Nicholas Lens
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Lens is a contemporary Belgian author
and composer
.
Lens was born in Ypres
near the French
border in Flanders
, Belgium
. His godfather
taught him violin
when he was five. He studied trumpet
and double-bass, first at local academies and then at Royal conservatories. Later on he studied viola da gamba with Sophie Watillon
.
While he was studying at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Brussels
, he started composing professionally for theatrical projects, film and television. While a member of the National Orchestra of Belgium
, the conductor Mendi Rodan
offered him a contract as a double bass
player in the Israel
Sinfonietta
in Beersheeva, Israel
.
His work is published by Schott Music
International, Mainz
/New York
and distributed by Sony BMG International and Daila Laika ltd.
in Flanders
, Belgium
. He grew up in a musical family of five children.
His godfather
André Moerman, a concert violinist, was paralysed due to the MS-disease. He taught the violin to Nicholas Lens when he was at the age of five. His biography quotes:
Lens moved from Ypres
to Brussels
at the age of fifteen.
He was supporting his own studies at the Royal Conservatory by writing music for theater plays and television.
Lens went traveling all over the world and became an autodidact author/composer. He has one daughter, Clara-Lane, and lives in Brussels
.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
.
Lens was born in Ypres
Ypres
Ypres is a Belgian municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres and the villages of Boezinge, Brielen, Dikkebus, Elverdinge, Hollebeke, Sint-Jan, Vlamertinge, Voormezele, Zillebeke, and Zuidschote...
near the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
border in Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. His godfather
Godparent
A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather, and a female godparent is a godmother...
taught him violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
when he was five. He studied trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
and double-bass, first at local academies and then at Royal conservatories. Later on he studied viola da gamba with Sophie Watillon
Sophie Watillon
Sophie Watillon was born in Namur, Belgium to a musical family. During her young life, the viola da gamba-soloist gained international fame with refined and sensitive solo interpretations of Early Music and Baroque compositions for viola da gamba.At the age of sixteen, she began studying music...
.
While he was studying at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, he started composing professionally for theatrical projects, film and television. While a member of the National Orchestra of Belgium
National Orchestra of Belgium
The Nationaal Orkest van België or Orchestre National de Belgique is the oldest of two major orchestras now in Belgium, along with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Liège....
, the conductor Mendi Rodan
Mendi Rodan
Mendi Rodan was a Romanian-born Israeli conductor, composer and violinist.-Biography:Mendi Rodan was born in Iaşi, Romania, one of three children of Solomon and Miriam Rosenblum. Mendi began playing the violin at the age of five...
offered him a contract as a double bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
player in the Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
Sinfonietta
Sinfonietta (orchestra)
A Sinfonietta is a name for a musical group that is larger than a chamber ensemble but smaller than a full-size or symphony orchestra.There are many orchestras bearing the name "Sinfonietta", including:* American Sinfonietta...
in Beersheeva, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
.
His work is published by Schott Music
Schott Music
Schott Music is one of the oldest German music publishers. It is also one of the largest music publishing houses in Europe and is currently the second oldest music publishing house. The company headquarters of Schott Music was founded by Bernhard Schott in Mainz, Germany in 1770.Established in...
International, Mainz
Mainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
/New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and distributed by Sony BMG International and Daila Laika ltd.
Personal life
Lens spent his youth in YpresYpres
Ypres is a Belgian municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres and the villages of Boezinge, Brielen, Dikkebus, Elverdinge, Hollebeke, Sint-Jan, Vlamertinge, Voormezele, Zillebeke, and Zuidschote...
in Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. He grew up in a musical family of five children.
His godfather
Godparent
A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather, and a female godparent is a godmother...
André Moerman, a concert violinist, was paralysed due to the MS-disease. He taught the violin to Nicholas Lens when he was at the age of five. His biography quotes:
"Once when the child Nicholas Lens was playing the violin in a very enthusiastic way during the lessons, his bow touched, by accident, the director of the local academy on one of his vital organs. So the little Nicholas’ violin career ended when he was ten.“
“His first television appearance was as a clarion player when he was eleven. He was asked to play “The Last Post” at an official ceremony at a British and American war cemeteryCemeteryA cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
. Nicholas was wearing short pants and it was freezing cold. The television crew members offered him some brandy. The version of “The Last Post” he played during the ceremony on his horn was never heard before.”
