“I try to tempt the silence to speak, to show what is hidden in the invisible” – Adriaan Valk
Composer Adriaan Valk (1943) has held a special place in Dutch music history for more than forty years. His style can not be captured in a few words. His music however can be applied in a broad way. Theater makers, choreographers and film directors are inspired by it. As a 16-year-old Adriaan gets his first saxophone lessons at Harmonie Apollo in Zaandijk. n 1963 he ventures an audition at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. The committee grants him a scholarship ‘because of extraordinary talent’. After the military service Adriaan goes to the conservatory of Amsterdam. He graduates cum laude in 1972 with the majors Clarinet en Saxophone. From 1965-1974 he relocates as a clarinettist and saxophonist in the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Adriaan started composing in the mid-1970s. He calls himself ‘intuitive composer’. His music is characterized, among other things, by a clear, close-knit structure.In 1989 his saxophone quartet ‘Perspective’ was awarded by the Netherlands Fund for Creative Art.
1943 – Born in Koog aan de Zaan
1963 audition for the Royal Conservatory, The Hague
received scholarship for ‘extraordinary talent’
1968 Holland Festival – tenor saxophonist in the play Prometheus – Aischylos
1964 solo saxophonist ‘Trompetterkorps der Cavalerie’
1965 – 1972 Sweelinck Conservatorium van Amsterdam
Graduated with distinction (cum laude) in the majors ‘Clarinet’ en ‘Saxophone’
1965 – 1974 relegated as clarinettist and saxophonist in the Royal Orchestra
1975 Head teacher Clarinet and Saxophone, Conservatory in Zwolle
Mid-1970 – Initiated the writing of own compositions
1975 Guest in cabaret show of Wim Ibo ‘Onder de bomen van het plein’
1975 – 2005 Collaboration with Henk van Ulsen i.a.:
Shakespeares sonnets (1975)
The book ‘Prediker’ (1978)
Job op Schokland (1992)
1977 Interview and performance in VPRO-radio show of Han Reiziger – ‘Kleine Suite’ from Géza Frid together with Henk van Ulsen and Marina Horak
1980 Head teacher Clarinet and Saxophone, Conservatory in Arnhem
1989 Composition ‘Perspectief’ (saxophone quartet) is awarded by the Dutch fund for ‘Scheppende Toonkunst’.
1990 Release CD 1 ‘Job’
1991 – 2006 Founder of Iona Saxophone Quartet
1991 Documentary ‘Op weg naar de hemel’ together with the Iona Saxophone Quartet and Henk van Os (former head of Rijksmuseum Amsterdam)
1992 Movie ‘Job op Schokland’, with Henk van Ulsen. Director: Paul Kramer. IKON TV
1993 Release CD 2 ‘ Adriaan Valk in collaboration with Iona Saxophone Quartet & Godfried Hoogeveen’
1994 Collaboration with Dea Koert ‘A Hairy Locomotion’
1995 Release CD 3 ‘Adriaan Valk in collabaration with Iona Saxophone Quartet’
1996 Nils Christe (choreographer) writes a choreograph for the ballet show ‘Angle of Attack’ on the music from the Mineralcycle
1999 During the opening of the museum ‘Het Valkhof’, which was officially opened by Queen Beatrix, the ‘Ballet Introdans’ performs a choreography of Ton Wiggers on the ‘Toermalijn Kwartet’ played by the Saxophone Quartet
1999 Release CD 4 ‘Experience’
2006 Iona Saxophone Quartet is invited for a performance in Scotland in the abbey on the Scottish Island Iona
2006 Release movie ‘The Sound of Iona’ produced by Bernadette Geels
2007 Release CD 5 ‘ 4 String Quartets from the Mineralcycle’
2007 Documentary ‘de Van Nellefabriek’ directed by Camille P. Verbunt with the composition ‘Aquamarijn Kwartet’, part two
2007 Interview RTV Oost, for the occasion of the exposition ‘150 jaar Voerman’ in ‘Museum de Fundatie’, Zwolle
2009 Documentary ‘Panta Rhei: 100 jaar Koloniaal Etablissement’, directed by Annegriet Wietsma, completely built on the repertoire of all CD’s
2009 TV broadcast ‘Het Derde Testament’ – NCRV
Portrait of Adriaan Valk
2011 Interview Radio 4 VPRO – show ‘Eigentijds’ of Han Reiziger
2011 Interview with Marc Wielaert, NPS – show ‘Spotlight’
2013 Interview with Rinus van Warven – omroep Gelderland – show ‘Tendens’
2013 Interview show ‘Hemelsbreed’ Boeddhistische Omroep
2014 Anniversary ‘Veertig jaar componist in de Nederlanden’
2018 Collaboration A way 2 love / guidance inspired by A Course in Miracles.
2019 Interview “Stilte in muziek” with Aat van Nieuwkerk, ParmandoTV
2019 Composition 24preludia part II, Stichting Pianoconcerten Jacqueline Smit.