Bon, Willem Frederik

Bon, Willem Frederik, Dutch composer and conductor; b. Amersfoort, June 15, 1940; d. Nijeholt-pade, April 14, 1983. He studied clarinet, conducting, and composition at the Amsterdam Cons, and the Royal Cons, of Music at The Hague, receiving a conducting diploma in 1971. In 1972 he became conductor of the Eindhoven Baroque Ensemble, and in 1973 was named an asst. conductor of the Concertgebouw Orch. in Amsterdam. At the time of his death, he taught composition at the Groningen Cons.

Works

DRAMATIC: Erik’s wonderbaarlijke reis (Erik’s Miraculous Journey), instrumental opera for Children, Narrator, and Orch. (1979). orch.:Dialogues and Monologues for Piano and Orch. (1968); Nocturnes for Strings (1968); Variations on a Theme of Sweelinck for Chamber Orch. (1969); 2 syms.: No. 1, Usher Symphony, after Poe (1968–70; originally intended as an opera) and No. 2, Les Predictions (1970); Concerto for Strings (1970); Games for 6 Wind Instruments, Piano, and Strings (1970); To Catch a Heffalump for Orch. and Tape (1971); Circe, prelude (1972); Passacaglia in Blue for 12 Wind Instruments and Double Bass (1972); Aforismen for 15 Strings (1972); Concerto for Oboes (Oboe, Oboe d’Amore, and Heckelphone) and Strings (1974); Sym. for Strings (1982). chamber: 2 wind quintets (1963–66; 1969); Cello Sonata (1966); Sunphoneion I for Flute, Vibraphone, and Piano (1968); Sans paroles for Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, and String Trio (1970); Petite trilogie for Trumpet (1970); Sonata for Solo Bassoon (1970); Riflessioni for Flute and Harp (1971); 5 tours de passe- passe for Flute and Piano (1971); Allegorie for Harp (1972); 3 Saturnien for Piano Trio (1981). piano:Miniatures (1966). vocal: 3 poèmes de Verlaine for Mezzo-soprano, Flute, Cello, and Piano (1967); Missa brevis for Chorus and 9 Wind Instruments (1969); Jadis et naguère for Mezzo-soprano, Clarinet, Violin, and Piano (1970); 2999, 4 Prophesies of Nostradamus for Soprano and Orch. (1973); Le Grand Age Millième, 4 quatrains after Nostradamus, for Men’s Chorus (1974); Les Quatre Saisons de Verlaine, each for a different Vocal Soloist and Orch.: Le Printemps for Soprano, L’Été for Alto, L’Automne for Baritone, and L’Hiver for Tenor (1976–79); Silence, after Poe, for Mezzo-soprano, Wind Quintet, and Piano (1978); Dag (Hello), 4 songs for Mezzo-soprano and Percussion (1979).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire