Works
(9')
For symphonic Orchestra
Commissioned by BOZAR, Brussels for European Youth Orchestra
Premières:
8 May 2024, Concertgebouw Bruges
9 May 2024: Bozar, Brussels
10 May 2024: Palais des Beaux-Arts, Charleroi
About EUtopia
"Europe: from ideal to utopia? That's pretty much the arch EUTOPIA casts. Conceived in one movement, it begins brightly and hopefully – like the European Idea - with harmonic, natural, high orchestral spectra. There is also a nod to dodecaphony, the twelve-tone system that underpinned the serialism that symbolised renewal just after World War II: Europe was the project of renewal to ensure that we could live in peace and freedom.
But when I began writing the work in the summer of 2023, deals were being made to keep people outside our European borders, in ways I felt were no longer consistent with European values. This has had repercussions in the music: after the carefree beginning, distortion and noises enter the pure sounds. The tension rises, the texture becomes denser, and finally the sound mass culminates in the strokes of a bell. These quote Beethoven's Alle Menschen werden Brüder, like a kind of broad cantus firmus in a long, slowing time-stretch. Firstly, the original is heard, then repeated in the minor. Perhaps it carries somewhere within it a (forlorn) hope: Europe was not quite utopic after all, but music continues the message of An die Freude."- Annelies Van Parys 2024
(18')
Commissioned by Antwerp Symphony Orchestra.
Première on 27 May 2022 at Muziekcentrum De Bijloke Gent and a second concert on 28 May at Koningin Elisabethzaal, both with Jan Michiels and under the direction of Martyn Brabbins.
Instrumentation 2.2.2.2/4.4.3.1/1.2.0.0/hrp/str
(16')
Written for Koninklijk Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam.
The Belgian composer Annelies Van Parys honours her former teacher Luc Brewaeys, who died far too young, with a work commissioned by the Concertgebouworkest. Her astounding style makes Van Parys a totally original voice in contemporary music.
Première at Concertgebouw Amsterdam on 25 & 27 March 2022.
(36')
For symphonic orchestra, choir and soloists.
Commissioned by the Belgian National Orchestra.
Premiere by the Belgian National Orchestra, Collegium Vocale Ghent, Sophie Karthäuser and Thomas Bauer, cond. Hugh Wolff at Bozar, Salle Philharmonique de Liège on November 8, 2018.
soprano, baritone, mixed choir (8 voices) and orchestra4.3.3.3 / 6.4.3.1 / harp / timp / 3 perc / strings
”La pièce est sombre et puissante, d’une séduction presque effrayante.”
(10')
For symphonic orchestra.
Commissioned by the Belgian National Orchestra.
Premiere by the Belgian National, cond. Kirill Karabits at Bozar, Brussels. June 2014.
3.3.3.3 / 4.3.3.1. / harp / celesta / timp / 3 perc / strings
(Ca. 3')
For piano and string orchestra
Premiered by Timur und seine Mannschaft at the Conservatory of Ghent, October 2013
Instrumentation: piano solo, strings (min 4.3.2.2.1.)
(17')
For symphonic orchestra
Commissioned by Symfonieorkest Vlaanderen
Premiere by Symfonieorkest Vlaanderen cond. Otto Tausk in March 2008 in the concert hall of the Royal Conservatory of Brussels
Selected for ISCM-Flanders’ score project
Instrumentation: 2 (1).2.2.1 Ten sax.2. / 4.2.3.1. / T. 2p / Strings (div).
(19')
For symphonic orchestra
Commissioned by deFilharmonie. Premiere by de Filharmonie cond. Sian Edwards in October 2006 at Bozar, Brussels.
Selected for ISCM-Flanders’ score project
Instrumentation: 3.3.3.3./4.3.2.1./ T. 3p. Cel/ Hp/ Strings (div).
(10’)
For symphonic orchestra
Written for the Tactus International Composition Seminar
Premiered by the Flemish Radio Orchestra, cond. Yoël Levi, November 2005 at Concertgebouw Brugge; recorded by Flemish Radio Orchestra (now Brussels Filharmonic), cond. Arturo Tamayo, for the cd “Emerging Talent”
Instrumentation: 3.3.3.3./4.3.3.1./ T. 2p/ Hp/ Strings (div).