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Componisten - Mark Matthijs
As a contemporary composer Marc Matthys unites several musical concepts in his works. Often improvising aspects are heard while influences of different music styles like jazz- and classical music show existing relationships between the styles.
His compositions "Contrasts", "4 Impressions", "Reflections" and "Mosaic" for soloists and symphony orchestra can be counted as "fusion" of different styles like classical, jazz and pop music are seen as fine examples that bring together different and contrasting styles like Jazz, Pop-, Funk/Latin and Classical music.
Besides being appointed as head of the Music Conservatory of Kortrijk (Belgium) and as a jazz pedagogue at the Royal Music Conservatory of Ghent, he is a visiting professor at Bowling Green University (Ohio, USA). As a pianist in solo recitals or together with well known musicians like Walter Boeykens, Rudolf Werthen, Nobert Nozy, Gaby van Riet, jazzmusicians Sadi, Toots Thielemans, Ali Ryerson, Eddie Daniels, Rob Madna and pop stars such as Shirly Bassey and Randy Crawford, Marc Matthys has given concerts all over Europe of which many have been broadcasted worldwide.
Highlights of the past are also his appearance with his Quartet together with flutist Dirk De Caluwé during the silver jubilee of king Boudewijn and Queen Fabiola in 1985, the invitation in 2000 by I Fiamminghi and Radio 3 (Klara), Antwerpen to be Composer in Residence and the premiere of his composition “Variations for Strings” during the opening concert of the Moscow Autumn Festival, 2003.
Other interesting realisations are Matthys CD ”Bach meets Jazz again” with the well known Toots Thielemans as the special guest (Maestro Music Productions-Baltic) and - using a new medium - his DVD-Video ”Divas are Forever - L’Ultime Concert de Shirley Bassey” met Marc Matthys as pianist (Eagle Vision-Sony Music).
Up to today Marc Matthys recorded more than 18 CDs with - among others - the BRTN-Filharmonisch Orkest (VRO), the Koninklijk Filharmonisch Orkest van Vlaanderen, I Fiamminghi, the Harmony of the Guides, the Nationaal Orkest van België, the Trio Cucamonga, the Big Band Sound, the L’Arco Musicale, the Ensemble Walter Boeykens, the Arco Baleno and the Convivium Musicum.
André Posman.
The Composition ´TRADITION´ that Marc Matthys composed for the Mandolin Chamber Orchestra ´Het CONSORT´ was commisioned by André Posman, art history professor, initiator and director of the De Rode Pomp.
The Flemish Chamber Music Alliance.
The composition is build up of three movements; it opens with a beautiful 1st movement titled ´Swinging Sarabande´ that is connected through a kind of intermezzo with the 2nd movement ´Natalie´s Song´. This ´bridge´ is used again towards last movement, a sparkling ´Saltarello´.
´TRADITION´ was given its World première in the presence of the composer Marc Matthys at a concert given by Het CONSORT on the 17th of November during the 2001 Mandolin and Guitar Festival organized by de Rode Pomp in Ghent (Belgium).
Alex Timmerman ©2000
