BAERVOETS, Raymond

Raymond BAERVOETS (Brussels, 6th November 1930 - Rome, 19th August 1989) studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music, Brussels.

His classical education led him first to compose traditional works in neoclassic style which did not pass beyond polytonality.

In 1957 he had his first contacts with composers of avant-garde music through the “Stichting Gaudeamus” at Bilthoven (Netherlands). From 1961 on he studied for 2 years composition with Goffredo Petrassi at the “Accademia di Santa Cecilia di Roma”.

Under the influence of this master, his estethic outlook changed radically; his work developed toward post-serialism with some incursions into the aleatoric field; he specialized in the systematic use of the quartertone; he tried to create new sonorities within the framework of the traditional orchestra for which he keeps a predilection.

He obtained several prizes, and numerous compositions have been performed at the International Composers’ Tribune of Unesco, at the Musical Meetings of Bayreuth, at the International Contemporary Music Weeks of Bilthoven and Athens, at the “Reconnaissances de Musiques Modernes” in Brussels.

Some of his scores were specially commissioned and other were first performed by conductors internationally known for their interpretation of avant-garde music : Bruno Maderna, Michael Gielen, Aldo Ceccato, Feruccio Scaglia, Giampiero Taverna, André Vandernoot and Adrás Mihaly.

[© CeBeDeM]

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