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Hus, Walter (b. 1959, Mol). Belgian composer of mostly stage, orchestral, chamber, vocal, and piano works that have been performed throughout Europe; he is also active as a pianist.
Mr. Hus studied at the conservatories of Ghent and Brussels. He was awarded the diplôme supérieur for piano under the direction of Robert Steyaert in 1984.
His works have been commissioned by the festival Antwerp – European Cultural Capital 1993, Beursschouwburg, De Rode Pomp, DeSingel, the Felix Meritis Foundation, the Festival van Vlaanderen, Happy New Ears, the Hebbel Theater, Kaaitheater, the arts centres Limelight and Vooruit, and the festival Octobre en Normandie, among other ensembles, festivals, organizations, and theatres.
As a pianist, he has long been involved in the new music scene and has played improvised recitals and occasionally flirted with free jazz (Belgisch Pianokwartet) and rock (Simpletones). He has also worked extensively with Frederic Rzewski in recent years. He has collaborated with painters (Thuns) and video artists (Marie André, Walter Verdin), toured the world with his ensemble Maximalist! and written and performed for dance and theatre (Beukelaars, De Keersmaeker, Discordia, Roxane Huilmand, Kortekaas, Needcompany, Ritsema, Vandekeybus, and others). He has performed less on stage since the early 1990s.
CONTACT INFORMATION
E-mail address: walterhus@skynet.be
Street address: Mr. Walter Hus, Rue Royale 266, B - 1210 Brussels, Belgium
Telephone/fax: + 322 219 7958
Website: http://www.walterhus.org
SELECT LIST OF WORKS
STAGE: Muurwerk (dance music, choreography by Roxane Huilmand), violin, viola, cello, 1985 (may be performed as a concert work; also concert versions for clarinet, bass clarinet, alto saxophone; clarinet, violin, cello; 4 saxophones); Die Nacht (opera, libretto by Wolfgang Kolb), 1987 (incomplete); Hic et Nunc (dance music, choreography by Roxane Huilmand), piano, 1990; Orfeo – A Night (opera, libretto by Jan Lauwers, Marie Brouchot, the composer), 3 soloists, speaker, mixed chorus, ensemble, 1993; Francesco's Paradox (madrigal opera, libretto by Stefan Hertmans), mixed chorus, ensemble, 1996 (incomplete); Devouring Muses (dance music, choreography and text by Irène Stamou), 10 female voices, 1997; Meneer, de zot en tkint (opera, libretto by Jan Decorte), 12 mixed voices, Hammond organ, accordion, 2000; Bloetwollefduivel (opera, libretto by Jan Decorte), 3 soloists, 4 saxophones, 2001; Titusandonderonikustmijnklote (opera, libretto by Jan Decorte; all players also speak), tuba, guitar, cello, Hammond organ, accordion (all + percussion), live electronics, 2002
ORCHESTRAL: For a Leather Jacket – Concerto, violin, orchestra, 1990 (also version as The Leather Jacket Trio, violin, piano); La Théorie, 1998 (version of String Quartet No. 1, 'La Théorie'); Le Désir, 1998 (version of String Quartet No. 2, 'Le Désir'); Preludes and Fugues, Book I (2, 4, 6), 1998 (version of sections of piano work; also version for string orchestra, 1998); Wastelands, symphonic band, 1998 (also version as Even in the industrial wastelands of Eleusis the priestesses howl, speaker, symphonic band, 1998); Der Mann im blauen Mantel, mezzo-soprano/baritone, orchestra, 1998 (version of vocal work); Francesco's Paradox, baritone, orchestra, 1998 (version of work for countertenor, piano); Five to Five, string orchestra, 1999 (version of chamber work; also version for symphonic band, 1999); Le Miroir, 1999 (version of String Quartet No. 3, 'Le Miroir'); La Nuit (concerto), piano, orchestra, 1999 (also version for 2 pianos)
