Symposium of Contemporary Music 2007-08

Guest Composers: Roderik de Man, composer
& Annelie de Man, harpsichordist
February 7-9, 2008

About Roderik de Man

Roderik de Man (Bandung/Indonesië 1941) studied percussion with Frans van der Kraan and theory of music at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague. At the same time he participated in composition classes with Kees van Baaren and worked in the electronic studio as a student of Dick Raaymakers. Since 1972 he teaches theoretica subjects and composition to young composers at the same institute. Since 1998 he is on the board of CEM (centre for Electronic Music). Recently he was asked to be counselor to the board of the Stichting Ton Bruynèl, foundation for the promotion of electronic music and since the fall of 2003 he is on the board of the GAUDEAMUS Foundation. Roderik de Man received many commissions from a.o. the Foundation for the Creation of Music, the Amsterdam Art Fund and the Johan Wagenaar Foundation. He composes purely instrumental as well as instrumental/electronic music. His oeuvre consists of solo pieces, chambermusic and works for choir, large ensembles and orchestra. Several times compositions were selected by the international jury of the ISCM (the International Society for contemporary Music) to be performed during the World Music Days (Oslo 1991, Mexico 1993, Seoul 1997, Boucarest 1998, Switzerland 2004). In 1991 "Chordis Canam" for harpsichord and tape won the 2nd prize in the competition of the Festival de Musique Electroacoustique in Bourges, where he was among the finalists in 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2001. In 1999 "Air to Air" for flute, basset horn and trumpet received the 2nd prize in the same festival and also the 2nd prize in the Concorso Internazionale di Composizione "Città die Torino 2000". “Music, when soft voices die...”, in 2002 composed at the request of, and in the Institut International de Musique Electroacoustique de Bourges, was awarded the first prize in the competition Musica Nova in Prague. In 2005 “Cordes Invisibles” for violoncello, piano and tape (cd) won the first prize in the Concours International de Musique Electroacoustique de Bourges. Roderik de Man's music was performed and broadcast in most European countries as well as in the >United States, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia and Japan.

About Annelie de Man

Annelie de Man studied at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague with Janny van Wering and Bob van Asperen.

After devoting herself to Baroque music for several years, she turned to the performance of contemporary music and stimulated composers, both at home and from abroad, to write for her. One of the first was Dutch composer Louis Andriessen with "Overture to Orpheus" (1982).

Annelie de Man plays a double-manual instrument built in 1978 by Theo de Haas and redecorated by Frisian graphic artist Sies Bleeker in 1987.

It features on the cover of "Harpsichord and clavichord music of the twentieth century" by Frances Bedford (published in 1993 by Fallen Leaf Press, Ca/USA).

As professor of contemporary harpsichord music at the Conservatory of Amsterdam, she teaches students from all over the world.

She gave masterclasses and lectures a.o. at conservatories and universities in The Netherlands, >Germany, Norway, Poland , Russia (Tsjaikovski Conservatorium Moscow) and Canada. In 1994 she collaborated with Music Centre "De IJsbreker" in organizing the International Harpsichord Week in Amsterdam and in 1997 she was on the jury of the International Gaudeamus Young Interpreters Competition.

She is secretary of the Foundation Ton Bruynèl, foundation for the promotion of electronic music, and on the board of the Festival November Music.

Since 2006 she is a member of the Advisory Board of the Aliénor Foundation. Concerts in The Netherlands (a.o. the Holland Festival, International Gaudeamus Music Week, the Dutch Music Days) with the Schönberg Ensemble, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (Millennium tour in Japan 2000), the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and the Radio Symphony Orchestra,
Amsterdam Sinfonietta and the ASKO Ensemble, and with conductors as Riccardo Chailly, Oliver Knussen, Otto Tausk, Gidon Kremer and Lev Markiz.

She toured a.o. Austria (Festival Aspekte Salzburg), Germany, Spain, Scotland, Norway (World Music Days/Oslo 1990), France (Festival de Musique Electro-acoustique de Bourges 1992), Finland (Festival Time of Music/Viitasaari 1994), Ukraine (Festival New Music Odessa/1996), Ireland (Dublin 1999), Japan (Millenniumtournée Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra 2000), Canada (October 2003), Poland (Festival AudioArt November 2001 Kraków), Italy (Festival Spaziomusica 2003 in Cagliari), Jauna Muzika (Vilnius/Lithuania 2006) and Warschau (Festival Warschauer Herbst 2006).

In 2002 she played 35 performances live on stage of 'Rameau' with the Scapino Ballet Rotterdam. 'Rameau' was created by choreographer Ed Wubbe on the 'Pièces de clavecin' by Jean-Philippe Rameau.

Together with bass clarinettist Harry Sparnaay she founded the duo Double_Action. This unusual combination inspired many composers from The Netherlands and abroad to write for it. In the meantime the duo has toured The Netherlands, >Ireland, Poland, and Canada with performances and workshops in Winnipeg, Edmonton and Calgary.

With violinist Tiziana Pintus and violoncellist John Addison, she performs baroque and contemporary repertoire.

Annelie de Man is married to composer Roderik de Man and lives in Amsterdam.

 Schedule of Events

Thursday, Feb. 7, 4 pm An open rehearsal and discussion of music by Louis Andriessen, with Annelie de Man and IWU students

Saturday, Feb. 9, 7:30 pm  Concert of contemporary music with video, performed by Annelie de Man. The program also includes Prof. David Vayo's "Play of Hands" for amplified harpsichord, performed by Annelie de Man

Sunday, Feb. 10, 3 pm   Concert of music by Roderik de Man, performed by IWU faculty and students. 

About the Symposium

The Annual Symposium of Contemporary Music, established in 1952, brings prominent guest composers or performers to campus each year for a two-to-three-day residency. Student and faculty performers work closely with guest composers at rehearsals in preparation for a concert of the guest's music, and these collaborations rank among students' most prized musical experiences at IWU. Master classes for composition and performance students are another regular feature of the Symposium, as is a panel discussion on a topic chosen with the guest; examples are "Music and Poetry" and "American Arts and Culture at the Millennium."

Recent guests of the Symposium include Pulitzer prizewinners Joseph Schwantner and Leslie Bassett; Grammy recipients Libby Larsen and John Corigliano; and two of Europe's most widely celebrated composers, Arvo Pärt and Louis Andriessen.  The Symposium forms part of IWU's New Music Series, which also includes recitals of contemporary music by guest composers and performers, faculty performances, the New Music Cafe concert series, ensemble concerts featuring new music, and recitals of student compositions.

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