Lens moved from Ypres
Ypres
Ypres is a Belgian municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres and the villages of Boezinge, Brielen, Dikkebus, Elverdinge, Hollebeke, Sint-Jan, Vlamertinge, Voormezele, Zillebeke, and Zuidschote...
to Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
at the age of fifteen.
He was supporting his own studies at the Royal Conservatory by writing music for theater plays and television.
Lens went traveling all over the world and became an autodidact author/composer. He has one daughter, Clara-Lane, and lives in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
.
Works
- The songbook ‘Orrori dell’AmoreOrrori dell’AmoreOrrori dell'Amore is an orchestral Songbook for vocal soloists and chamber orchestra by Nicholas Lens.-Credits:*Music & Artistic producer: Nicholas Lens*Lyrics: Nicholas Lens - Irma Achten...
’ (1995) for sopranoSopranoA soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
, baritoneBaritoneBaritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
, counterCounterIn digital logic and computing, a counter is a device which stores the number of times a particular event or process has occurred, often in relationship to a clock signal.- Electronic counters :...
and chamber orchestra;
CD release on Sony Classical (SK 62016) - published by Schott MusicSchott MusicSchott Music is one of the oldest German music publishers. It is also one of the largest music publishing houses in Europe and is currently the second oldest music publishing house. The company headquarters of Schott Music was founded by Bernhard Schott in Mainz, Germany in 1770.Established in...
International, MainzMainzMainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
;
- The soundtrack ‘Mein Erstes Wunder’
a film by Anne Wild, premiered at BerlinBerlinBerlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, 2003;
- The trilogyTrilogyA trilogy is a set of three works of art that are connected, and that can be seen either as a single work or as three individual works. They are commonly found in literature, film, or video games...
‘The Accacha ChroniclesThe Accacha ChroniclesThe Accacha Chronicles is an operatic trilogy by Nicholas Lens for Soprano, Tenor, Counter-tenor, Mezzo-soprano, Baritone, Bass, male actor, small choir, mixed choir and chamber orchestra.-Reception:...
’ (2005) (Sony BMG 82876 66239 2 -published by Schott MusicSchott MusicSchott Music is one of the oldest German music publishers. It is also one of the largest music publishing houses in Europe and is currently the second oldest music publishing house. The company headquarters of Schott Music was founded by Bernhard Schott in Mainz, Germany in 1770.Established in...
International, MainzMainzMainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
/New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
)
for sopranoSopranoA soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
, tenorTenorThe tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
, counterCounterIn digital logic and computing, a counter is a device which stores the number of times a particular event or process has occurred, often in relationship to a clock signal.- Electronic counters :...
, mezzo soprano, baritoneBaritoneBaritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
, bass, male actor, small choir, mixed choir and chamber orchestra:- part I: Flamma FlammaFlamma FlammaFlamma Flamma - The Fire Requiem is a musical work by Nicholas Lens. It is the first part of the operatic trilogy The Accacha Chronicles. The work was artistically and financially produced by the composer himself and gained international fame when Sony Classical bought the rights in 1994 for...
-The Fire RequiemRequiemA Requiem or Requiem Mass, also known as Mass for the dead or Mass of the dead , is a Mass celebrated for the repose of the soul or souls of one or more deceased persons, using a particular form of the Roman Missal...
(1994) BMGBMGBertelsmann Music Group, , was a division of Bertelsmann before its completion of sale of the majority of its assets to Japan's Sony Corporation of America on October 1, 2008. It was established in 1987 to combine the music label activities of Bertelsmann...
Classics 74321 697172 - Sony Classical SK 66293; - part II: Terra TerraTerra TerraTerra Terra -The Aquarius Era is a musical work by Nicholas Lens. It is the second part of the operatic trilogy The Accacha Chronicles.The work follows on the successful first partFlamma Flamma...
