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Hans Vermeersch (born 30 June 1957) is a Belgian composer, conductor and violinist. His compositions include orchestral and chamber music, works for wind orchestra and solo instruments, and music combining Western classical traditions with influences from Indian music. He has also composed and performed extensively for the viola d'amore.[1][2]
Biography
[edit]Early life and education
[edit]Vermeersch was born on 30 June 1957 in Knokke-Heist, Belgium. He studied music theory, violin, oboe, chamber music and conducting at conservatories in Bruges, Ghent and Brussels, and continued his musical studies in Innsbruck, Austria. Among his teachers was the violinist and conductor Eduard Melkus. In 1975, he won the Pro Civitate competition for violin.[1][2]
He subsequently worked as a violinist, teacher, conductor and composer. He taught violin, viola and chamber music at music academies in Belgium and has been associated with musical ensembles in Knokke-Heist.[2]
Composition and conducting
[edit]Vermeersch's compositions encompass orchestral music, chamber music, works for wind orchestra, music for solo instruments and works involving electronic tape. His catalogue includes works for violin, viola d'amore, saxophone, clarinet, oboe, horn, veena, sitar and duduk.[2]
In 1995, Vermeersch received second prize in KLM's international Bridging the World competition. The project involved the creation of the multicultural Rajhans Orchestra and compositions involving Indian and Western musical traditions.[1]
Vermeersch has been associated with the Rajhans Orchestra and the Royal Harmony De Zeegalm and Strijkers in Knokke-Heist. The Rajhans Orchestra is listed by the municipality of Knokke-Heist among its cultural and socio-cultural associations.[3]
Indian music and Tagore
[edit]Vermeersch has developed an interest in musical connections between Indian and Western traditions. His activities have included the translation, arrangement and performance of music by Rabindranath Tagore. According to the International Viola d'Amore Society, he has worked with Tagore's music since 2002.[1]
His compositions involving Indian musical traditions include Gita for violin and chamber orchestra, Madras Concerto for veena and chamber orchestra, Moghul Concerto for sitar and orchestra and The Mumbai Concerto, based on Manil Suri's novel The Death of Vishnu.[2]
In 2023, Vermeersch received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Diwali Festival in Brussels. The award was reported in the Belgian press in connection with his work as a violinist, conductor and composer, his performance of Indian music and his involvement in Indian Army memorial concerts in Knokke-Heist.[4]
Viola d'amore
[edit]Vermeersch has been active as a performer and composer for the viola d'amore. His compositions for the instrument include works for solo viola d'amore, chamber ensembles, multiple violas d'amore and combinations of the instrument with electronic tape.[1]
He is vice-president of the International Viola d'Amore Society.[1]
His works for viola d'amore include Bhalobasha, Gadbad, Sootch, Tombeau, Three Indian Seasons, Wepwawet, Yesterday's Twilight, Micro Concerto, Rorate Caeli, Fragments of Fragment, Der Dezember, Maria Magdala, Carnatic Biber and The Viola d'Amore Jig.[1]
In 2018, Vermeersch's composition Fragments of Fragment was performed by Duo Aliquot in Petzen, Austria. A review in the Schaumburger Zeitung described Vermeersch as a Belgian contemporary composer and discussed the work in connection with Warren Fahy's novel Fragment and the subtitle "Jurassic Park for the Lost Generation".[5]
His music has been included in international viola d'amore congress programmes. At the 2024 International Viola d'Amore Congress in Palermo, Italy, his The Viola d'Amore Jig for three violas d'amore was performed and Maria Magdala received its world premiere.[6]
Indian Army memorial concerts
[edit]Vermeersch has been involved in organising memorial concerts in Knokke-Heist commemorating Indian soldiers who served and died on the Western Front during the First World War. The project, presented through the Rajhans Orchestra, developed into a long-running series of concerts concerning the Indian Army in Flanders Fields and Northern France.
In 2026, the municipality of Knokke-Heist announced a 25th-anniversary memorial concert under the title Vergeten en Herinnerd ("Forgotten and Remembered"), presenting music from the history of the memorial concerts in Knokke-Heist.[7]
Selected compositions
[edit]Orchestral and concerto works
[edit]Autumn Ballad – for tenor saxophone and orchestra (1978) Fiddlers of the First Floor – for oboe and string orchestra (1980) Optical Illusions – for horn and chamber orchestra (1985) Gita – for violin and chamber orchestra (1995) Kacheri Concerto – for bass clarinet and chamber orchestra (1995) Ramayana – suite for chamber orchestra (1995) Madras Concerto – for veena and chamber orchestra (1995) Al Hakim – for alto saxophone and chamber orchestra (1997) Moghul Concerto – for sitar and orchestra (1997) The Mumbai Concerto – for saxophones, flute, oboe, strings, keyboards and Indian percussion (2001) Five Virtues by Kofi Annan – for oboe, djembe, strings and keyboards (2002) The River – for English horn and strings (2005) Aatank Concerto – for clarinet and wind orchestra (2008) Luca's Christmas Dream – for solo violin and orchestra (2019) Poinsettia – for violin, flute and chamber orchestra (2022) Akh Hayastan – for two duduks and chamber orchestra (2023)
Viola d'amore
[edit]Bhalobasha – for viola d'amore and tape (2011) Gadbad – for two violas d'amore, cello and harpsichord (2012) Sootch – for solo viola d'amore and tape (2014) Tombeau – for two violas d'amore, cello and harpsichord (2014) Three Indian Seasons – for countertenor, two violas d'amore, cello, desk bells and harpsichord (2016) Wepwawet – for solo viola d'amore, desk bells and tape (2016) Yesterday's Twilight – for two violas d'amore and oboe/dilruba (2017) Micro Concerto – for oboe, viola d'amore and chamber orchestra (2018) Rorate Caeli – for viola d'amore and tape (2018) Fragments of Fragment – for two violas d'amore (2018) Der Dezember – for soprano and viola d'amore (2019) Maria Magdala – for two violas d'amore (2021) Carnatic Biber – for viola d'amore and tape (2022) The Viola d'Amore Jig – for three violas d'amore (2023) The Seven Days of the Week – for two violas d'amore (2023) The Summer – for solo viola d'amore (2024) The Autumn – for solo viola d'amore (2025) The Seven Last Words of Our Saviour on the Cross – for two violas d'amore (2026)
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 International Viola d'Amore Society, "Hans Vermeersch". Retrieved 21 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Golden River Music, "Hans Vermeersch". Retrieved 21 July 2026.
- ↑ Municipality of Knokke-Heist, "Rajhans Orchestra". Retrieved 21 July 2026.
- ↑ Het Nieuws van West-Vlaanderen, "Lifetime achievement award voor Knokse violist-dirigent-componist Hans Vermeersch", 4 November 2023.
- ↑ Schaumburger Zeitung, 9 April 2018, concert review of Duo Aliquot in Petzen, Austria.
- ↑ International Viola d'Amore Society, "21st International Viola d'Amore Congress – Palermo – Sicily: Concert Programme". Retrieved 21 July 2026.
- ↑ Municipality of Knokke-Heist, "Rajhans Orchestra – Vergeten en Herinnerd". Retrieved 21 July 2026.
External links
[edit]- Hans Vermeersch at Golden River Music
- Hans Vermeersch at the International Viola d'Amore Society
- Hans Vermeersch at the Studiecentrum Vlaamse Muziek
- Hans Vermeersch on YouTube