Instrumental

Solo instrument

Three Miniatures (op 1, 1997) for Piano

Improvisational piano pieces: different characters and atmospheres alternate quickly and capriciously.

Premiere:

City Theatre, Sint-Niklaas | 16-02-2001 | Paul Hermsen

Other performances:

Chapel of the Commercial College, Antwerp | 26-08-2001 | Paul Hermsen

 

Arabesque (op 2, 1998) for piano

Virtuoso piano playing in a late romantic idiom, composed on the occasion of the Queen Elisabeth Competition.

Premiere:

City Theatre, Sint-Niklaas | 16-02-2001 | Paul Hermsen

Other performances:

Chapel of the Commercial College, Antwerp | 26-08-2001 | Paul Hermsen

De Rode Pomp, Ghent | 09-02-2002 | Luc Devos

 

Dialogues (op 6, 1999) for cello

The cellist enters into conversation with him-/herself and lets many different moods interact with each other.

Premiere:

Atelier de la Dolce Vita, Brussels | 19-02-2000 | Nicolas Deletaille

Other performances:

Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, Waterloo | 01-03-2000 | Nicolas Deletaille

Espace-Garage, Céroux-Mousty | 30-03-2000 | Nicolas Deletaille

City Theatre, Sint-Niklaas | 16-02-2001 | Viviane Spanoghe

La Plaza Hotel, Brussels | 21-06-2001 | Nicolas Deletaille

Marni Theatre, Brussels | 28-06-2001 | Nicolas Deletaille

Chapel of the Commercial College, Antwerp | 26-08-2001 | Viviane Spanoghe

Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, Waterloo | 27-02-2002 | Nicolas Deletaille

 

 

Micrologica 2 (op 10, 2001) for violin, viola or cello

Commissioned composition for the final of the Axion Classics Music Competition. Suitable for a music school final exam or to introduce young people into contemporary music.

Premiere:

Studio 3 RTBF, Brussels | 19-01-2001 | Nicolas Deletaille

Other performances:

Ligne Auditorium, Brussels | 19-11-2001 | finalists Axion Classics

Herzele | 25-09-2010 | Dominica Eyckmans

 

Micrologica 3 (op 11, 2001) for piano

Fast clusters and long or short silences fight with each other for priority.

Premiere:

Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, Waterloo | 10-07-2001 | Pierre Feraux

Other performance:

Culture House, Namur | 19-01-2002 | Pierre Feraux

 

Micrologica 4 (op 14, 2001) for piano

Étude for large leaps and layered piano playing.

Premiere:

De Rode Pomp, Ghent | 03-10-2002 | Ivan Siller

 

Monologue (op 15, 2002) for arpeggione

Commissioned by Nicolas Deletaille. Exploration of the different registers and possibilities of the arpeggione.

Premiere:

Paul Hall Guilliard School, New York | 17-05-2002 | Nicolas Deletaille

Other performances:

Boondaal Chapel, Brussels | 31-05-2002 | Nicolas Deletaille

Atelier de la Dolce Vita, Brussels | 25-03-2005 | Nicolas Deletaille

Abbey Maria Refuge, Zundert | 27-03-2005 | Nicolas Deletaille

Fra Angelico Convent, Louvain-la-Neuve | 03-10-2010 | Nicolas Deletaille

John Paul II Museum, Warsaw | 15-11-2014 | Nicolas Deletaille

Conservatory, Lille | 22-01-2023 | Nicolas Deletaille

 

12 Interludes (op 18, 2008) for organ

Thematic and free interludes for during a Eucharistic celebration.

