Karel Goeyvaerts

Short bio Karel Goeyvaerts

Birthday: 1923 in Antwerp, Belgium

Died: 1993 in Antwerp, Belgium

Active: 1950s - 1980s

Genre: Classical

Period: Contemporary

Full biography Karel Goeyvaerts

Karel Goeyvaerts was a Belgian composer born on June 8, 1923, who is known for his contributions to serialism and minimalism. He received a humanistic education in Antwerp before studying at the Lemmens Institute in Mechelen. Goeyvaerts's early compositions were largely influenced by the music of Claude Debussy and Igor Stravinsky, but he later turned to serialism, which he viewed as a way to overcome the limitations of traditional tonal music.

One notable composition of his is the "Sonata for Two Pianos," which he wrote in the winter of 1950-51. He also composed "Alba per Alban," which he wrote to fulfill the requirements of a commission from the Alban Berg Foundation. This piece is significant in that it marked the first successful application of serialism to music composition.

Goeyvaerts was a contemporary of famed composer Karlheinz Stockhausen, and they shared a mutual admiration for one another's work. He was also a student of composer Olivier Messiaen, who taught him the analytical techniques that would later inform his music.

Although his music has been somewhat controversial, Goeyvaerts is regarded as an important figure in the development of 20th century music, particularly in his contributions to serialism and minimalism. He passed away on February 3, 1993, leaving behind a legacy of innovative and influential compositions.

Compositions featuring Karel Goeyvaerts

#	Name	Duration	Genre	Year
1	Aquarius, l'ère du verseau, opera	59:46 min	Opera	1992
2	Voor Strijkkwartet (For String Quartet)	20:51 min	Chamber Music	1992
3	De Zeven Zegels (The Seven Seals), for string quartet	14:29 min	Chamber Music	1986
4	Avontuur, for piano & 10 wind instruments	12:03 min	Miscellaneous (Classical)	1985
5	Litanie 5, for harpsichord & tape (or several harpsichords)	34:59 min	Keyboard	1982
6	Litanie 4, for soprano, flute, clarinet, violin, cello & piano	15:14 min	Vocal Music	1982
7	Litanie 3, for orchestra	13:04 min	Orchestral	1981
8	Litanie 2, for 3 percussionists	8:12 min	Chamber Music	1980
9	Plikonamu Micucona, for brass instrument & piano	2:49 min	Chamber Music	1979
10	Litanie 1, for piano	10:47 min	Keyboard	1979
11	Pourque les fruits mûrissent cet été, for Renaissance instruments	27:24 min	Miscellaneous (Classical)	1976
12	Mon doux Pilote s'endort aussi, for chorus	16:41 min	Choral	1975
13	Erst das Gesicht, dann die Hände, und zuletzt erst das Haar, for chamber orchestra	10:10 min	Orchestral	1975
14	Bélise dans un jardin, for 24 voices & 6 instruments	9:36 min	Choral	1972
15	Zum Kern hin	8:26 min	Chamber Music	1969
16	Zomerspelen, for 3 orchestral groups	10:36 min	Orchestral	1961
17	Improperia, cantata for Good Friday, for alto voice, double chorus & 6 instruments	9:45 min	Choral	1959
18	Compostion No.7 with converging & diverging sound levels	1:29 min	Avant-Garde Music	-
19	Opus No.2 for 13 Instruments	7:36 min	Chamber Music	-
20	Opus No.3 with bowed & struck tones	10:03 min	Chamber Music	-
21	Pas à Pas, for piano	6:38 min	Keyboard	-
22	Piano Quartet with tape recorder	14:52 min	Electronic/Computer Music	-
23	Piece for Piano	5:25 min	Keyboard	-
24	Compostion No.6 with 180 sound objects	12:34 min	Avant-Garde Music	-
25	Compostion No.5 with pure tones	2:40 min	Avant-Garde Music	-
26	Sonata No.1 for 2 pianos	9:25 min		-
27	Voor Harrie, Harry en René, for piano, flute & bass clarinet	6:08 min	Chamber Music	-
28	Compostion No.4 with dead tones	9:12 min	Avant-Garde Music	-
29	Want de Tijd Is Nabij	12:44 min	Miscellaneous (Classical)	-
30	Aquarius, tango for piano	1:52 min	Keyboard	-

Albums featuring Karel Goeyvaerts

#	Name album	Year	Music label
1	Pour Que Les Fruits Mûrissent Cet Été / Op Acht Paarden Wedden	2013	Finders Keepers Records
2	amor[t](2×CD, )	2000	Megadisc Classics
3	The Serial Works [# 1-7](CD, Album)	1998	Megadisc Classics
4	Aquarius (Ère Du Verseau)(2×CD, Album)	1997	Megadisc Classics
5	String Quartets(CD, Album)	1996	Megadisc Classics
6	Works For Piano [1964-1990](CD, Album)	1996	Megadisc Classics
7	Giaches De Wert, Josephus-Hector Fiocco, Peter Benoit, August De Boeck, Karel Goeyvaerts, Luc Brewaeys – Gloria Flandriae(CD, Compilation, Stereo)	1993	Eufoda
8	Karel Goeyvaerts, Champ D'Action – Champ D'Action Plays Karel Goeyvaerts(CD, Album)	1992	Megadisc
9	Litanies	1987	Les Disques Du Crépuscule
10	Ach Golgatha / Pour Que Les Fruits Mûrissent Cet Été(LP)	1977	Alpha (34)
11	Lucien Goethals / Karel Goeyvaerts – IPEM 1963-73(LP)	1973	Alpha (34)

Videos featuring Karel Goeyvaerts

Karel Goeyvaerts, Lucien Goethals, De Meester, Peter Beyls, Raoul De Smet, "IPEM" [CP-053/085/138]

Easily the most elusive of the three “I.P.E.M.” (Institute for Psychoacoustics and Electronic Music) titles released by Alpha Brussels (you want to do this? alright, here we go - this one, CP 138, was the first to be released, SP-6015, 1973 - followed by

Karel Goeyvaerts - Litanie 5 (for harpsichord and tape)1982

Karel Goeyvaerts (Amberes, Bélgica, 8 junio 1923 a 3 febrero 1993, Amberes). mas info... http://www.conceptoradio.net/2013/06/18/karel-goeyvaerts-y-el-ipem-en-busca-del-sonido-mas-puro/