Wilfried Westerlinck

Category:componist, hedendaagse componist
Leuven, 03.10.1945
Genre(s):21ste eeuw / hedendaags, 20ste eeuw
Instrument(s):hobo

Biography

He studied at two conservatories, respectively in Brussels and in Antwerp. Between 1968 and 2001 he worked for the Belgian Radio, where he was responsible for the chamber music department. Between 1970 and 1983 he taught music analysis at the Antwerp Conservatory.

  As composer he was awarded several prizes: In 1972 the 'Tenuto-prize' for his 'Metamorphosis' for large orchestra. In 1977 the Antwerp Province award for his 'Landscapes I' for woodwind quintet. In 1985 he recieved the Eugene Baie prize as recognition of the artistic value of his general work. He accepted an invitation for 'composer in residence' in 1983 at the fourth 'International Brass Quintet Festival' in Baltimore and in 1995 at the 'I Fiamminghi in Campo' in Antwerp.

  In 2004 he taught at the Music Academy of Gdansk in Poland. During the same year he was invited by the 'Arena-festival' in Riga, where he lectured about Contempory Flemish Music. And in march 2006 he accepted an invitation by Baylor University in Texas to be a guet professor where his music was exclusively executed at the end of his stay. Between 2004 and 2008 he was a frequent guest at the Colony of Arts: ‘Fundación Knecht-Drenthe’ in Spain. In Amsterdam he was awarded the 2015 Visser-Neerlandia prize. In september 2011 the Latvian radio broadcasted a program of 90 minutes dedicated to his music. Since 2012 he has been introducing the ‘Antwerp lunch concerts’ every week on Friday.

  His compositions often emanate personal experiences and visual impressions. He starts with very limited baic material that gradually evolves. The composer doesn't evoke a new sound world from the instruments but tries to expose their soul and natural resonance.

  The poetic power of Westerlinck's work comes from processing and repetion - harmonic as linear - from a small idea. Accords directly follow the inflections of the melody, give color and atmosphere to the melodic nuances. In melody, harmony and instrumentation Westerlinck's music excudes sensuality. In the best works Westerlinck connects this sensuality with a tender melancholy and it becomes pure poetry. He doesn't create pleasures in double meanings or reference games. This way he falls between the 'Avant-garde' and the 'post-modernism'.

Selectieve discografie als componist

Flowers for the bass clarinetFlowers for the bass clarinet (2012)
20th century
Jan Guns, Johan Favoreel, Wilfried Westerlinck, Anastasia Koszushko, York Bowen, Rita Rommes, Alain Craens, Moscou Chamber Soloists (...)
Contemporary Music in Flanders VIIContemporary Music in Flanders VII (2011)
20th century
Walter Boudreau, Dirk Blockeel, Jan Wauters, Roland Coryn, Isabelle Brys, Jean Louel, Bart Bouckaert, Frederik Neyrinck (...)
LibraLibra (2011)
21st century / contemporary, 20th century
Wilfried Westerlinck, Frédéric Devreese, Alvaro Casuto, Rudolf Werthen
Fingerprints - Signaturen van componerend VlaanderenFingerprints - Signaturen van componerend Vlaanderen (2011)
20th century, 21st century / contemporary
Bert Van Herck, Filip Rathé, Spectra Ensemble, Simon De Poorter, Annelies Van Parys, Klaas Coulembier, Stéphane Vande Ginste, Noor Sommereyns (...)
The birds, original works for piccolo and pianoThe birds, original works for piccolo and piano (2009)
21st century / contemporary
Peter Verhoyen, Sigfrid Karg-elert, Stefan De Schepper, Leos Janácek, Piet Swerts, Yves Bondue, Jan Huylebroeck, Wilfried Westerlinck (...)
Belgian Piano MusicBelgian Piano Music (2008)
21st century / contemporary, 20th century
Wilfried Westerlinck, Wouter Vande Ginste, Bernard Baert, Jean Delouvroy, Johan Vercruysse
Windows on the Bass ClarinetWindows on the Bass Clarinet (2005)
20th century
Jan Guns, Hans Ryckelynck, Frits Celis, August Verbesselt, Wilfried Westerlinck, François Rasse, Bohuslav Martinů, Paul Hindemith (...)
Beyond the dreamBeyond the dream (2004)
20th century
Czech Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, Frits Celis, Raymond Schroyens, Piet Swerts, Wilfried Westerlinck, Arthur Meulemans, Edmond Saveniers
Meesterlijk - HoutblazersMeesterlijk - Houtblazers (2002)
21st century / contemporary, 20th century, classicism, Baroque
I SOLISTI, Hans de Jong, Jan Guns, Joris Van den Hauwe, Francis Pollet, Johan Rycken, Jan De Maeyer, The clarinet choir (...)
Look, a bass clarinet in my garden!Look, a bass clarinet in my garden! (2001)
20th century
Gemini Ensemble, Jan Guns, Trio Classicum, The Moscow Chamber Soloists, Dirk Brossé, Johan Favoreel, Alain Craens, Wilfried Westerlinck (...)

Author of

Frits ter ere
Frits ter ere

Related Items

News:Wilfried Westerlinck laureaat Visser-Neerlandiaprijs 2015 (26.01.2016)
Documents:Contemporary Music in Flanders I (book)
Contemporary Music in Flanders VII (book)
External links:Componistenfiche Wilfried Westerlinck