Anner Bylsma
Encyclopedia
Anner Bylsma is a Dutch
cellist
who plays on both modern, and period instruments in an historically informed baroque
style. He took an interest in music from an early age. He studied with
Carel van Boomkamp at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague
and won the Prix d'excellence in 1957.
In 1959, he won the first prize in the Pablo Casals Competition in Mexico
. Later he was for six years (from 1962 to 1968) the principal cellist in the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
. He became an Erasmus Scholar at Harvard University
in 1982. He is the author of the book Bach, the Fencing Master, a stylistic and aesthetic analysis of Bach
's Cello Suites
. He is one of the pioneers of the 'Dutch Baroque School' and rose to fame as a partner of Frans Brüggen
and Gustav Leonhardt
, who toured extensively together and made many recordings. Bylsma continues to be a towering figure in the baroque cello movement.
In 1979 Bijlsma recorded the first ever recording of the six Suites for unaccompanied cello (BWV 1007-1012) by J. S. Bach on a period instrument. He also made a second recording of the same music in 1992 on the large Servais Stradivarius and on a five-string violoncello piccolo.
Anner Bylsma is married to Dutch violinist Vera Beths.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
cellist
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
who plays on both modern, and period instruments in an historically informed baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
style. He took an interest in music from an early age. He studied with
Carel van Boomkamp at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague
Royal Conservatory of The Hague
The Royal Conservatory of The Hague is a conservatorium of music, providing higher education in music and dance, it is located in The Hague, Netherlands.-The Conservatory:...
and won the Prix d'excellence in 1957.
In 1959, he won the first prize in the Pablo Casals Competition in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Later he was for six years (from 1962 to 1968) the principal cellist in the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra is a symphony orchestra of the Netherlands, based at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. In 1988, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands conferred the "Royal" title upon the orchestra...
. He became an Erasmus Scholar at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1982. He is the author of the book Bach, the Fencing Master, a stylistic and aesthetic analysis of Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
's Cello Suites
Cello Suites (Bach)
The Six Suites for Unaccompanied Cello by Johann Sebastian Bach are some of the most performed and recognizable solo compositions ever written for cello...
. He is one of the pioneers of the 'Dutch Baroque School' and rose to fame as a partner of Frans Brüggen
Frans Brüggen
Frans Brüggen is a well-known Dutch conductor, recorder player and baroque flautist.-Biography:Brüggen studied recorder and flute at the Amsterdam Muzieklyceum. He also studied musicology at the University of Amsterdam. In 1955, at the age of 21, he was appointed professor at the Royal...
and Gustav Leonhardt
Gustav Leonhardt
Gustav Leonhardt is a highly renowned Dutch keyboard player, conductor, musicologist, teacher and editor. Leonhardt has been a leading figure in the movement to perform music on period instruments...
, who toured extensively together and made many recordings. Bylsma continues to be a towering figure in the baroque cello movement.
In 1979 Bijlsma recorded the first ever recording of the six Suites for unaccompanied cello (BWV 1007-1012) by J. S. Bach on a period instrument. He also made a second recording of the same music in 1992 on the large Servais Stradivarius and on a five-string violoncello piccolo.
Anner Bylsma is married to Dutch violinist Vera Beths.