax, and others, and hosted a program called Funky Town together with Gust De Meyer (with whom he recorded the experimental CD For Amusement Only).
Known primarily as a composer since the late 1970s, Mertens is best known for his opus "Struggle for Pleasure". He is also well known for his piece "Maximizing the Audience", which was composed for Jan Fabre's play The Power of Theatrical Madness, which premiered in 1984 in Venice, Italy.
Mertens' style, while continually evolving during the course of his prolific output, touches veins of minimalist, ambient and avant-garde, usually, however, preserving a melodic fundament to the forays that he makes into the worlds that he is exploring.
Mertens' music was used in the 1987 Peter Greenaway film The Belly of an Architect, along with that of Glenn Branca.
Mertens also recorded under the name "Soft Verdict", and is the author of American Minimal Music, which looks at the school of American repetitive music.
In March 1998 Mertens became the Cultural Ambassador of Flanders.
[edit] Discography
- 1980 - For Amusement Only - The Sound of Pinball Machines
- 1982 - At Home - Not At Home
- 1982 - Vergessen
- 1983 - Close Cover
- 1983 - Struggle For Pleasure
- 1984 - The Power Of Theatrical Madness (Limited Edition Single)
- 1984 - A Visiting Card
- 1985 - Usura
- 1985 - Maximizing The Audience
- 1986 - Close Cover (2)
- 1986 - A Man Of No Fortune, And With A Name To Come
- 1986 - Hirose
- 1986 - Instrumental Songs
- 1987 - Educes Me
- 1987 - The Belly Of An Architect
- 1988 - Whisper Me
- 1988 - After Virtue
- 1989 - Motives For Writing
- 1990 - No Testament
- 1990 - Play For Me
- 1991 - Alle Dinghe Part III: Alle Dinghe
- 1991 - Alle Dinghe Part II: Vita Brevis
- 1991 - Alle Dinghe Part I: Sources of Sleeplessness
- 1991 - Stratégie De La Rupture
- 1991 - Hufhuf (Single taken from Stratégie De La Rupture, including previously unreleased material)
- 1992 - Houfnice
- 1992 - Retrospectives Volume 1
- 1993 - Shot And Echo
- 1993 - A Sense Of Place
- 1994 - Epic That Never Was
- 1991 - Gave Van Niets [Promo] [1994-11]
- 1991 - Gave Van Niets Part IV: Reculer Pour Mieux Sauter [1994-11]
- 1991 - Gave Van Niets Part III: Gave Van Niets [1994-11]
- 1991 - Gave Van Niets Part II: Divided Loyalties [1994-11]
- 1991 - Gave Van Niets Part I: You'll Never Be Me [1994-11]
- 1991 - Jeremiades [1995-04]
- 1991 - Entre Dos Mares [1996]
- 1991 - Lisa [1996-04]
- 1991 - Jardin Clos [1996-10]
- 1991 - As Hay In The Sun [1996-10]
- 1991 - Piano & Voice [1996-12]
- 1991 - Sin Embargo [1997-10]
- 1991 - Best Of [1997-11]
- 1998 - In 3 Or 4 Days (Single taken from Integer Valor, including previously unreleased material)
- 1998 - Integer Valor
- 1998 - And Bring You Back
- 1999 - Father Damien
- 1999 - Integer Valor - Intégrale
- 1999 - Kere Weerom Part III: Decorum
- 1999 - Kere Weerom Part II: Kere Weerom
- 1999 - Kere Weerom Part I: Poema
- 2000 - If I Can
- 2000 - Rest Meines Ichs (Single accompanying Der Heisse Brei, not sold separately)
- 2000 - Der Heisse Brei
- 2001 - At Home - Not At Home (2001)
- 2001 - Aren Lezen [Promo]
- 2001 - Aren Lezen Part IV: aRe
- 2001 - Aren Lezen Part III: Kaosmos
- 2001 - Aren Lezen Part II: Aren Lezen
- 2001 - Aren Lezen Part I: If Five Is Part Of Ten
- 2002 - Years Without History Volume 1 - Moins De Mètre, Assez De Rythme
- 2002 - Years Without History Volume 2 - In The Absence Of Hindrance
- 2002 - Years Without History Volume 3 - Cave Musicam
- 2002 - Wim Mertens Moment Box set featuring Vergessen, Ver-Veranderingen (Previously recorded 1981 but unreleased), The Belly Of An Architect, Struggle For Pleasure, Motives For Writing, Maximizing the Audience, Instrumental Songs, If I Can, For Amusement Only, Educes Me, At Home - Not At Home, After Virtue, A Man Of No Fortune, And With A Name To Come
- 2003 - Years Without History Volume 4 - No Yet, No Longer
- 2003 - Skopos
- 2004 - Years Without History Volume 5 - With No Need For Seeds
- 2004 - Shot and Echo/A Sense Of Place (including previously unreleased material)
- 2005 - Un respiro
- 2006 - Partes Extra Partes
[edit] Reference
- Mertens, Wim (1983). American Minimal Music. Translated by J. Hautekiet. Preface by Michael Nyman. London: Kahn & Averill; White Plains, New York: Pro/Am Music Resources Inc. First published in Belgium in 1980. ISBN 1-871082-00-5; ISBN 0-912483-15-6.
