Tom Dissevelt
Encyclopedia
Thomas Dissevelt (4 March 1921, Leiden - 1989) was a Dutch
composer and musician
. He is known as a pioneer in the merging of electronic music
and jazz
. He married Rina Reys, sister of Rita Reys
in 1946.
Tom Dissevelt was also known as bassist
/ arranger
in the Skymasters and on the boards of Rita Reijs.
Between 1939 and 1944 Dissevelt studied at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague
. He took over three years in trombone
lessons and then went onto study clarinet
, music theory
and piano
. He stopped studying the clarinet
because he was too busy and took bass lessons from Herman Stotijn of the Residence Orchestra.
After the war Dissevelt moved to Indonesia
with the Jos Cleber Orchestra to work. He was in love with Rina Reys, and married her in 1946. In 1947 he did an international tour with Ilcken Wessel, the husband of Rita Reys, and the orchestra of Piet van Dijk. This tour lasted three years, where she acted in Spain
and North Africa
.
In 1955 Bep Rowold, leader of the Skymasters, hired Dissevelt him as a bassist
and arranger
. He became interested in the 12-tonige music, listened to the many German radio stations, and heard works by Karlheinz Stockhausen
and Anton Webern
. Recommended by Philips
, he was invited to the Natlab studios electronic music. Together with Dick Raaijmakers (alias "Kid Baltan") composed electronic music
. Many of his compositions are now heard on the publication Popular Electronics. Early Dutch electronic music from Philips Research Laboratories, 1956-1963.
The way pop music was emerging and the changing of the way radio stations operated (mainly by no longer broadcasting orchestras) made Dissevelt decide to abandon working with orchestras. He was assistant to a few Dutch entertainers like Wim Sonneveld
and Toon Hermans
.
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
composer and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
. He is known as a pioneer in the merging of electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
. He married Rina Reys, sister of Rita Reys
Rita Reys
Rita Reys is a jazz singer from the Netherlands.At the 1960 jazz festival of Juan Les Pins , she received the title 'Europe’s first lady of jazz'.-Early career:...
in 1946.
Tom Dissevelt was also known as bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
/ arranger
Arranger
In investment banking, an arranger is a provider of funds in the syndication of a debt. They are entitled to syndicate the loan or bond issue, and may be referred to as the "lead underwriter". This is because this entity bears the risk of being able to sell the underlying securities/debt or the...
in the Skymasters and on the boards of Rita Reijs.
Between 1939 and 1944 Dissevelt studied at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
. He took over three years in trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
lessons and then went onto study clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
, music theory
Music theory
Music theory is the study of how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It seeks to identify patterns and structures in composers' techniques across or within genres, styles, or historical periods...
and piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
. He stopped studying the clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
because he was too busy and took bass lessons from Herman Stotijn of the Residence Orchestra.
After the war Dissevelt moved to Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
with the Jos Cleber Orchestra to work. He was in love with Rina Reys, and married her in 1946. In 1947 he did an international tour with Ilcken Wessel, the husband of Rita Reys, and the orchestra of Piet van Dijk. This tour lasted three years, where she acted in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
.
In 1955 Bep Rowold, leader of the Skymasters, hired Dissevelt him as a bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
and arranger
Arranger
In investment banking, an arranger is a provider of funds in the syndication of a debt. They are entitled to syndicate the loan or bond issue, and may be referred to as the "lead underwriter". This is because this entity bears the risk of being able to sell the underlying securities/debt or the...
. He became interested in the 12-tonige music, listened to the many German radio stations, and heard works by Karlheinz Stockhausen
Karlheinz Stockhausen
Karlheinz Stockhausen was a German composer, widely acknowledged by critics as one of the most important but also controversial composers of the 20th and early 21st centuries. Another critic calls him "one of the great visionaries of 20th-century music"...
and Anton Webern
Anton Webern
Anton Webern was an Austrian composer and conductor. He was a member of the Second Viennese School. As a student and significant follower of Arnold Schoenberg, he became one of the best-known exponents of the twelve-tone technique; in addition, his innovations regarding schematic organization of...
. Recommended by Philips
Philips
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
, he was invited to the Natlab studios electronic music. Together with Dick Raaijmakers (alias "Kid Baltan") composed electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
. Many of his compositions are now heard on the publication Popular Electronics. Early Dutch electronic music from Philips Research Laboratories, 1956-1963.
The way pop music was emerging and the changing of the way radio stations operated (mainly by no longer broadcasting orchestras) made Dissevelt decide to abandon working with orchestras. He was assistant to a few Dutch entertainers like Wim Sonneveld
Wim Sonneveld
Willem 'Wim' Sonneveld was a Dutch cabaret artist and singer. Together with Toon Hermans and Wim Kan, he is considered to be one of the 'Great Three' of Dutch cabaret. Sonneveld is generally viewed as a Dutch cultural icon for his work and legacy in theatre, musicals and music...
and Toon Hermans
Toon Hermans
Antoine G. T. "Toon" Hermans was a noted Dutch comedian, singer and writer. He was born in Sittard, now part of the municipality of Sittard-Geleen....
.