De passionele tranen van Tom Van de Venne
Los del trè-gitarist en leraar in onze school Tom Van de Venne is met het nummer Rainy Days met veel lof verkozen tot winnaar van de
Neoklassieke talentenjacht 2021. Dit levert hem een contract op bij het ADA label Maestro Music en een concert in het prachtige Tivoli Vredenburg. Bibliothecaris Lien Ory nam hem bij de arm en stelde hem enkele vragen.
In het juryrapport van de ‘neoklassieke talentenjacht’ word je omwille van je muzikale en virtuoze gitaarstijl geprezen. Heb je om dit
niveau te bereiken bloed, zweet en tranen gelaten?
Als kind al was ik bezeten door mijn gitaar. Ieder vrij moment speelde ik. Ook al was het druk op school, er ging geen dag voorbij zonder muziek. Toen ik op mijn achttiende voor het hoger conservatorium van Brussel koos, werd me al snel duidelijk dat graag en veel spelen niet voldoende is. Om een hoog niveau te bereiken is een andere aanpak en veel discipline nodig. Ik ondervond er het belang van opwarming, technische oefeningen en analyse. Ook leerde ik er efficiënter studeren want het repertoire in een hoger conservatorium wordt snel uitgebreider en moeilijker. Als student was er dus weinig ruimte voor iets anders. Ik stond op en ging ik slapen met mijn gitaar. Maar wanneer de passie groot is, voelt dat niet als een opgave... Spelen, studeren en leren maken deel uit van het leven van een muzikant. En dat bloed, zweet en tranen neem ik er heel graag bij.
Van kindsbeen speelde je voor publiek en nam je deel aan gitaarwedstrijden. Heb je nooit last van stress of faalangst?
Als kleine jongen deed ik niets liever dan 'spelen voor publiek'. Ik genoot van de aandacht en zenuwachtig was ik nooit. Pas in de puberteit kwam ik in aanraking met faalangsten. Ik moet 15 jaar zijn geweest toen ik plots merkte dat ik trilde op podium. Dat was me tot dan toe nog nooit overkomen. Ik schrok er erg van en voelde dat ik de controle over mijn instrument wat verloor. Na vele gesprekken met mijn leraar heb ik na verloop van tijd geleerd om de zenuwen te beheersen. Maar dat leer je niet van de ene dag op de andere. Het is een proces van vallen en opstaan.
Welke tips heb je om controle te krijgen over de stress?
Aanvaarding is al een grote stap vooruit. Zenuwen zijn onvermijdelijk. Ze horen er nu eenmaal bij. Wat mij verder nog helpt is controle
over de ademhaling. Enkele keren diep in- en uitademen alvorens te beginnen. En altijd rustig blijven ademen wanneer een trilling opkomt. Ook is het nuttig om de stukken uit het hoofd te spelen. De concentratie is dan scherper en de muzikale inleving groter. Stress heeft dan minder ruimte en blijft onderdrukt. En tot slot zijn er ook de kleine rituelen. Voor mij persoonlijk is dat een groene koffiemok waaruit ik de ochtend van het concert mijn melk drink. Het is bezwerend bijgeloof, maar het helpt.
Zowel met Rainy Days als met het Los del trè-repertoire val je op als een componist van mooi klinkende maar ook technisch virtuoze muziek. Komt muzikale inspiratie als een onbevlekte ontvangenis? Of is het compositieproces een arbeidsintensief métier?
Ik persoonlijk schrijf vaak vanuit een buikgevoel. Natuurlijk laat ik me hierbij inspireren door verschillende genres en artiesten. De inspiratie komt soms vanzelf, alsof de muziek al ergens in me gereed lag, klaar om gespeeld te worden. Maar soms zit ik met een thema vast en geraak ik er niet uit. Dan kan het weken of zelfs maanden duren, eer ik er een vervolg op vind.
Hoe ga je tewerk als je een muziekstuk schrijft?
Als er een idee opkomt, neem ik het op. Hoe klein het motiefje ook is. Mijn smartphone staat vol met muzikale ideeën die ooit wel ergens een plaats zullen vinden. Natuurlijk is er een theoretische basis nodig die muzikale ideeën richting en vorm te geven. Het is handig om enige notie te hebben van harmonieleer. Daarom koos ik harmonieleer als hoofdvak aan het Brussels conservatorium. De laatste jaren haal ik meer en meer plezier uit het componeren. Ik werk momenteel aan een gitaarbundel die volgend schooljaar normaal gezien verschijnt.
