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Swerts, Piet (b. November 14, 1960, Tongeren). Belgian composer of orchestral, chamber, choral, vocal, and piano works that have been performed throughout the world; he is also active as a conductor.
Mr. Swerts studied at the Lemmensinstituut in Leuven from 1974-89, where he obtained ten first prizes, as well as the Prijs Lemmens Tinel for composition and piano with great distinction. He also attended a composition course with Wlodzimierz Kotonski and Witold Lutoslawski in Poland in 1981.
His honors include the Baron Flor Peeters Prize (1983, for Apocalyps I), the BAP Prize (1985, for Ardennes), the SABAM Prize (1986, for Concerto No. 2, 'Rotations'), the Camille Huysmans Composition Prize (1986, for Dreampictures), and the Prize for Composition of the Province Limburg (1986, for Capriccio). In addition, he has received the Silver Trophy of the Cultural Youth Passport Belgium-Netherlands as a promising young artist (1988), the Prize of the Gazet van Antwerpen (1989, for Symphony No. 1) and the Prize for Composition of the Province Brabant (1993, for a choral work). Most recently, he earned First Prize in the Concours Musical International Reine Elisabeth de Belgique (1993, for Zodiac; the first Belgian composer to win the prize). His works have also twice been the imposed concerti at the Concours Musical International Reine Elisabeth de Belgique (1986, Concerto No. 2, 'Rotations'; 1993, Zodiac).
He served as conductor of the Ensemble for Contemporary Music of the Lemmensinstituut in 1985 and has been invited as a guest-conductor in Austria, China, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, The Netherlands, and Poland.
He has taught as Professor of Composition, Piano and Analysis at the Lemmensinstituut since 1982.
CONTACT INFORMATION
E-mail address: piet.swerts@ping.be
Street address: Mr. Piet Swerts, Grauwe Steenberg 1, B - 3060 Bertem, Belgium
Telephone/fax: + 321 648 0052
Website: http://www.pietswerts.be
COMPLETE LIST OF WORKS
STAGE: Ajas (2 act opera), soloists, mixed chorus, orchestra, 1986 (two sections may be performed separately: Ouvertüre und Einleitung); Les liaisons dangereuses (4 act opera), soloists, mixed chorus, orchestra, 1994-96
ORCHESTRAL: Fantasia concertante, bassoon, piano, string orchestra, 1980; Sculpture, 11 strings, 1981; Paysages métaphysiques, large orchestra, 1981; Un piccolo divertimento, viola, string orchestra, 1982; L'inverno, 1983; Concerto No. 1, piano, orchestra, 1984; Concertino, 4 double basses, orchestra, 1984; Dreampictures, string orchestra, 1986; Concerto No. 2, 'Rotations', piano, orchestra, 1986; Ballade, 1986; Ouvertüre und Einleitung, 1986 (sections of Ajas; may be performed separately); Capriccio, guitar, small orchestra, 1986; Elegia, violin, cello, string orchestra, 1987; Partita, 1987 (version of piano work); Magma, violin, cello, string orchestra, 1989; Sonetto 61 del Petrarca, viola, string orchestra, 1990 (version of work for viola, piano); Symphony No. 1, 1989-90; Concerto No. 3, 'Enigma', piano, orchestra, 1991; Valse tendre, cello, string orchestra, 1992 (version of piano work); Zodiac (concerto), violin, orchestra, 1992; Festival Overture, 1992 (also version as Martenizza – Spring Overture, symphonic band, 1993 [also version for piano 4 hands]); Zortzico, string orchestra, 1993 (version of work for string quartet); Centennial, symphonic band, 1994; Apocalyps II, symphonic band, 1995; Fantasy Tales, symphonic band, 1996; I Ching, violin, orchestra, 1996; Concerto, clarinet, small orchestra (harp, piano, percussion, strings), 1997; Epitaph, symphonic band, 1997 (also versions for string orchestra, 1997; piano 4 hands; string quartet; French horn, 2 trumpets, trombone, tuba); Ragtime, symphonic band, 1997 (version of work for piano 4 hands; also version for string orchestra, 1997)