CHAMBER MUSIC: Five to Five, clarinet, bass clarinet, alto saxophone, cello, 2 pianos, 1984 (also versions for string quartet, 1988; piano; string orchestra; symphonic band); Muurwerk, violin, viola, cello, 1985 (concert version of dance music; also versions for clarinet, bass clarinet, alto saxophone, 1986; clarinet, violin, cello, 1989; 4 saxophones, 2000); String Quartet No. 1, 'La Théorie', 1988 (also versions for 2 pianos; flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, piano, 1994; orchestra; sections also included in film The Pillow Book); String Quartet No. 2, 'Le Désir', 1991 (also version as Four Preludes [Ping Pong], piano; orchestra); The Leather Jacket Trio, clarinet, violin, piano, 1993 (version of For a Leather Jacket – Concerto); Ohne Ungeduld, clarinet, piano, 1995 (also version for cello, piano, 1995); Cadenza, cello, 1995 (also versions for violin/viola, 1995; clarinet/bass clarinet, 1995; marimba, 1995); String Quartet No. 3, 'Le Miroir', 1996 (also versions for 4 clarinets, 1998; orchestra); Preludes and Fugues, Book I (2, 4, 6), flute, bass clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano, percussion, 1998 (version of sections of piano work; also versions for flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, bassoon, trumpet, tuba, 1998; oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, alto saxophone, bassoon, 1998); Le Parfum, jazz ensemble, 1999; String Quartet No. 4, 'La Folie', 2000; Preludes and Fugues, Book II (11), 4 saxophones, 2001 (version of section of work for 2 pianos)
CHORAL: Egidiuslied, 4 male voices, 1998; Op een dag (text by Peter Verhelst), 4 mixed voices, 2000
VOCAL: Der Mann im blauen Mantel (song-cycle, text by Rainer Maria Rilke), mezzo-soprano/baritone, clarinet, piano, string quartet, 1994 (also versions for voice, piano, 1994; mezzo-soprano/baritone, orchestra, 1998); Francesco's Paradox (text by Stefan Hertmans), countertenor, piano, 1996 (also versions for voice, piano, 1996; baritone, orchestra)
PIANO: Five to Five, 1994 (version of chamber work); La Théorie, 2 pianos, 1994 (version of String Quartet No. 1, 'La Théorie'); Four Preludes (Ping Pong), 1995 (version of String Quartet No. 2, 'Le Désir'); Orfeo Sonata, 1995 (based on themes from Orfeo – A Night); Nox Aeterna, 1996; Preludes and Fugues, Book I (1-6), 1998 (also versions of nos. 2, 4, 6 for flute, bass clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano, percussion; flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, bassoon, trumpet, tuba; oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, alto saxophone, bassoon; orchestra; string orchestra; organ); La Nuit (concerto), 2 pianos, 1999 (version of work for piano, orchestra); Preludes and Fugues, Book II (7-12, Interlude), 2 pianos, 2001 (also version of no. 11 for 4 saxophones, 2001); Preludes and Fugues, Book III (13-18), 2 pianos, 2003; Preludes and Fugues, Book IV (19-24), 2004
ORGAN: Preludes and Fugues, Book I (2, 4, 6), 1998 (version of sections of piano work)
FILM SCORES (DIRECTOR): Suite 16, 1994 (Dominique Deruddere); The Pillow Book, 1996 (Peter Greenaway; includes sections of String Quartet No. 1, 'La Théorie')
DISCOGRAPHY
Eight Études on Improvisation (not in work list). Walter Hus, piano (IGL: 016) (LP)
Five to Five (original version). Maximalist! (IGL: 021) (LP)
Five to Five (version for string quartet); Muurwerk (original version); String Quartet No. 1, 'La Théorie'. Quadro Quartet (Carbon 7: 008)
Devouring Muses; String Quartet No. 3, 'Le Miroir'. Lucy Grauman/Magaly Schoentjes; Smith Quartet (Carbon 7: 025/Happy New Ears: 003)
Muurwerk (original version). Quadro Quartet (Factory Classics: 386)
Preludes and Fugues, Book I (1-6). Walter Hus, piano (Gents Muzikaal Archief, Volume 14)
Five to Five (version for piano); Four Preludes (Ping Pong); Nox Aeterna. Walter Hus, piano (Happy New Ears: 002)
Francesco's Paradox (original version). Peter De Groot, countertenor; Walter Hus, piano (Happy New Ears: 004)
String Quartet No. 1, 'La Théorie' (excerpt). Quadro Quartet (LBS: 10970101/BM 650)
Even in the industrial wastelands of Eleusis the priestesses howl. Geert Verschaeve/Koninklijk Harmonieorkest Vooruit (NM: 002)
(Last updated on September 29, 2004)
