(b. 17 May 1957, Ghent).
Belgian composer of mostly chamber, choral, vocal, and piano works that have been performed in Europe; he is also active as a conductor.
Mr. De Nef studied at the Koninklijk Vlaams Conservatorium in Antwerp from 1978–84, where he earned premiers prix in choral conducting, harmony, music history, and solfège. He then studied counterpoint and fugue with Rafaël D'Haene at the Koninklijk Conservatorium in Brussels from 1985–87 and analysis with Frans Geysen and composition with André Laporte there from 1990–95. He also attended a conducting course with Johan Duijck and László Heltay in 1989.
Among his honours are Second Prize in the competition of Harmonia–Nederland (1992, for Geef mij maar de brede trage rivieren) and two prizes in the competition for chamber music of the Muizelhuisconcerten (Third Prize, 1993, for Lucubrantiunculæ; First Prize, 1994, for Circumsonus). In addition, he was a finalist in the Koningin Elisabethwedstrijd in Brussels (1995, for Rond'eau) and received a prize in the competition of the Koninklijke Vlaamse Academie van België voor Wetenschappen en Kunsten (1996), the Provinciale Prijs from the city of Antwerp (1997, for Stringtime) and the Provinciale Prijs from the province of East Flanders (1998, for Ik ben beperkt).
As a conductor, he has led the choruses Arti Vocali Antwerpen and UKA since 1992.
He is also active in other positions. He has organised the Duits–Vlaamse Koorweek since 1992, the concert series Ufsia at the Universiteit Antwerpen since 1999 and the Vlaams–Italiaanse Koorweek since 2003. In addition, he has sung as a tenor and baritone in the male chorus Kompakt since 1993.
He has taught writing at the Gemeentelijke Academie voor Muziek-Woord-Dans in Heist-op-den-Berg since 1989 and at the Academie Muziek Woord Dans in Bornem since 1996. He has taught harmony at the Lemmensinstituut in Leuven since 1990.
COMPLETE LIST OF WORKS
ORCHESTRAL:
Musivum-Pyramidéefixe, 12 strings, 1991
Atona, 1995
Stained Glass, symphonic band, 1997
CHAMBER MUSIC:
Aurora, 2 French horns, 4 trumpets, 2 trombones, 2 tubas, 1990
Lucubrantiunculæ, marimba, violin, 2 violas, 2 cellos, 1992
Suitesque, violin, cello, piano, 1993
Circumsonus, violin, piano, 1994
Mad(t)hematic variations, violin, piano, 1995
Per son age, violin, piano, 1995
Stringtime, string quartet, 1996
On wings of strings, clarinet, string quartet, 1997
Mixed Gril(l), violin, viola, cello, piano, 1999
In de navel van de agave, clarinet, viola, piano, 2002
Alva, guitar, string quartet, 2003
Son naté, violin, cello, piano, 2003
H-irak-iri, flute, guitar, viola, 2003
IJsland-Suite, flute, percussion, 2003
CHORAL:
Water bij dag en bij nacht (text by Rutger Kopland), 8 mixed voices, 1990
Waar gaan de dingen gebeuren (text by Herman De Coninck), mixed chorus, 1991
Geef mij maar de brede trage rivieren (text by Rutger Kopland), mixed chorus, 1992
Kleine ballade (text by Hans Andreus), mixed chorus, 1993
Liggen in de zon (text by Hans Andreus), mixed chorus, 1993
's Nachts (text by Hans Andreus), mixed chorus, 1993
The Silver Swanne (text from an anonymous source), soprano, 6 mixed voices, 1993
Ballade morale (text by François Villon), mixed chorus, 1993
Scène (text by Godfried Bomans), mixed chorus, 1995
Kerstlied (text by Anton van Duinkerken), 3 equal voices, 1995
Upon the nipples of Julia's breast (text by Robert Herrick), 8 mixed voices, 1997
Rap-Sotie (text by François Villon), rapper, 6 mixed voices, 1997
Het Water loopt al zingend (text by Kurt Van De Wouwer), children's chorus, piano, 1997
Mosselsuite (text from the folksong Ken jij Jan de mosselman), 4 male voices, 1998
Ein G'mischte Salat (texts from folksongs from Switzerland), rapper, 8 mixed voices (all + cowbells), alphorn ad libitum, 1999
Rodian (cantata, texts by Roland van Boxtaele, Lieve Denollet, An Vermaercke), soprano, tenor, bass, mixed chorus, large orchestra, 2001
Minisp(r)ookje (text by Rens Morenski), children's chorus, double bass, piano, percussion, 2002
VOCAL:
What I write with this hand (text by Pieter G. Buckinx), voice, piano, 1995
Ik ben beperkt (text by Hedwig Hensen), mezzo-soprano, harp, string quartet, 1997
Nocturne (text from a poetry calendar), baritone, string quartet, 1998
Als met water (text by Rutger Kopland), mezzo-soprano/baritone, harp/marimba, 1999
PIANO:
Rond'eau, 1995
Enfantasie e Skerdzo, 1997
Pentona, 1997
Spring Dance, 1997
Actus Purus, 1999
DISCOGRAPHY
Het Water loopt al zingend. De Gespeelckens (De Gespeelckens, 1999)
Circumsonus. Stijn Kolacny, violin; Nico Balthussen, piano (Muizelhuisconcerten, 2000)
Ein G'mischte Salat. Roger Leens/Vlaams Radio Koor (Vlaams Radio Koor, 2000)
Mixed Gril(l). Marcato Piano Quartet (René Gailly International Productions: 87 177, 2001)
Actus Purus. Roland De Munck, piano (Lemmensinstituut, 2001)
Mad(t)hematic variations. Eric Robberecht, violin; Anne op de Beeck, piano (Lemmensinstituut, 2003)
In de navel van de agave. Nota Bene (2004)