About Henk Alkema

This page is dedicated to Henk Alkema, my musical father. He passed away on august 4, 2011. He was always part of my life, even while the last time I saw him was already some 10 years ago. He will always be in my heart and mind.

BIOGRAPHY

 

Henk Alkema was born in Harlingen on November 20, 1944.

Musical education
He studied piano with Léon Orthel at The Hague Royal Conservatory of Music and conducting with Willem Frederik Bon.
 
Activities
After graduation an early apprenticeship was spent on tour as a jazz pianist and as composer/arranger/studio pianist for Dutch Radio and TV. Here begins the first of many recordings under his own name. Collaboration with singer and lyricist Hessel van der Wal led to a number of successful productions often featuring the Frisian language, a preoccupation that was to take an even more important step in the composition of his opera RIXT, years later.
 
From 1974, and following the inspirational teaching of conductor Willem Frederik Bon and later influences of Zolt Deaky and Huub Kerstens, Henk Alkema concentrated more on conducting. Stints as conductor with the Sneeker Cantata Choir and the Frisian Symphony Orchestra, the "Jan Pieterzoon Sweelinck"  Symphony Orchestra (Amsterdam), the Frisian Wind Ensemble, the Concordia Concert Choir and almost all professional symphony orchestra's in The Netherlands.
 
He began a serious commitment to teaching from 1978 at the Music Pedagogical Academy in Leeuwarden and continued with his appointment as chairman of the department of jazz and improvised music at the Utrecht Conservatory. As professor of composition and later as acting Dean of the Conservatory Alkema has found a most significant role in music education.
 
Compositions
Compositional productivity has never suffered and a period as composer in residence to Sater (Amsterdam) and theatre group Theater (Arnhem) was followed by music theatre collaborations with Edwin Rutten and performances of Pepe and Kinderman. His series of lectures on composition for the department of Philosophy at the University of Amsterdam reveals another side to this creative spirit. Compositional appointments at the famous Berklee College of Music and the University of Montana where he completed a commission for a series of song cycles based on American Indian poetry.
 
The highly successful performances of his first full length opera RIXT will soon be followed by a second operatic effort Jealous God with texts by Mark Valencia.
He wrote the opera Bonifatius, commissioned by the Dutch government in 2004 which had 7 performances. ALL IN GOOD TIME was specially written for Harm Vuijk as a commission from the FST.

Title

Henk's Music

Here is a start of Henk Alkema's music. The list isn't complete yet, he wrote a lot of music during the years.

1973    Solo. For double bass - 8'
1975    Ten Zen songs. For medium voice and  piano - 12'
1978    Intrada. For orchestra - 8'
1979    Koper en slagwerk. For 7 brass instruments and 8 percussionists
1980    Sonatine. For alto saxophone and piano  - 8'
1982    Openen en sluiten. For wind ensemble  - 9'
1982    De Zee (De S ) (H. van der Wal). For choir and orchestra  - 10'
1983    En nu gezamenlijk. For wind quintet and piano  - 8'
1984    Saxofoonkwartet no. 1. For saxophone quartet  - 10'
1984    Rituelen. For flute, violoncello and piano  -  9'
1985    Theme out of variations. For flute and harp  - 14'
1985    Sin-fonia. For chamber orchestra  - 15'
1986    Just music (rev. 1987). For alto saxophone and marimba  - 12'
1986    De eendenkooi (A. Quintana). An opera for young people, for
            soloists, choir and orchestra (publ. Molenaar, Wormerveer)

1987    Vijf schetsen. For variable ensemble - 12'
1987    Rituelen II. For baritone saxophone and piano - 11'
1988    Op avontuur. For tenor saxophone and piano  - 10'
1989    Kleine symfonie. For violin and chamber orchestra  - 12'
1991    La Bête. For symphonic band*  (publ. Molenaar, Wormerveer)
1991    Double scorpio. For marimba and 10 accordions  - 10'
1991    Pex. For 5 saxophones   - 12'
1991    Rixt (M. Valencia, Frisian transl. G. van der Meer), opera for soloists,
            choir and orchestra  - 105'
1992    Sweet pain, for 8 violoncellos  -  10'
1995    Fin de siecle, for symphonic band*
1997    The monks, for symphonic band  - 12'
1998    Hooglied Cantate (opdracht NCRV) CD. - 30'
1998    Apres La Mort (organ solo)  (not published) - 8´
1999    Mater Dolorosa for saxophon quartet and symphonic band  (donemus, onuitgevoerd) - 13'
2000    Sunset Jericho for 8 trombones and symphonic band (Williams  Music USA) - 12'
2000    Het verborgen uur for Beiaard.  - 8'
2001    Introduction to the Symphonic Band (Mansarda Sintra) - 27'
2002    Songs of Praise and Pain for Fanfare Orchestra (Mansarda Sintra)
2002    Introduction to the Fanfare Orchestra (Mansarda Sintra.)
2003    Bonifatius, an opera.
2004    Black Heat for Symphonic Band (Molenaar) - 6'
2005    Four women. For soprano saxophone and piano (Donemus)
2006    Sailor talk. For guitar and piano (Donemus)
            De onschuld. For klarinet (A) and alto saxophone (Donemus)
            De invitatie.  A short opera for 2 singers and a limousine.
2007/2008 Zwitserse dansen (for cello and piano) Donemus