Premiere:

2, 6 and 8: Abbey Maria Refuge, Zundert | 07-03-2009 | Jan van Landeghem

11 and 12: Epiphanienkirche, Berlin | 14-02-2016 | Amaru Soren (+ nr 8)

1-12: Gertrudiskerk, Bergen-op-Zoom | 24-09-2017 | Janno den Engelsman

Other performances:

1-12: Organ park, Amsterdam | 17-03-2019 | Jan Hage

2 and 6: Sint-Gertrudis church, Sint-Antelinks | 01-05-2019 | Peter Thomas

11: St-Baafs cathedral, Ghent | 23-02-20 | Nicolas de Troyer

1-12: Martini Church, Groningen | 29-07-2020 | Gerwin Hoekstra

1-12: St. Bavo Church, Haarlem | 04-08-2020 | Gerwin Hoekstra

 

Catharsis (op 30, 2012) for piano

Piano cycle based on chapter 7 of the Rule of St Benedict. Musical evocation of an ascent to humility in twelve steps.

Premiere:

Westvest church, Schiedam | 28-02-2017 | Jean-Michel Dayez

Other performances:

Marzee Gallery, Nijmegen | Festival Modern Music Nijmegen | 16-12-2018 | Ralph van Raat

Organ park, Amsterdam | 17-03-2019 | Ralph van Raat

 

The Confession (2012) for harp

Adaptation of Catharsis, part 5. Slow evolution from pain over confession to freedom.

Premiere:

St Gertrudis Church, Sint-Antelinks | 01-05-2019 | Ella Oelbrandt

 

Growing Silence (2012) for piano

Catharsis part 9. A repetitive melody systematically disappears into silence.

 

Less is more (2012) for organ

Catharsis part 6. A cell develops into an increasingly longer and abundant melody.

 

Micrologica 5-8 (op 32, 2012) for clavichord

Four short interludes, composed as meditations that alternate with recited poems.

 

Three capriccios (op 33, 2013) for guitar

Three etudes as preliminary studies for the Ignatius Cantata.

 

Three small character pieces (op 35, 2014) for piano

Three easy piano compositions, commissioned by the Flanders Composers Collective for their “Piano Album for King Philip”. Suitable for introducing children to contemporary music.

 

The Seven Last Words (op 36, 2015) for violin or viola solo

Evocation of Jesus’ death on the cross in seven virtuosic scenes. Composed for the CD “Gij bergt de bron des levens” by the Abbey of Maria Refuge.

Premiere:

Van Gogh Church, Zundert | 25-03-2018 | Jenny Spanoghe

 

The Holy City (op 48, 2018) for 31-tone organ

Musical depiction of Apocalypse 21: the holy city of Jerusalem descending from heaven. Composition based on an original “dual” tone system.

 

Count the Stars (op 58, 2021) for Carillon

Composed on the occasion of the Matthias Vanden Gheyn competition. The expansion and contraction of musical cells depicts the life cycle of stars.

Premiere:

Begijnhof, Leuven | 28-08-2021 | Luc Rombouts

 

Cantilena (op 62, 2022) for violin

Quiet alternation of short melodic moments and silences. Perfect for introducing young people to contemporary music.

 

Reaching out to Freedom (op 64, 2023) for violoncello

Commissioned by the province of Overijssel for the national Liberation celebration. Three movements (Darkness, Dawn en Daylight) connect may 4th to may 5th.

Première:

Dominican church, Zwolle | 5-5-2023 | Karlien Bartels

Chamber music

Instrumental

Broken Mirrors (op 3, 1998) for clarinet, bassoon, horn, violin, viola and cello

Complex canon techniques in a Webernian idiom.

Premiere:

Boondaal Chapel, Brussels | 21-11-1999 | Ensemble Musiques Nouvelles (cond.: Jean-Paul Dessy)

 

Resonances (op 5, 1999) for violin, cello and piano

Winner of the 2000 Muizelhuis Concerts Composition Competition. Dynamics and duration are linked: the louder the chord struck on the piano, the longer the resulting time-space in which the three instruments dialogue. Their dynamics follow the fading piano chords.

