Frans Brüggen
Encyclopedia
Frans Brüggen is a well-known Dutch
conductor
, recorder player and baroque
flautist
.
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 Conservatory of The Hague
. Brüggen has been a visiting professor at Harvard University
and the University of California, Berkeley
.
In addition to his career as a soloist in the baroque repertoire, Brüggen co-founded the Orchestra of the 18th Century
(Orkest van de Achttiende Eeuw) in 1981, along with Sieuwert Verster. He has conducted many leading European orchestras, including the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
. He was the conductor of the Radio Kamerorkest from 1991 to 1994, and joint chief conductor of the orchestra, alongside Peter Eötvös
, from 2001 until the dissolution of the orchestra in 2005. He is one of the Emeritus Conductors of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
.
His recordings include, as a flautist, selections from the Pièces de Clavecin en Concerts
of Jean-Philippe Rameau
, and as a conductor, symphonies of Beethoven, Joseph Haydn
and Franz Schubert
.
Brüggen is the uncle of recorder soloist and Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet
member, Daniël Brüggen.
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...
conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, recorder player and 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...
flautist
Flautist
A flautist or flutist is a musician who plays an instrument in the flute family. See List of flautists.The choice of "flautist" versus "flutist" is the source of dispute among players of the instrument...
.
Biography
Brüggen studied recorderRecorder
The recorder is a woodwind musical instrument of the family known as fipple flutes or internal duct flutes—whistle-like instruments which include the tin whistle. The recorder is end-blown and the mouth of the instrument is constricted by a wooden plug, known as a block or fipple...
and flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
at the Amsterdam Muzieklyceum. He also studied musicology
Musicology
Musicology is the scholarly study of music. The word is used in narrow, broad and intermediate senses. In the narrow sense, musicology is confined to the music history of Western culture...
at the University of Amsterdam. In 1955, at the age of 21, he was appointed professor 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:...
. Brüggen has been a visiting professor 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...
and the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
.
In addition to his career as a soloist in the baroque repertoire, Brüggen co-founded the Orchestra of the 18th Century
Orchestra of the 18th Century
The Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century is a Dutch early music orchestra. Frans Brüggen and Sieuwert Verster co-founded the orchestra in 1981....
(Orkest van de Achttiende Eeuw) in 1981, along with Sieuwert Verster. He has conducted many leading European orchestras, including 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 was the conductor of the Radio Kamerorkest from 1991 to 1994, and joint chief conductor of the orchestra, alongside Peter Eötvös
Peter Eötvös
Péter Eötvös is a Hungarian composer and conductor.Eötvös was born in Odorheiu Secuiesc/Székelyudvarhely, Szeklerland, Transylvania . He studied composition in Budapest and Cologne. From 1962, he composed for film in Hungary. Eötvös played regularly with the Stockhausen Ensemble between 1968 and...
, from 2001 until the dissolution of the orchestra in 2005. He is one of the Emeritus Conductors of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment is a British period instrument orchestra. The OAE is a resident orchestra of the Southbank Centre, London, associate orchestra at Glyndebourne Festival Opera and has its headquarters at Kings Place...
.
His recordings include, as a flautist, selections from the Pièces de Clavecin en Concerts
Pièces de Clavecin en Concerts
The Pièces de clavecin en concert, published in 1741, constitute the only chamber music by Jean-Philippe Rameau and were composed in full maturity; they came after his music for solo harpsichord, and just before Les Indes galantes....
of Jean-Philippe Rameau
Jean-Philippe Rameau
Jean-Philippe Rameau was one of the most important French composers and music theorists of the Baroque era. He replaced Jean-Baptiste Lully as the dominant composer of French opera and is also considered the leading French composer for the harpsichord of his time, alongside François...
, and as a conductor, symphonies of Beethoven, Joseph Haydn
Joseph Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn , known as Joseph Haydn , was an Austrian composer, one of the most prolific and prominent composers of the Classical period. He is often called the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet" because of his important contributions to these forms...
and Franz Schubert
Franz Schubert
Franz Peter Schubert was an Austrian composer.Although he died at an early age, Schubert was tremendously prolific. He wrote some 600 Lieder, nine symphonies , liturgical music, operas, some incidental music, and a large body of chamber and solo piano music...
.
Brüggen is the uncle of recorder soloist and Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet
Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet
The Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet is a professional Dutch recorder quartet which was founded in 1978 by four students of the Sweelinck Conservatory Amsterdam; Daniël Brüggen, Bertho Driever, Paul Leenhouts and Karel van Steenhoven...
member, Daniël Brüggen.
Honours and awards
- The Honorary medal for Arts and Science of the Order of the House of Orange (22 September 2010)
- Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion (28 April 2003)
Personal life
Brüggen is married to art historian Machtelt Israëls, with whom he has two daughters, Zephyr and Eos.Further reading
- Thomson, J. M. 2001. "Brüggen [Brueggen], Frans". The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, second edition, edited by Stanley SadieStanley SadieStanley Sadie CBE was a leading British musicologist, music critic, and editor. He was editor of the sixth edition of the Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians , which was published as the first edition of the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians.Sadie was educated at St Paul's School,...
and John TyrrellJohn Tyrrell (professor of music)John Tyrrell was born in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia in 1942. He studied at the universities of Cape Town, Oxford and Brno. In 2000 he was appointed Research Professor at Cardiff University....
. London: Macmillan Publishers.