Role

:

Composer Conductor

Birth

:

September 3, 1935

Death

:

December 13, 2012

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Orchestral

 

 

Symphony

 

 

Vocal

 

Otto Ketting was a Dutch composer who was born on December 3, 1935, in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He was the son of a violinist and a pianist, and his parents encouraged him to pursue music from a young age. Ketting began playing the piano at the age of six and later learned to play the violin and the cello. Ketting studied composition at the Amsterdam Conservatory with Ton de Leeuw and later with Karlheinz Stockhausen in Cologne, Germany. He also studied conducting with Franco Ferrara in Siena, Italy. Ketting's early works were influenced by the serialism of the Second Viennese School, but he later developed his own style, which was characterized by a combination of tonal and atonal elements. Ketting's first major work was his Symphony No. 1, which he composed in 1961. The symphony was well-received and established Ketting as a promising young composer. He went on to compose a number of other orchestral works, including his Symphony No. 2, which was premiered by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in 1968. In addition to his orchestral works, Ketting also composed chamber music, vocal music, and music for the theater. One of his most famous works is his String Quartet No. 2, which was premiered by the Schoenberg Quartet in 1972. The quartet is a complex and challenging work that showcases Ketting's mastery of counterpoint and his ability to create intricate textures. Ketting's music is often characterized by its rhythmic complexity and its use of unconventional time signatures. He was also known for his use of extended techniques, such as playing inside the piano or using unconventional playing techniques on traditional instruments. Throughout his career, Ketting received numerous awards and honors for his work. In 1970, he was awarded the Matthijs Vermeulen Prize, which is the most prestigious award for Dutch composers. He was also awarded the Johan Wagenaar Prize in 1972 and the Amsterdam Art Prize in 1980. Ketting continued to compose music throughout his life, and his later works were often more introspective and reflective than his earlier works. He died on December 25, 2012, at the age of 77. In conclusion, Otto Ketting was a highly respected Dutch composer who made significant contributions to the world of classical music. His music was characterized by its rhythmic complexity, its use of unconventional time signatures, and its use of extended techniques. Ketting's works were well-received by audiences and critics alike, and he received numerous awards and honors throughout his career. Today, his music continues to be performed and studied by musicians and music lovers around the world.

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