Premiere:

Stadsschouwburg, Sint-Niklaas | 16-02-2001 | Jenny Spanoghe, Viviane Spanoghe and Paul Hermsen

Other performances:

Chapel of the Commercial College, Antwerp | 26-08-2001 | Daniel Rubinstein, Viviane Spanoghe and Paul Hermsen

Muizelhuis Concerts, Hulste | 27-10-2001 | Feniks Trio

De Singel, Antwerp | 01-02-2002 | Rachmaninov Trio

De Singel, Antwerp | 2003 | Simoens Trio

 

Micrologica 1 (op. 7, 2000) for viola and cello

Commissioned composition for the Goeyvaerts String Trio. “Micrologica” stands for a short composition that consistently implements a strict logical principle. In nr 1, long sustained notes contrast with short pizzicatos.

Premiere:

De Singel, Antwerp | 15-09-2001 | Members of the Goeyvaerts String Trio

 

Memories of the Present (op 12, 2001) for string quartet

Farewell gift for the fellow students of the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel. The names of each student were converted into tones.

Premiere:

De Rode Pomp, Ghent | 02-03-2002 | Gaggini quartet

Other performance:

Festival de Lasne, Pancenoit | 26-05-2002 | Daniel Rubinstein, Elsa de Lacerda, Maté Szucs, Catherine Lebrun

 

Sunyata (op 16, 2002) for three recorders

The Buddhist word Sunyata stands for emptiness, non-being or being empty of oneself. Translated into music by long sustained notes that the three players take over from each other. Also playable for clarinets, baritone saxophones, bassoons or horns.

Premiere:

Conservatory, Bruges | 02-06-2002 | Apsara trio

 

Bits and Pieces (op 19, 2008) for string quartet

Depiction of the psychological process during a Zen meditation. Six contrasting clusters resemble more and more through varied repetitions.

Premiere:

Abbey of Maria Refuge, Zundert | 07-03-2009 | Landini String Quartet

 

Tagore Trio (op 40, 2016) for violin, cello and piano

Musical translation of Rabindranath Tagore’s verse: “I slept and dreamed that life was joy / I awoke and saw: life is duty / I worked and saw: duty is joy.”

Premiere:

Cenacle, Tilburg | 01-12-2018 | Landini trio

Other performance:

Dominicus Church, Amsterdam | 02-12-2018 | idem

 

Divine Sparks (op 50, 2019) for violin and piano

Three ecstatic bravura pieces about God’s Spirit of creativity and joy of playing.

 

Embrace your enemy (op 53, 2020) for string quartet

Composition in honor of the monk martyrs of Tibhirine. Melody and accompaniment, sharply dissonant at first, gradually grow together.

 

Tibhirine Meditations (op 55, 2020) for string quartet

Composition in honor of the monk martyrs of Tibhirine. Meditations on love your enemy, fortitude, vulnerability and freedom.

Premiere:

Dominican Church, Brussels | 19-10-2021 | Ensemble Sturm und Klang

Other performance:

Dominican Church, Liege | 21-10-2021 | idem

 

The Crack (op 63, 2022) for flute, viola, cello and harp

Commissioned composition for the Dominican church Zwolle. Meditative music depicting the four fases of the confession process: the derailment, the remorse, the confession and the liberation.

Premiere:

Dominican church, Zwolle | 06-10-2022 | Oneiros Ensemble 

Orval Variations (op 65, 2023) for two pianos

8 variations on the carillon theme of the Orval Abbey.

Chamber music

Vocal

Two songs (op 17, 2002) for soprano and piano

Own lyrics. Reflections on hope and being a monk. Last composition before my entry into the Trappist Abbey of Maria Refuge.

Premiere:

De Rode Pomp, Ghent | 2003 | Dorte Holst and Renaat Beheydt

 

Four motets (op 22, 2009) for three equal voices

Setting of the first readings of the Sundays of Advent C-year (translation: Pieter Oussoren, Naardense Bijbel).

