Writing to Louis Andriessen

Louis Andriessen is the Netherlands’ foremost composer of contemporary music. Writing to Louis Andriessen: Commentaries on life in music surveys significant works from Andriessen’s career. The book will be substantial in its commentary on the span of his work, with contributors from the UK, the Netherlands and the US contextualising his music from a European critical perspective, linking outwards to American minimalism, so too surveying his international importance. It will be in the English language.

Louis Andriessen has exerted influence not only as a teacher at the Koninklijk Conservatorium, Den Haag but also internationally in the expanse of works presented. Celebrating his eightieth birthday in 2019, former students, now also significant voices internationally, and contemporaries join together to write to Louis Andriessen in a book of critical reflection and celebration. Amongst those writing will be Donnacha Dennehy, Rose Dodd, David Dramm, Anthony Fiumara, Ron Ford, Christopher Fox, Liz Haddon, Yannis Kyriakides, Jan Nieuwenhuis, Ian Pace, Martijn Padding, Johanneke van Slooten and Julia Wolfe.

Designed by Joost Grootens, the visual presentation within the book will comprise letters from Andriessen’s personal correspondence with the iconic American mezzo-soprano Cathy Berberian, music materials and programme booklets, musical score excerpts and archive photos, all in lush presentation.