home

Bio


Arnoud Noordegraaf (NL, 1974) is a composer who doesn't shy a narrative in his work. His productions form a class apart within Dutch contemporary music, combining interdisciplinary media in compositions and theatrical forms, resulting in 'a remarkable unity in style and atmosphere' (NRC Handelsblad)

Noordegraaf studied theatre at the Maastricht Theatre School and composition at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, with Gilius van Bergeijk and Martijn Padding. His musical style is focussed on a strong interaction between live instruments and their electronic counterparts; a very surrealistic musical vocabulary, in which instruments or voices produce sounds beyond their natural capacities. The musician's struggle with an invisible counterpart complements the theatrical struggle of accepting the world as it is, a reoccurring theme in Noordegraaf's work.

Apart from writing an autonomous oeuvre of compositions and music theatre, Noordegraaf's production company Inexcelsisvideo produces film images for various other opera's and music events. He has collaborated with composers and artists like Michel van der Aa, Louis Andriessen, Hal Hartley and Gary Hill, for companies like De Nederlandse Opera, Holland Festival and Asko/Schonberg ensemble.

Noordegraaf has tought and lectured at Aldeburgh (UK), Beijing and Xiamen (Cn), and in NL. In 2009 he will be guest teacher at the Rietveld art academy in Amsterdam.

A selection of his works are currently published by Donemus.

recent works include:

e.Tude for violin (2009) 10' composition for amplified violin and interactive video projection. Written for Barbara Luenebeurg. Premiered Sept. 13 2009 in Mittersil, Austria
commissioned by NFPK+

e.Tude for Tenor recorder (2009) 10' composition for Tenor recorder solo and live electronics controlling interactive video projections. Written for Jorge Isaac as a part of his Acta Numerica programme. Premiere October 2009.
commissioned by NFPK+

SOLOIST (2008) 20’ composition for percussion, samples and video, written for Arnold Marinissen.
premiered dec. 6 2008, Muziekgebouw aan het IJ, Amstedam
commissioned by NFPK+

BLOW OUT (2008), 13', composition with video images for wind ensemble. Written for the David Kweksilber Bigband. premiered June 7 2008, BIMhuis Amsterdam, Holland Festival.
commissioned by NFPK+

MUZE (2007), 60', music theatre; composition, video and director.
With Romian Bischoff, baritone, Marcel Andriessen percussion and Saartje van Camp, cello.
prem. May 17 2007, Festival aan de Werf, Utrecht

INTERIM (2007) 15' for ensemble, samples and video images.
ensemble MAE. prem. 23 feb 2007, Paradiso Amsterdam.
commissioned by NFPK+

recent collaborations:
Book of disquiet (2008), music theatre by Michel van der Aa
first assistant on film shoot in Lissabon; starring Klaus Maria Brandauer, Ana Moura
prem. jan. 2009, Linz, Austria.

La Commedia (2008), 120', opera by Louis Andriessen
producer film decor, directed by Hal Hartley.
De Nederlandse Opera; prem. Holland Festival 2008.

After Life (2006), 95', opera by Michel van der Aa
film production and assisting director.
prem. may 2, Holland Festival 2006.

Solitude (2005) 50', multimedia installation-performance with Robert van Heumen and Luuk Vierhout
3-channel video projection on 15 semi-transparant screens.
prem. Gent 2005, Novembermusic festival.

Other:
Course master New Music New Media course in Aldeburgh, UK, sep. 2006
Lecture on the use of Film in Opera at Aldeburgh, UK, 2007
Masterclass composing in images, Xiamen and Beijing, China, 2007/2008
Lecture on video and composition at the Aki art academy, Enschede NL, 2008
Part time teaching at Rietveld art academy Amsterdam, 2009

press quotes:
"Noordegraaf noticeble multi media talent" (De Telegraaf);

"A remarkable unity in style and atmosphere ..." (NRC Handelsblad);

"Solitude ... perfect and poetic balance between spacial images and three dimensional sound. (...) rarely the delicate stilled experience is put into sound and image with such quality." (Marc van de Voort, De Subjectivisten);

“The brilliant tragicomic film Pong by Dutch composer Arnoud Noordegraaf added depth to the evening, bringing yet another point of discussion to a thoughtful and rewarding program.” (Martin Ball, The Australian)

FOR FULL BIO AND CV: Contact
HOME