Keuris, Tristan

Keuris, Tristan, Dutch composer and teacher; b. Amersfoort, Oct. 3, 1946; d. Amsterdam, Dec. 15, 1996. He was a student of Jan van Vlijmen at the Amersfoort Music School, and then of Ton de Leeuw at the Utrecht Cons. (1963-69; graduated with a composition prize, 1969). After teaching composition at the Utrecht Cons., he taught theory at the Hilversum Cons. In 1975 he was awarded the Matthijs Vermeulen Prize for his Sinfonia. His music evolved along postserial lines to embrace athematic writing with an assured command of technique, form, and structure.

Works

orch.:Kwartet (1967); Choral Music (1969); Soundings (1970); Alto Saxophone Concerto (1971); Sinfonia (1972-74; Amsterdam, Jan. 31, 1976); Serenade for Oboe and Orch. (1974–76); Piano Concerto (1979–80); Movements (1981); 7 Pieces for Bass Clarinet and Orch. (1983); 2 violin concertos: No. 1 (1984) and No. 2 (Amsterdam, Oct. 1997); Variations for Strings (1985); Saxophone Quartet Concerto (1986; Amsterdam, June 21, 1987); Aria for Flute and Orch. (1987; Scheveningen, April 21, 1988); Symphonic Transformations (Houston, Sept. 18, 1987); Catena: Refrains and Variations for 31 Winds, Percussion, and Celesta (Amsterdam, Jan. 12, 1989); 3 Sonnets for Alto Saxophone and Orch. (Amsterdam, Sept. 8, 1989); Antologia (Parma, June 22, 1991); Double Cello Concerto (Manchester, April 30, 1992); Organ Concerto (Amsterdam, March 18, 1993); 3 Preludes (Amsterdam, Sept. 2, 1994); Sym. (The Hague, Sept. 29, 1995); Arcade (1995; Hilversum, Jan. 20, 1996).chamber:Play for Clarinet and Piano (1967); Saxophone Quartet (1970); Concertante Muziek for 9 Instruments (1973); Muziek for Clarinet, Violin, and Piano (1973); Fantasia for Flute (1976); Concertino for Clarinet and String Quartet (1977; rev. 1979); Violin Sonata (1977); Capriccio for Chamber Ensemble (1978); 8 Miniatures for 6 Instruments (1980); Divertimento for 8 Instruments (1982); 2 string quartets (1982, 1985); Clarinet Quartet (1983); Piano Trio (1984); Music for Saxophone Quartet (1986; London, March 3, 1987); 5 Pieces for Brass Quintet (1988; Rotterdam, April 1, 1989); Clarinet Quintet (1988; Amsterdam, Jan. 20, 1989); Intermezzi for Chamber Ensemble (Manchester, Nov. 5, 1989); Canzone for Clarinet (1990); Passeggiate for 4 Recorder Players (1990; Amsterdam, Feb. 21, 1991); Chamber Concerto for Accordion and Ensemble (Amsterdam, April 16, 1995); String Sextet (1995). Piano: Sonata (1970). vocal:To Brooklyn Bridge for 24 Voices and 15 Instruments (1988; Utrecht, Dec. 7, 1989); 3 Michelangelo Songs for Mezzo-soprano and Orch. (1989; Arn-hem, March 21, 1991); L’Infinito for Soprano, Mezzo-soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass, and Chamber Ensemble (1990; Utrecht, Feb. 28, 1991); Laudi for Mezzo-soprano, Baritone, Chorus, and Orch. (1992-93; Utrecht, Dec. 17, 1993).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire