Hans Kox

Education

Hans Kox, whose father was a choral conductor and organist, studied in Amsterdam from 1948 untill 1951 with Jaap Spaanderman (piano) and Henk Badings (composition).

Activities

In 1953 Hans Kox made his compositional debut at the Gaudeamus Foundation with a string trio. From 1957 untill 1970 he was director of the Music School at Doetinchem, from 1970 untill 1974 Artistic Consultant to the Noordholland Philharmonic Orchestra in Haarlem and from 1974 untill 1984 he taught composition at the Utrecht Conservatory.

Compositions

Hans Kox received many commissions, from within the Netherlands as well as from abroad (among other organisations, from the Concertgebouw Orchestra, Buma Culture Fund, the Dutch Government; furthermore commissions from Germany, Belgium, Venezuela and the USA). He wrote the obligatory work 'Le Songe du Vergier' ('cello and orchestra) for the International Music Competition in Scheveningen 1987. In 1989 Kox wrote the oratorio 'Sjoah', for soli, choir and orchestra. In 1985 the Anne Frank Cantata 'A Child of Light' was premiered, commemorating the 40th anniversary of liberation. This work is part of the War Triptych, together with the cantatas 'In those Days' and 'Requiem for Europe'. Furthermore, Kox wrote the operas 'Dorian Gray', 'Das Grüne Gesicht' and 'Rochester's Second Bottle', as well as the cantata 'Credo Quia Absurdum', three symphonies and concertos for violin and for 'cello. His compositions are regularly performed in the Netherlands and abroad.

Opera

Voorts schreef hij de opera's, o.a. Dorian Gray en Das grüne Gesicht, de cantate Credo quia absurdum, drie symfonieën en de viool en celloconcerten. Zijn composities worden regelmatig uitgevoerd in binnen- en buitenland.

Een portret van componist Hans Kox.

Hans Kox schreef zijn vijfde symfonie 'Umbrae futurae' i.o.v. de ZaterdagMatinee. De symfonie ging 15 maart 2008 in première en werd uitgevoerd door het Radio Filharmonisch Orkest o.l.v. Jaap van Zweden. Presentatie: Henk van der Meulen.

Datum uitzending: 25-04-2008. Tijdsduur: 40'51"

Prijzen

Kox ontving verschillende prijzen, onder andere werd in 1954 zijn Preludium en Fuga bij het Internationale Orgelconcours te Haarlem bekroond; in 1956 ontving hij de Culturele Prijs van de Gemeente Arnhem en de Muziekprijs van de Gemeente Amsterdam; in 1959 de Visser-Neerlandiaprijs voor zijn Eerste Symfonie; in 1970 de Prix Italia voor In Those Days en in 1974 de eerste prijs van het Rostrum of Composers voor L'Allegria.

DISCOGRAPHY

Memories
and Reflections
The Silent Cry Violin Concertos
War Tryptich Saxophone Quartets
From The Netherlands
Through A Glass, Darkly
The Three Chairs Oratorium Sjoah Cello Concertos
Four Orchestral Suites Alone L'Allegria
The water Beggars John-Edward Kelly
Bob Versteegh
Wie Is Bang
Voor Nederlandse Muziek?

CHRONOLOGY OF VOCAL WORKS

Jaar Revisie Titel Minuten Voor
2006 Aussage 6
2005 Die Todesfrau 30
2004 Tenebrae 0
2002 Rochester's Second Bottle 65 chamber opera for 8 soloists, 1 speaker and orchestra
2001 Die Dinge singen... 15 soprano and organ
1998 Cyclofonie XV 15 mezzo-soprano, clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, horn and double bass
1995 Das Credo quia absurdum 35 cantata mystica for soprano, bass, mixed choir and orchestra
1991 Das grüne Gesicht 120 opera for 5 soloists and orchestra
1990 Magnificat I en II 9 soprano, contralto, tenor, baritone, bass or mixed choir
1989 Sjoah 50 sopr ten bas GK8 3323 6331 timp 4perc str
1989 Sjoah 60 oratorio for soprano, tenor, bass, mixed choir and orchestra
1988 Doulce mémoire 6 mixed choir
1988 De Schalmei 6 mixed choir
1985 Amsterdam cantate 20 mixed choir and orchestra or piano 4-hands
1984 2001 Anne Frank Cantate 45 soprano, contralto, bass, mixed choir and orchestra
1977 Het lied der arme klanten 10 male choir and symphonic band
1975 Cyclofonie X 10 mixed choir and string orchestra
1973 1976 Dorian Gray 125 opera for 10 soloists and orchestra
1972 De vierde kraai 7 male choir, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones and percussion
1972 Gedächtnislieder 18 high voice and orchestra
1971 Requiem for Europe 40 4 mixed choirs and orchestra
1971 Puer natus est 22 European carols for mixed choir and orchestra
1969 In those days 30 2 mixed choirs and orchestra
1967 L'allegria 15 soprano and orchestra
1965 Litania 10 female choir and ensemble
1964 Zoo 12 cantata for male choir and orchestra
1962 3 Chinesische Lieder 7 baritone and piano
1962 Kantate van St. Juttemis 15 tenor, baritone, male choir and piano
1959 Vues des anges 3 baritone and violin (31-tone system)
1958 Stichtse kantate 10 recitation, mixed choir and orchestra
1958 Amphion 25 2 recitors, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, trombone, bass trombone and 2 percussionists
1956 Chansons cruelles 8 mixed choir
1955 3 Coplas 4 mezzo-soprano and piano