ORCHESTRAL: Sinfonietta, small orchestra, 1998; Shirim (Klezmer Rhapsody), symphonic band, 1998; The Titanic Saga (symphonic poem), symphonic band, 1998; Remembrance, symphonic band, 1999; Ion, piano, orchestra, 1999; Fantasia para un marques, guitar, strings, 2000-01; Chain, brass band, 2001; William Tyndale Overture, symphonic band, 2002; Minerva, 2002; Wings, piano, symphonic band, 2002; Cyrano, symphonic band, 2003
CHAMBER MUSIC: Two or Three, guitar, 1980; Postludium, flute, clarinet, guitar, 2 violins, 1980; Capriccio, oboe, organ, 1980; Passacaglia, flute, clarinet, guitar, 2 violins, cello, 1980; The Birth of Liquid Desires, 4 double basses, 1981; Nocturnal Dances, 4 double basses, 1982; Paganini à la crème, string quartet, 1982; Little Suite, guitar, 1982; Little Overture, 3 clarinets, 1982; Novellette, cello, 1983; Greensleeves, flute, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, 1984; Explosions, violin, piano, 1985; Sonetto 61 del Petrarca, viola, piano, 1985 (also versions for piano; viola, string orchestra; piano 4 hands); Prélude, string quartet, 1985; Charles Alexander Suite, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, tuba, percussion, 1987; Novellettes, 4 recorders, 1990; La Follia, violin, 1990; Il pleure dans mon coeur, cello, 1990; String Quartet No. 1, 1991; Rhapsody, bassoon, string quartet, 1992; Badinerie, bass clarinet/double bass, piano, 1992; Klonos, alto saxophone, piano, 1993; Zortzico, string quartet, 1993 (also version for string orchestra); Epitaph, string quartet, 1997 (version of work for symphonic band; also version for French horn, 2 trumpets, trombone, tuba, 1997); Ragtime, string quartet, 1997 (version of work for piano 4 hands); String Quartet No. 2, 1998; Three Gadgets, 4 recorders, 1998; Mi-Parti, flute, string quartet, 1998; Quintet, clarinet, string quartet, 2000-01; Tango in Trouble, 4 alto recorders, 2001; Signals, French horn, piano, 2001-02; Idanha-a-velha, flute, 2003; Motion, 4 soprano recorders, harpsichord, 2003; The Six Wives of Henry the Eighth, 4 soprano recorders, 2004
CHORAL: They Hung Him on a Cross, mixed chorus, 1980; Sepulchral Voices, mixed chorus, 1981; Amen, soprano, mixed chorus, 1984; Alfabetica, 3 equal voices, 1987; Scaldis Cantat, children's chorus, 1988; Passio Domini Nostri Jesu Christi Secundum Marcum, 4 soloists, mixed chorus, large orchestra, 1988-89; Ex libris, 4-8 mixed voices, 1989; Missa semplice, soloists, mixed chorus, small orchestra, 1993; Dierkunde, children's chorus, piano, 1994; Inwendige aanroep, mixed chorus, piano, 1995; Lauda Sion, 9 soloists, 2 mixed choruses, 2 oboes, 2 trumpets, piano, string orchestra, 1997; Ein Gleiches, 8 female voices, 1998; Opus XXI, soprano, tenor, mixed chorus, small orchestra, 1999; Symphony No. 2, 'Morgenrot', soprano, mixed chorus, orchestra, 2000