 

Polla ta deina (op 23, 2010) for soprano, clarinet, percussion and string quartet

The “Spring Oratorio”, cantatas for the six Sundays of Lent, is a commissioned composition for the Order of Dominicans. The first cantata is about creation. Texts from Genesis and by Sophocles, P. Celan and T. Tranströmer.

Premiere:

Monastère St-André de Clerlande, Ottignies | 25-03-2011 | Marie de Roy (sopr) and Ensemble Sturm und Klang (cond.: Thomas van Haeperen)

Other performances:

Dominican Church, Brussels | 29-03-2011 | idem

Dominican Church, Liege | 01-04-2001 | idem

 

De Profundis (op 24, 2010) for soprano, clarinet, percussion and string quartet

The second cantata from the “Spring Oratorio” is about suffering. Psalms and Bible texts alongside texts by R. Ausländer, P. Verlaine and H. Domin.

Premiere:

Monastère St-André de Clerlande, Ottignies | 25-03-2011 | Marie de Roy (sopr) and Ensemble Sturm und Klang (cond.: Thomas van Haeperen)

Other performances:

Dominican Church, Brussels | 29-03-2011 | idem

Dominican Church, Liege | 01-04-2001 | idem

 

Out of Exile (op 25, 2011) for soprano, clarinet, percussion and string quartet

The third cantata from the “Spring Oratorio” is about exile. Psalm 137 and texts by M. Darwish, J.H. Newman and H. Domin

Premiere:

Monastère St-André de Clerlande, Ottignies | 25-03-2011 | Marie de Roy (sopr) and Ensemble Sturm und Klang (cond.: Thomas van Haeperen)

Other performances:

Dominican Church, Brussels | 29-03-2011 | idem

Dominican Church, Liege | 01-04-2001 | idem

 

Nothing but Love (op 26, 2011) for soprano, baritone, clarinet, percussion and string quartet

The fourth cantata from the “Spring Oratorio” is about love. Texts from Bible and by R.M. Rilke, R. Kopland, A.C. Swinburne, H. Andreus and Ch. de Foucauld

Premiere:

St Laurentius Church, Antwerp | 23-03-2012 | Marie de Roy (sopr), Aldo Platteau (bar) and Ensemble Sturm und Klang (cond.: Thomas van Haeperen)

Other performances:

Dominican Church, Brussels | 24-03-2012 | idem

Monastère St-André de Clerlande, Ottignies | 25-03-2012 | idem

 

A Dieu (op 27, 2011) for baritone, clarinet, percussion and string quartet

The fifth cantata from the “Spring Oratorio” is about transfiguration. Texts from Bible and by I. Gerhardt, R. Kopland and P. Eluard.

Premiere:

St Laurentius Church, Antwerp | 23-03-2012 | Marie de Roy (sopr), Aldo Platteau (bar) and Ensemble Sturm und Klang (cond.: Thomas van Haeperen)

Other performances:

Dominican Church, Brussels | 24-03-2012 | idem

Monastère St-André de Clerlande, Ottignies | 25-03-2012 | idem

 

Sub tuum praesidium (op 29, 2012) for voice and piano

Short setting of Oosterhuis’ translation of the classical Theotokos hymn.

 

Three motets (op 31, 2012) for three equal voices

Commissioned composition for the abbey Maria Refuge. Three meditations on silence. Texts by Augustine, Lloyd Haft and Ida Gerhardt. Recorded on the CD “Die in uw stilte spreekt”.

 

Seven Manieren van Minne (op 41, 2017) for mezzo-soprano, violin and harp.

Composed on the occasion of the death, 750 years ago, of Beatrice of Nazareth, Cistercian and one of Flanders’ most important mystics. Setting of her most important writing, the “Seven Manieren van Minne”.

