Henri Bok

Henri Bok (born 1950) is a Dutch bass clarinetist[1] known for his unique compositions.

Career

Bok is noted for his new sound combinations leading to unusual instrumental groups: Duo Contemporain (with marimba/vibraphone), Duo Novair (with accordion), Bass Instincts (with bass oboe), Duo Clarones (bass clarinet duo with Luis Afonso 'Montanha'), Duo HeRo (with jazz pianist Rob van Bavel) and Duo Hevans (with Eleri Ann Evans, saxophones).

Bok has also collaborated with fellow musicians Gustavo Beytelmann, José Luis Estellés, Mike Garson, Josef Horák, Bennie Maupin, Justo Sanz, Louis Sclavis, Willem Tanke, Henri Tournier, Dawn Upshaw, Eric Vloeimans, and many others from all styles and genres. These collaborations have resulted in many new pieces dedicated to him.

Bok has been professor of bass clarinet at Codarts/Rotterdam Superior Conservatoire (The Netherlands) and at Musikene (San Sebastian, Spain), as well as a guest professor at the Robert Schumann Hochschule für Musik (Düsseldorf, Germany). Since 2000, he has also taught the bass clarinet class during the annual Julian Menéndez clarinet summer course in Ávila (Spain). Bok is also professor of free improvisation at Codarts and has performed at several improvisation festivals (amongst others in Tallinn, Estonia).

New Techniques for the Bass Clarinet, which Bok wrote in 1989 (revised in 2011), is considered to be the standard work for instrumentalists and composers interested in extended techniques.

In 2005 Bok was the initiator and artistic director of the first World Bass Clarinet Convention, which took place in Rotterdam and was attended by more than five hundred bass clarinetists from all over the world.[1]

Following his first piece Vinho do Porto Brasileiro (1997), Bok has written a large number of solo works and chamber music. His compositions are published by Shoepair Music.

Bok is an endorser for Henri Selmer Paris, RICO,[2] Pomarico,[3] and Wiseman cases.

Discography

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Henri Bok: Bass Clarinet & Saxophone". WorldBassClarinet.com. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  2. "Henri Bok: International Bass Clarinet Solo Artist". Rico Reeds. D'Addario & Co. 2008. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  3. "The Great Players". Pomarico. Pomarico Italy. Retrieved September 29, 2012.

External links