Merlijn Twaalfhoven

A Picture of dark haired man.
Merlijn Twaalfhoven by Poike Stomps

Merlijn Twaalfhoven (born February 14, 1976, Wapserveen) is a Dutch composer and theatre maker.[1] He graduated from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam in 2003. Twaalfhoven is internationally active in creating innovative projects and writing new music for orchestras, choirs and chamber music groups. He collaborated with Toneelgroep Amsterdam,[2] Holland Festival, Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest,[3] the Dutch National Ballet[4][5] and Springdance festival,[6] among many others. With his non profit organization La Vie Sur Terre[7] he frequently produces large scale projects on location with local artists and musicians, for example in Cyprus, Japan, Jordan, the Palestinian Territories, Syria, and Central Europe.[8]

Artistic vision

For Twaalfhoven, musical expression revolves around communication: 'A work of art doesn't mean anything if the audience is not touched by it'[9] He tends to take music out of its traditional surroundings, to mix it with other expressions of Western or non-Western culture. He also tends to get the musicians out of their usual behaviour patterns and so stimulate interactions with the audience. His projects often take place at alternative concert locations such as a shipyard in the Amsterdam harbor, an old warehouse, or a nature spot. Politics are part of a majority of his work. This can be seen by the areas of social tension he brings his works to (for example Cyprus or the Palestinian Territories). He often speaks and writes about his outspoken vision on art and its function in society. A few illustrations are: his speech during TEDx Amsterdam conference in 2009,[10][11] his professorship at ArtEZ School of Arts (see Research), as well as his published articles and book (see Publications).[8]

City Composer

Twaalfhoven was the first 'citycomposer' in the Netherlands. He performed this task for the municipality of Zaanstad where he was appointed for one year on September 25, 2006. Local musicians, professionals, actors, visual artists and volunteers played leading roles at all performances. The post of citycomposer is not unique to the Netherlands. For instance Ghent in Belgium had a citycomposer appointed for the first time in 2004.[12][13] Twaalfhoven's work in Zaanstad culminated in a large main event: 'Droomzomernacht', an adaptation of Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream, performed with over 150 local musicians, dancers and actors[14][15] In October 2010 he has been appointed for the task of citycomposer again, this time in the municipality of Haarlemmermeer.[16]

Selected Projects

Discography

Research

From 2004 to 2008 Twaalfhoven was a professor in 'PopKunst' at ArtEZ Institute of the Arts in the Netherlands.[27][28][29] He performed research on how artists could reach a new and diverse audience without compromising their artistic vision and ideas.[30] During his studies at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam he performed artistic research on Japanese aesthetics.[31]

Publications

Awards and Recognitions

See also

References

  1. "Merlijn Twaalfhoven, (1976 - heden)". Biografie (in Dutch). Muziekencyclopedie.nl. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
  2. Harry De Bock (February 10, 2004). "Nacht in de Barentszzee met Merlijn Twaalfhoven en Toneelgroep Amsterdam" (in Dutch). KKunst. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "NedPhO GO! presenteert bijzonder project: Componeren voor iedereen" (in Dutch). Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest. January 3, 2006. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
  4. "Body/voice Ted brandsen & krzysztof pastor" (in Dutch). Holland Festival Archive 2007. June 15, 2004. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
  5. "HNB: Carmen op reis" (in Dutch). Holland Symfonia. Seizoen 2003-2004. Retrieved 15 September 2010. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. "Springdance archive" (in Dutch). Springdance.nl. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
  7. "La Vie Sur Terre". Laviesurterre.nl. Retrieved 2011-11-24.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Emile Wennekes (, nr 18, pp. 222-227). "Starry-Eyed Merlijn Twaalfhoven. A Singular Voice". The Low Countries - 2010, Nr. 18. Ons Erfdeel. pp. 222–227. Retrieved 15 September 2010. Check date values in: |date= (help) (and Mark Delaere): Contemporary music in the Low Countries Trans. by Laura Watkinson. Rekkem: Ons Erfdeel,'2006, 128 p. ISBN 90-75862-87-3. ISBN' 9789075862874. I, C 2007
  9. Wennekes, Emile (2010). The Low Countries, arts and society in Flanders and the Netherlands. Rekkem, Belgium: Ons Erfdeel VZW. p. 227. ISBN 978-90-79705-05-4.
  10. Alexander Klopping (November 5, 2009). "Merlijn Twaalfhoven". TEDx Amsterdam. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
  11. "Video - Merlijn Twaalfhoven on reconnecting art and life".
  12. "Stadscomponist" (in Dutch). Stad Gent. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
  13. "10 Things to know about Ghent - UNESCO City of Music" (PDF). UNESCO. August 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
  14. "Twaalfhoven stadscomponist van Zaanstad" (in Dutch). Science Guide. September 27, 2006. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
  15. "Droomzomernacht" (in Dutch). Zaanstad.nl. May 15, 2007. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
  16. "City Composer Press Release Haarlemmermeer" (in Dutch). Gemeente Haarlemmermeer. October 13, 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  17. "My plan for Jerusalem". powerofculture.nl. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  18. "Al Quds Underground Festival 2010". alqudsunderground.net. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  19. "VPRO", review by Sebastiaan ter Burg, 30 May 2005
  20. Documented by film maker Adam Sèbire in "Echoes across the Divide"
  21. Review by René van Peer in Brabants Dagblad (Dutch)
  22. De Zingende Toren (Dutch)
  23. Cultuurcampus Vleuterweide (Dutch)
  24. "Amstel Quartet". Amstelquartet.nl. Retrieved 2011-11-24.
  25. design carst van der molen / 2006. "Karnatic Lab". Karnaticlabrecords.com. Retrieved 2011-11-24.
  26. Esquire Saxofoon Kwartet
  27. Cultuurbeleid.nl (Dutch Site)
  28. Trouw (Dutch article in newspaper)
  29. 29.0 29.1 Scienceguide (Dutch site) De noodzaak van desintegratie. February 7, 2007
  30. Article published among others: Maaike Bleeker (2006) De theatermaker als onderzoeker Amsterdam University Press ISBN 90-5356-879-4 (Paper) ISBN 978-90-5356-879-8 (Paper)
  31. Resulting in: website De Veelte
  32. Kunstfactor (Dutch site)
  33. PDF Download of Jaarboek Actieve Cultuurparticipatie (Dutch)
  34. De Jonge Hond (Dutch site)
  35. "Column Treaty of Utrecht in English". Twaalfhoven.net. 2009-05-29. Retrieved 2011-11-24.
  36. 36.0 36.1 Boekman (see journal archive)
  37. "Kennis Loont 2007-2011" (in Dutch). February 6, 2007. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
  38. Trans Artists Van binnenuit aangetast!?
  39. Trans Artists No Artsperanto!
  40. Trouw Article: Steriele en veilige kunst blijft over
  41. De Veelte
  42. Review newspaper Trouw (Dutch)
  43. Nederlandse Muziekdagen (Dutch)
  44. "International Music Council". Imc-cim.org. Retrieved 2011-11-24.
  45. Jur Naessens Muziekprijs (Dutch)
  46. Frits van der Waa (2000-09-18). "Newspaper Article in Volkskrant newspaper". Xs4all.nl. Retrieved 2011-11-24.

External links