Premiere:

Oude abdij, Drongen | 28-08-2018 | Els Mondelaers (mezzo) and Oneiros ensemble

Other performance:

Abbey of Nazareth, Brecht | 29-08-2018 | idem

 

Noli me tangere (op 54, 2020) for mezzo or SSA choir and piano

Poem by Janet Morley about Mary Magdalene meeting the risen Christ and not being allowed to touch Him. Dedicated to victims and relatives of the corona pandemic.

works for choir

A capella choir

Three Christmas Carols (op 13, 2001)

Arrangements of “A kindekijn is ons gheboren”, “Stille nacht” and “Hoe lijden dit kindeke”.

 

Voor een dag van morgen (op 21, 2009)

Atonal setting of H. Andreus’ love song.

 

Septem Verba Christi (op 38, 2015)

The seven “cross words” as short, meditative choral pieces. Also available in a version for three equal voices. Recorded on the CD “Gij bergt de bron des levens” by the Abbey of Maria Refuge. Medium difficulty.

Premiere:

Dominican Convent, Zwolle | 28-06-2021 | Project Choir (cond.: Erik Korterink)

 

Psalm 119 (op 39, 2016)

Majestic choral composition of the complete psalm 119. Four soloists sing the Hebrew letters as pedal tones during the recitation of the 176 verses. Translation by Kees Waaijman.

 

Psalm 120 (op 42, 2017)

Brief setting as a motet. Translation by Kees Waaijman. Medium difficulty.

 

Psalm 121 (op 43, 2017)

Short setting as a motet. Translation by Kees Waaijman. Medium difficulty.

 

Psalm 122 (op 44, 2017)

Short setting as a motet. Translation by Kees Waaijman. Medium difficulty.

 

Psalm 123 (op 46, 2018)

Short setting as a motet. Translation by Kees Waaijman. Difficult.

 

Psalm 124 (op 47, 2018)

Short setting (SSATBB) as a motet. Translation by Kees Waaijman. Difficult.

 

Blessed Art Thou (op 52, 2020)

The opening words of the Eucharistic table prayer. Medium difficulty.

 

Psalm 125 (op 56, 2020)

Brief setting as an “auditio divina”. Translation by Kees Waaijman. Medium difficulty.

 

Perfectly Broken (op 60, 2021)

Three short meditations on own text for the eucharistic adoration. Medium difficulty.

works for choir

Choir +

Concert Mass (op 20, 2009) for SATB choir and organ

Commission composition on the occasion of 75 years St. Laurentius Church and 350 years St. Laurentius Parish Antwerp. The (Dutch) Ordinarium broadly elaborated for choir and organ.

Premiere:

St Laurentius Church, Antwerp | 04-12-2009 | Peter van de Velde (org) and Antwerp Metropolitan Choir (cond.:  Sebastiaan van Steenberge)

 

Neugeburt (op 28, 2012) for soprano, baritone, clarinet, percussion, string quartet and SATB choir

The “Spring Oratorio,” cantatas for the six Sundays of Lent, is a commissioned composition for the Order of Dominicans. This sixth cantata is about resurrection. Texts from Exodus and Apocalypse together with poems by K. Gelaude, F. Pessoa, P. Neruda, R. Southwell, G. Achterberg and R. Ausländer

Premiere:

Sint-Laurentiuskerk, Antwerp | 23-03-2012 | Marie de Roy (sopr), Aldo Platteau (bar) and Ensemble Sturm und Klang (cond.: Thomas van Haeperen)

Other performances:

Dominican Church, Brussels | 24-03-2012 | idem

Monastère St-André de Clerlande, Ottignies | 25-03-2012 | idem

 

Ignatius Cantata (op 34, 2014) for baritone, guitar, woodwinds and SATB choir

Commissioned composition for the Old Abbey Drongen. Quotes from the four stages of the Ignatian Exercises (baritone and guitar) alternate with illustrative gospel and other texts (choir and winds). English/Spanish.

