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Beets, Sonja (b. 1953, Amsterdam). Dutch composer, now resident in Belgium, of mostly chamber and vocal works that have been performed throughout Europe; she is also active as a painter and poet.
Ms. Beets finished her piano and organ studies cum laude at the Sweelinck Conservatorium in Amsterdam in 1978 and 1979. She later studied chamber music privately with George van Renesse and Nelly Wagenaar in the 1980s, during which time she also studied sarangi with Joep Bor, as well as Oriental philosophy.
She is also active in other positions. She founded the interdisciplinary foundation Muzenstede in 1997 and has since served as its director. She produced the project Muzikale Stadswandeling te Wijk bij Duurstede in 2000, a musical tour through the Dutch city in the form of nine pieces. For it, she founded the variable ensemble Purusha in 2000, with which she has since regularly worked.
She has lived in Belgium since 2001.
CONTACT INFORMATION
E-mail address: muzenstede@pandora.be
Website: http://users.telenet.be/Sonja.Beets
COMPLETE LIST OF WORKS
STAGE: De Argeloze (3 act chamber opera, libretto by Tom Sol, after Voltaire), lyrical soprano, mezzo-soprano, 2 tenors, 2 baritones, bass-baritone, 2 basses, flute (+ piccolo), oboe (+ English horn), bassoon, hurdy-gurdy, violin, cello, double bass, Op. 39, 2001-03
CHAMBER MUSIC: Euterpe 2, piano, harpsichord, Op. 12, 1999; Purusha, cello, piano, Op. 25, 2000; Fantasie, harp, cello, Op. 26, 2000; Klankdichtje, cello, piano, Op. 32, 2001; Trio, violin, cello, piano, Op. 38, 2001
CHORAL: Freedom (texts by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, the composer), mixed chorus, piano, Op. 8, 1998; Muziek op Kerstmis (text by Willem de Mérode), mezzo-soprano, baritone, audience chorus, cello, organ, Op. 27, 2000
VOCAL: Time (text by the composer), baritone, piano, Op. 1, 1989; Mozart mon ami (text by Roger Riblet Buchmann), alto, piano, Op. 9, 1998; Mijn klok (text by Wijnand Steemers), baritone, piano, Op. 10, 1998; Dag Edwin (text by Eelco ten Have), baritone, piano, Op. 11, 1998; Du bist wie eine Blume (text by Heinrich Heine), mezzo-soprano, cello, organ, Op. 13, 1999; Das Fräulein stand am Meere (text by Heinrich Heine), mezzo-soprano, organ, Op. 14, 1999; O dit geluk bij u te zijn (text by Willem de Mérode), mezzo-soprano, organ, Op. 15, 1999; Tulpen (text by Willem de Mérode), soprano, piano, Op. 16, 1999; Rozen (text by Willem de Mérode), soprano, piano, Op. 17, 1999; Liefde, is er geen ander pad (text by Willem de Mérode), baritone, cello, piano, Op. 18, 1999; De stad (text by Willem de Mérode), alto, piano, Op. 19, 1999; Melancholia (text by Willem de Mérode), baritone, cello, Op. 20, 1999; De Dominee (text by Willem de Mérode), mezzo-soprano, baritone, harp, cello, piano, church bells (3 players)/tape, Op. 21, 1999; De Orgelspeler (text by Willem de Mérode), mezzo-soprano, cello, piano, Op. 22, 1999; De Pluk (text by Willem de Mérode), soprano, harp, Op. 23, 2000; Liedje (text by Willem de Mérode), tenor, baritone, harp, cello, Op. 24, 2000; Take all away from me (text by Emily Dickinson), tenor, piano, Op. 28, 2000; A word (text by Emily Dickinson), tenor, piano, Op. 29, 2000; A Jewel (text by Emily Dickinson), tenor, piano, Op. 30, 2000; Meditatie voor Kerstavond, soprano, baritone, cello, organ, Op. 31, 2000; Het Kussen (text by Willem de Mérode), baritone, cello, piano, Op. 33, 2001; Uitzicht (text by Willem de Mérode), baritone, cello, Op. 34, 2001; De witte kater (text by Willem de Mérode), baritone, cello, piano, Op. 35, 2001 (also version for baritone, bassoon, piano, Op. 35a, 2003); Heksen (text by the composer), voice, cello, piano, percussion, Op. 36, 2001; Regenboogje (text by the composer), voice, violin, cello, Op. 37, 2001
PIANO: Poème Nos. 1-3, Op. 2, 1989-90 (each of its sections may be performed separately); Poème No. 4, 'Erkende schaduw', Op. 3, 1992; Poème No. 5, 'Vogels in de Winter', Op. 4, 1994; Kranacha Nos. 1-10 (text by Bert Overbeek), speaker ad libitum, piano, Op. 7, 1997
(Last updated on December 17, 2003)
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