-The AquariusAge of AquariusThe Age of Aquarius is either the current or new age in the cycle of astrological ages. Each astrological age is approximately 2,150 years long, on average, but there are various methods of calculating this length that may yield longer or shorter time spans depending upon the technique used...
EraEraAn era is a commonly used word for long period of time. When used in science, for example geology, eras denote clearly defined periods of time of arbitrary but well defined length, such as for example the Mesozoic era from 252 Ma–66 Ma, delimited by a start event and an end event. When used in...
(1999) BMGBMGBertelsmann Music Group, , was a division of Bertelsmann before its completion of sale of the majority of its assets to Japan's Sony Corporation of America on October 1, 2008. It was established in 1987 to combine the music label activities of Bertelsmann...
Classics 74321 697182; - part III: Amor AeternusAmor AeternusAmor Aeternus - Hymns of Love is a musical work by Nicholas Lens. It is the third part of the operatic trilogy The Accacha Chronicles.The work follows on the parts Flamma Flamma and Terra Terra...
-HymnHymnA hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
s of Love (2005), Sony BMG 82876 66238 2;
- part I: Flamma Flamma
- The film (22 min.) “love is the only master I’ll serveLove Is the Only Master I’ll Servelove is the only master I'll serve is a symbolical art film written and directed by Nicholas Lens.-Festival selections:* Brooklyn International Film Festival, New York -June 2006 *Media and Dance, Tokyo - Japan, 2006...
”, premiered at the BIFF New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, June 2006 http://www.wbff.org/films/detail.asp?fid=607
music, script, directing;
- "The Puppet DesignerThe Puppet DesignerThe Puppet Designer is a musical chamber work in Yiddish for baritone and chamber orchestra by Nicholas Lens....
" for baritoneBaritoneBaritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
and chamber orchestra, published by Schott MusicSchott MusicSchott Music is one of the oldest German music publishers. It is also one of the largest music publishing houses in Europe and is currently the second oldest music publishing house. The company headquarters of Schott Music was founded by Bernhard Schott in Mainz, Germany in 1770.Established in...
International 2006, MainzMainzMainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
/New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
- "Wired," theatrical chamber musicChamber musicChamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
for harpHarpThe harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
and sopranoSopranoA soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
, premiered at BeijingBeijingBeijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
on December 5, 2006.
Announced works
- "Slow ManSlow ManSlow Man is a 2005 novel by South African/Australian author J. M. Coetzee, and concerns a man who must learn to adapt after losing a leg in a road accident. The novel has many varied themes, including the nature of care, the relationship between an author and his characters, and man's drive to...
," (N. Lens/ J. M. Coetzee), an opera in co-operation with John M. Coetzee (libretto) based on his novel Slow ManSlow ManSlow Man is a 2005 novel by South African/Australian author J. M. Coetzee, and concerns a man who must learn to adapt after losing a leg in a road accident. The novel has many varied themes, including the nature of care, the relationship between an author and his characters, and man's drive to...
, world premiere on July 5, 2012 at the Malta Festival/ Great Theatre, PoznańGreat Theatre, PoznańGrand Theatre, Poznań is a neoclassical opera house located in Poznań, Poland. It is named after famous Polish composer Stanisław Moniuszko....
Opera House; - "Ame Nue," a 3-o 4 4 women, (in preparation), a theatrical chamber piece (premiere autumn 2012);
- "The Sorrow of Serena," (in preparation), a new film as writer and director;
External links
- Official website Nicholas Lens' Website
- Time magazine http://www.time.com/time/international/1995/951009/sightings.html
- Fan page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nicholas-Lens/53923195756?ref=ts
- Schott Music International http://www.schott-music.com/autoren/KomponistenAZ/show,3527.html
- Internet Movie Data Base http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0502203/
- Biff, New York http://www.wbff.org/films/detail.asp?fid=607
- Compact Discoveries http://www.compactdiscoveries.com/CompactDiscoveriesArticles/Flamma.html
- Sonymusic http://www.sonymusic.com/artists/NicholasLens/flamma1.htm
- Sony BMG http://sonybmg.de/artists2.php?iA=4&artist=187779