Kuijken

Kuijken, prominent family of Belgian musicians, all brothers:

(1) Wieland Kuijken , cellist and viola da gambist; b. Dilbeek, near Brussels, Aug. 31, 1938. He studied piano and cello at the Bruges Cons, and the Brussels Cons. (1957), graduating with the prix d’excellence in 1962; was self-taught as a violist. He played in the Baroque group known as the Alarius Ensemble (1959–72) and in the avant-garde Musiques Nouvelles from 1962. He later appeared in concerts with his brothers, and also toured extensively as a soloist; likewise taught master classes.

(2) Sigiswald Kuijken , violinist, violist, and conductor; b. Dilbeek, near Brussels, Feb. 16, 1944. He enrolled at the Bruges Cons, at age 8 as a student of violin, then entered the Brussels Cons, in 1960, winning the premier prix in 1964. He was autodidact as a Baroque violinist, beginning his career on the instrument in 1970. He played in the Alarius Ensemble and the Musiques Nouvelles before gaining wide recognition with his own Baroque orch., La Petite Bande (founded 1972), which he subsequently led on many tours and in numerous recordings. He was also active as a teacher, serving on the faculties of the Royal Cons, of Music at The Hague (from 1971) and the Brussels Cons, (from 1994).

(3) Barthold Kuijken , flutist and recorder player; b. Dilbeek, near Brussels, March 8, 1949. He studied at the conservatories in Bruges, Brussels, and The Hague, his principal teachers being Franz Vester (flute) and Frans Brüggen (recorder); he was self-taught as a Baroque flutist. He performed in concerts with his brothers and with others, and also toured widely and was active as a teacher.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire