Roderik de Man: 'It's nice but still you sit there for two hours looking at your shoelaces' - electronic music in The Netherlands from1960 till 2006

Roderik de Man is a composer and teacher at the Royal Conservatory of the Hague.

Abstract:
An overview of the development of electronic music in the Netherlands, from the three grand old men Jan Boerman, Dick Raaymakers and Ton Bruynèl ("the electronics hobby group') to representatives of  the youngest generation such as Michel van der Aa who conceived, composed and directed his own electronic chamber opera.

About Roderik de Man:
Roderik de Man (Bandung/Indonesië 1941) studied percussion with Frans van der Kraan and theory of music at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague. At the same time he participated in composition classes with Kees van Baaren and worked in the electronic studio as a student of Dick Raaymakers. Since 1972 he has taught theoretical subjects and composition to young composers at the same institute.

Between 1993 and 1997, Roderik de Man was on the board of the Dutch Composer's Society (GeNeCo). Since 1998 he has been on the board of the CEM (Centre for Electronic Music). Recently he was asked to be counselor to the board of the Stichting Ton Bruynèl, a foundation for the promotion of electronic music, and he has also been on the board of the GAUDEAMUS Foundation since the fall of 2003 .

Roderik de Man has received many commissions from, among others, the Foundation for the Creation of Music, the Amsterdam Art Fund and the Johan Wagenaar Foundation. He composes purely instrumental as well as instrumental/electronic music. His oeuvre consists of solo pieces, chambermusic and works for choir, large ensembles and orchestra.

Several times his compositions have been selected by the international jury of the ISCM (the International Society for Contemporary Music) to be
performed during the World Music Days (Oslo 1991, Mexico 1993, Seoul 1997, Boucarest 1998). In 1991 "Chordis Canam" for harpsichord and tape won the 2nd prize in the competition of the Festival de Musique Electroacoustique in Bourges, where he was among the finalists in 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2001. In 1999 "Air to Air" for flute, basset horn and trumpet received the 2nd prize in the same festival and also the 2nd prize in the Concorso Internazionale di Composizione "Città die Torino 2000". Recently Sin descanso for blockflutes and tape was selected for the World Music Days 2004 in Switzerland.

Roderik de Man's music is extensively performed and broadcast in most European countries as well as in the United States, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia and Japan.

http://www.roderikdeman.com/