VOCAL: Meeres Stille (text by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe), soprano, piano, 1982; Alles endet, was enstehet, soprano, piano, 1983; Ich liess mir sagen, soprano, piano/small orchestra, 1983; Ardennes, soprano, piano, 1985; Yoshiwara, soprano, piano/small orchestra, 1986; L'adieu, bass, piano, 1986; Chanson d'automne, soprano, piano, 1986; Fresco, alto, orchestra, 1987; Wie ich die liebe, mezzo-soprano, piano, 1991; Nine Little Songs of Long Ago, soprano, piano, 1992; De innigheid der dingen, soprano, piano, 1997; I carry your heart, soprano, piano, 1998; The Sick Rose (text by William Blake), mezzo-soprano, piano, 2000; may I feel (text by E.E. Cummings), soprano, piano, 2001 (also version for soprano, tenor, piano, 2001); Je t'... (song-cycle), low voice, piano, 2001
PIANO: Claustrofobia, 1980; Drei Klavierstücke, 1980; Caleidoscoop, 1983; Ballade and Burlesca, 1983; Sonetto 61 del Petrarca, 1986 (version of work for viola, piano; also version for piano 4 hands, 1996); Partita, 1986 (also version for orchestra); Paganini-Digital, 2 pianos, 1987; Bagatelle, 1987; Galop, 1990; Premiers Bravos, 1990; Valse tendre, 1991 (also version for cello, string orchestra); Five Two-part Inventions, 1991; Twelve Easy Studies, 1992; Six variations faciles sur 'Ah! Vous dirai-je maman!', 1993; Two Easy Folksongs, 1993; Cinq préludes à la mémoire de Frédéric Chopin, 1993; Two Nocturnes, 1994; Martenizza, piano 4 hands, 1994 (version of Festival Overture); Vesalius Suite, piano 4 hands, 1996; Epitaph, piano 4 hands, 1997 (version of work for symphonic band); Ragtime, piano 4 hands, 1997 (also versions for symphonic band; string quartet; string orchestra); Variations on 'Greensleeves', 1997; Variations on 'As I sat on a sunny day', 1997; Variations on 'Frère Jacques', 1997; Variations on 'Sur le Pont d'Avignon', 1997; Seeker of Truth, 1997; Pas de deux, piano 4 hands, 1998; Greetings from... (15 postcards), 1998; Christmas Carols... (3 volumes), 1998; Profi(e)l, 1998; Lichtenberger Prelude, 2003; Le jardin à Giverny, 2003; Eight Little Pieces, 2003
ORGAN: Apocalyps I, 1983; Psalmus XLII, 1986
FILM SCORE: Where Nations Meet, 1989
ARRANGEMENTS: Habañera (Maurice Ravel), piano, 1985; Pocuvajt'e Brat'ia (folksong), mixed chorus, orchestra, 1991; El salón México (Aaron Copland), 2 pianos, 5 percussion, 1992; Scaramouche (Darius Milhaud), 2 pianos, 5 percussion, 1992; Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 (opening 47 bars; Johann Sebastian Bach), 4 pianos, string orchestra, 2000; Pictures at an Exhibition (Modest Mussorgsky), piano 4 hands, 2001
DISCOGRAPHY
Passio Domini Nostri Jesu Christi Secundum Marcum. (Vox Temporis: 92016-17, 1993)
Sonetto 61 del Petrarca; Partita; Galop; Premiers Bravos; Valse tendre; Five Two-part Inventions; Six variations faciles sur 'Ah! Vous dirai-je maman!'; Two Easy Folksongs; Cinq préludes à la mémoire de Frédéric Chopin; Two Nocturnes; Martenizza. Piet Swerts, piano (Eufoda: 1251, 1997)
Mi-Parti. Arco Baleno (René Gailly: 87 169, 2000)
Symphony No. 2, 'Morgenrot'. Bjarte Engeset (VL-Brabant: 01, 2001)
Concerto No. 2, 'Rotations'. Andrei Nikolsky, piano (René Gailly: 87 501)
Concerto No. 2, 'Rotations'. Johann Schmidt, piano (René Gailly: 87 502)
Concerto No. 2, 'Rotations'. Ikuyo Nakamichi, piano (René Gailly: 87 503)
Novellettes. (Vox Temporis: 92004)
(Last updated on May 5, 2004)
