Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1952

Death

:

May 22, 2003

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

Paul Termos was a Dutch composer and saxophonist who was born on August 17, 1952, in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He grew up in a musical family, with his father being a jazz pianist and his mother a classical pianist. Termos started playing the saxophone at the age of 12 and was soon performing in various jazz bands in Amsterdam. Termos studied composition at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam, where he was taught by Ton de Leeuw and Louis Andriessen. He also studied saxophone with Leo van Oostrom and Harry Sparnaay. During his studies, Termos became interested in contemporary classical music and started to incorporate elements of this genre into his own compositions. In 1979, Termos co-founded the Instant Composers Pool Orchestra with Han Bennink, Misha Mengelberg, and Willem Breuker. The group was known for their improvisational style and their ability to seamlessly blend different genres of music. Termos played saxophone in the group and also contributed compositions. Termos' compositions were often characterized by their use of unconventional instrumentation and their incorporation of elements from different musical genres. He was particularly interested in the music of non-Western cultures and often incorporated elements of African and Asian music into his compositions. One of Termos' most well-known works is his composition "De Zee" (The Sea), which was commissioned by the Dutch Radio Symphony Orchestra in 1990. The piece is a musical depiction of the sea, with different sections representing different aspects of the ocean, such as the waves, the wind, and the creatures that live in the sea. The piece is notable for its use of unconventional instrumentation, including a didgeridoo and a waterphone. Another notable work by Termos is his composition "De Stijl" (The Style), which was commissioned by the Mondriaan Quartet in 1994. The piece is inspired by the art movement of the same name and incorporates elements of jazz, classical music, and non-Western music. The piece is notable for its use of unconventional techniques, such as the use of a bow on the saxophone. Termos continued to compose and perform throughout his career, and his work was recognized with numerous awards and honors. He was awarded the Matthijs Vermeulen Prize in 1991 for his composition "De Zee" and was also awarded the Boy Edgar Prize in 1992, which is the most prestigious jazz award in the Netherlands. Tragically, Termos passed away on August 3, 2003, at the age of 50. His legacy lives on through his compositions and recordings, which continue to inspire and influence musicians around the world.

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