Premiere:

Old Abbey, Drongen | 22-11-2014 | Joris Derder (bar), Nico Couck (git), I Solisti del Vento & Musa Horti (cond.: Peter Dejans)

Other performance:

Krijtberg, Amsterdam | 09-06-2019 | Fernando Linares Correa (bar), Santiago Basante Arias (git), Markus quintet & Krijtberg project choir (cond.: Rachel Vroom)

 

Peace Cantata (op 45, 2017) for baritone, cello and SATB choir

Commissioned composition for the choir Ad Parnassum on the occasion of 100 years end of World War I. An English, German and French poem reflect on the difficulty of forgiveness and on hope.

Premiere:

Abbey of Koningshoeven, Tilburg | 04-11-2018 | Berend Eijkhout (bar), Quirine Viersen (Vc) & Ad Parnassum choir (cond.: Anthony Zielhorst)

 

Reconciliation Magnificat (op 49, 2018) for soprano, alto, bass, flute, harp, percussion, string quartet and SATB choir

Commissioned composition for the choir Capella Brabant. Combination of the hymn of Hannah (Torah), the Magnificat (Bible) and Surah 87 (Koran).

Premiere:

Grote Kerk, Den Bosch (November Music) | 03-11-2019 | Katrien Baerts (soprano), Elsbet Gerritsen (mezzo), Mattijs van der Woerd (baritone), Dudok quartet, ensemble & Capella Brabant (cond.: Marc Versteeg)

Other performances:

Pieterskerk, Utrecht | 08-11-2019 | idem

Groenmarktkerk, Haarlem | 23-11-2019 | idem

Theater aan het Spui, The Hague | 15-12-2019 | idem

 

The Leading Lamb (op 51, 2019) for SATB choir, countertenor and piano

Commissioned composition for the Diocese of Ghent on the occasion of the restoration of the Ghent Altarpiece. Compilation of texts that sing about the Lamb of God. Spatial choral disposition reflecting the center panel of the retable.

Premiere:

St Baafs Cathedral, Ghent | 01-10-2021 | Pieter Depraetere (countertenor), Filip Martens (pno) & Saevus Ensemble (cond.: Johannes de Wilde)

 

Reawaking Eyes (op 57, 2021) for SATB choir and piano

Choral song (own lyrics) on the occasion of Easter morning.

Premiere:

Dominican Convent, Zwolle | 04-04-2021 | Aquino choir (cond.: Erik Korterink)

 

Love Lives Again (op 59, 2021) for SATB choir and piano

Choral song (own lyrics) on the occasion of Easter morning.

 

You clothe me in light (op 61, 2021) voor SATB choir and piano/organ

Mystic choir song on a text by Carine Philipse. Medium difficulty.

Works for

Orchestra

Movements (op 4, 1999) for symphonic orchestra

Two etudes exploring the writing for a mobile orchestra.

 

Cello concerto (op 8, 2000) for cello and string orchestra

Commissioned composition for Nicolas Deletaille. The cellist displays much of his ability: sound experiments (part 1), cantabile (part 2), energetic playing (finale).

Premiere:

Botanique, Brussels (Ars Musica) | 18-03-2001 | Nicolas Deletaille & Orchestre de Chambre de Wallonie (cond.: Daniël Gazon)

 

Concert Rhapsody (op 9, 2000) for violin and symphonic orchestra

Bravura piece on the occasion of the 50th Queen Elisabeth Competition. Laureate of the Weimarer Frühjahrstage für zeitgenössische Musik.

Premiere:

Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, Waterloo | 03-07-2001 | Elisabeth Deletaille (vl) and Renaat Beheydt (pno)

Other performances:

Central Theater, Verviers | 16-12-2001 | Elisabeth Deletaille (vl) and Fabian Jardon (pno)

Weimar | 29-04-2010 | Egidius Streiff & Loh-Orchester Sondershausen conducted by Markus L. Frank

 

Dry bones, arise! (op 37, 2015) for symphonic orchestra

Evocation of Ezekiel 37, 1-10: In a valley, countless dry bones come to life at God’s Word and rise up.