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Introduce yourself:
I graduated at the Lemmens Institute and at the Royal Conservatories of Ghent and Antwerp. At this moment I'm teaching at the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp (Arthesis-Plantijn Hogeschool). Of course, I am very busy as a composer, a jury member and conductor. I have travelled to more than 50 countries across the world and I will continue to do so. I’m happy to say the range of my oeuvre goes from works for wind, brass and fanfare band, as well as works for symphonic and chamber orchestra, choir, oratorio, solo pieces and lots of chamber music.
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What inspired you to start composing?
This was in fact a gradual evolution. Aged 16-17, I started writing music I heard on recordings down on paper, without any other reference. In a next stage I invented music of my own, an evolution that unfolded later during my time at college. Ever since then I am grateful to having received commissions: over 40 years later, my schedule is full for the coming 3 or 4 years!
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What is your biggest source of inspiration?
That’s a tough one to answer. As I said, my works have a great variety amongst them and I like and am familiar with many styles of music. Mostly, commissioners have specific wishes towards me when writing a new piece. This information is sometimes very precise, almost programmatic even, but sometimes rather vague. So in this sense I get my inspiration here. In general, one might say that the past throughout musical history, is the biggest source of inspiration.
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What are your top 5 symphonic works?
* Marian Vespers - C. Monteverdi
* Ein deutsches Requiem - J. Brahms
* Vier letzte Lieder - R. Strauss
* Concerto for Orchestra - B. Bartok
* + music of other giants like Gabrieli, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Berlioz, Dvořák, Tchaikovsky, Wagner, Mahler, Respighi, Rachmaninov, Prokofiev, Shostakovitch, Britten, Bernstein, …
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What are your next projects or events in the near future?
Because of the current (Covid 19) situation most of my foreign projects have been canceled or postponed because traveling is not allowed yet. In terms of composition assignments, however, it is "all hands on deck" again: the past year was particularly productive and I hope that "flow" will keep on continuing for a long time! Recently I've completed assignments from Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands and currently I am working on a composition for a Swedish orchestra. Next on the list are assignments from England, Japan, the Netherlands, the USA, Taiwan,… : there is no lack of projects!
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What do you think - if you hadn’t become a composer, what would your professional life look like?
Hard to imagine. In high school, I actually thought about becoming a sports teacher or something with languages because I was very good at both. In the end, I followed my heart when I was about 18, and I can’t tell you how happy I am about that choice!
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| Jan Van der Roost: Newest Releases and Bestseller for Concert Band - Newest Releases and Bestsellers for Brass Band and Fanfare Band - Sheet Music for Solo and Ensemble. |