Compositions

Sheet music sold at Donemus
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.