Homepage of Dutch composer J.M. Suijkerbuijk

Biographical Sketch

Name: J.M. Suijkerbuijk
Date & Place of Birth: 1959.11.29 Munstergeleen, the Netherlands
Gender: Male
Nationality: Dutch

J.M. Suijkerbuijk taught himself to read and write music at the age of eleven. Advised to by a high school teacher, his parents allowed him to follow private piano lessons from age fourteen through eighteen.

He then studied musicology at the university of Utrecht (1978-84) with Marius Flothuis, Jos Kunst, Willem Elders and Kees Vellekoop, amongst others, graduating with a thesis on the relationship between Alban Berg’s violin concerto and Ferruccio Busoni’s Berceuse Elégiaque.

As a student, J.M. Suijkerbuijk developed his own compositorial technique: a modal system¹ based on harmonics, which renders a form of ‘tonality’ (or rather: tonal centre-based music) that appears both alien and familiar. This modal system was first formulated in a short piece for piano, later published as part three, Skaz, of Vier Noveletten, opus 88.

The opus 63, Perigæum, for large wind ensemble, was the first large scale composition in this new technique to be performed before an audience. The world premiere was given on December 11, 1981 by the Utrecht Wind Ensemble, conducted by Leo Samama.

Since Perigæum he mainly wrote highly polyphonic orchestral works, among which six symphonies, ten concert overtures and two symphoniettas, though smaller ensembles and chamber music received more and more attention in later years².

Most of his early works have gone lost.

The name Suijkerbuijk is also written Suykerbuyk. Between 1975 and 1986 he used the nom de plume Joh.M.A. Wollf.

Notes

¹ Read more on this modal system on the page dedicated to the theory behind J.M. Suijkerbuijk’s music: "On the Theory of Music". Click the button for that page below or select "On the Theory of Music" from the "Site Menu" in the upper left corner of this page.

² View a comprehensive list of compositions by clicking on the “Compositions” button below or selecting "Compositions" from the "Site Menu" in the upper left corner of this page.

Site Index:

~ Compositions ~

This page presents a comprehensive list of all known compositions by J.M. Suijkerbuijk with annotations. The page is divided into two sections: "Orchestral Works" and "Chamber Music". Included in the list are works in progress.

[ visit Compositions ]

~ Audio Samples ~

A list of J.M. Suijkerbuijk’s music you can listen to. In compliance with copyright laws all samples are fragments with a duration of no more than one minute and forty-five seconds. No fragment is taken from a commercially available recording.

[ visit Audio Samples ]

~ On the Theory of Music ~

This page presents an attempt to define the theory that underlies the music of J.M. Suijkerbuijk. The page is divided into two sections: "The Modus" and "Harmony".

[ visit On the Theory of Music ]

~ Contact ~

Please do not hesitate to contact us when you would like to receive more extensive information on anything concerning the composer or his music. Additionally, we encourage you to inform us of an upcoming concert or recording with compositions by J.M. Suijkerbuijk that you would like us to put in the spotlight here. For all your comments, requests, questions or suggestions, please visit the "Contact" page and fill out the form.

[ visit Contact ]

Miscellaneous

External Links

International Music Score Library Project » compositions included in the Petrucci Music Library
Muziekencyclopedie » entry in the Dutch music encyclopedia by Muziek Centrum Nederland
Music Encyclopedia » entry in the English music encyclopedia by Muziek Centrum Nederland
Stichting Limburgse Componisten » page at the Limburgian Composers' Foundation
Wikipedia.nl » Dutch Wikipedia entry
Wikipedia.de » German Wikipedia entry

Updates

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