De Los del trè-gitaristen zijn drie schitterende muzikanten die samen een verbluffend sonoor trio vormen. Wat is het recept voor zo’n muzikale symbiose?
De rode draad doorheen ons verhaal is vriendschap. Die hechte vriendschap is ook voelbaar op het podium. Dat horen we vaak na optredens. Onze eerste repetitie is ondertussen 15 jaar geleden... Na al die jaren zijn we dermate op mekaar ingespeeld dat er een natuurlijke rolverdeling binnen onze groep ontstaan is. We kennen elkaars kwaliteiten en proberen die maximaal te benutten bij de uitwerking van onze stukken.We hebben ook geleerd om alles bespreekbaar te maken. Zo ontstaat er geen frustratie en blijven we met plezier verder spelen. Na 15 jaar repeteren we nog iedere week met heel veel enthousiasme. We zijn dus nog lang niet uitgespeeld.
Dat hopen we samen met jou.
Tom Van de Venne geeft gitaar en akoestische bandcoaching in onze school. Samen met Roel Van de Voorde en Ward Pauwels – eveneens gitaarleraar aan het Leuvens Conservatorium - vormt Tom het gitaartrio Los del trè. Al 15 jaar toeren de drie bevriende gitaristen met opzwepende en hartstochtelijke concertprogramma’s door binnen- en buitenland.
How can you help us to grow further?
Sonolize is a platform for and by composers, whether you make classical, wind, opera, religious, latin, jazz, or folk music, for individual players, orchestra, brass band, choir, or ensemble. You are very welcome at Sonolize. We have big ambitions, but how can you help Sonolize to grow further?
Summer 2024 catalogue
Looking for unique and high-quality sheet music? Check our summer catalog with a small selection of our almost 1700 compositions.
Koen Van Biesen about his 'Elegy'
During the Flemish Open Brass Band Championships (VOBK) in Mechelen in april, the work 'Elegy' by Koen Van Biesen was the compulsory piece in the D Division.
Interview with David Dolatowski
David Dolatowski is a classically trained composer with a PhD in Music Composition. His “classical” compositions ranging from intense classical and dramatic pieces to beautiful Native American flute songs include works for orchestra, concert band, mixed and women’s choirs, as well as a wide variety of chamber music. His compositions are played all over the world.
Interview with Timothy Gargiulo
Timothy Gargiulo is a composer, pianist, guitarist, and percussionist with an incredibly expressive musicality. His music comes forth from a forward thinking melodic and textural palette. Some of his musical influences include Frédéric Chopin, Ney Rosauro, John Williams, Toru Takemitsu, Ichika Nito, Bernard Herrmann, and Jacob Collier.
Interview with Nick Norton
As a composer, guitarist, music editor, and sound artist Nick Norton is interested in the colorful grey areas between genres, creating new experiences for listeners, and destroying social barriers to enjoying music. He has written for and collaborated with soloists, chamber ensembles, concert series, and orchestras, and loves making cool noises with synthesizers.
Interview with A. Douglas Biggs
He is a widely experienced and award-winning composer, conductor, performer and artist. His compositions span a wide range of styles and genres and numerous works for orchestra, band, chamber music, chorus, and a growing involvement in video, film and game projects.
Interview with Marc Douyon
Marc Douyon is a pianist, published author, and award-winning composer. He is a member of ‘The Society of Composers’ and the ‘American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers’.
His compositions include works for instrumental, vocal, orchestral, and electronic music and have been recognized and performed in many countries.
Sonolize is growing fast
Sonolize is growing fast, with almost 150 composers and arrangers of 19 different nationalities and new music every week. We would like to thank you for your confidence in us. As together with you we create an international platform where musicians can find a wide range of sheet music and also composers are fairly rewarded for their creations. Read how we like to go the extra mile for our composers...
The Dutch “Day of the composer".
On June 17, 'New Music Now' organizes the second 'Day of the Composer' with her partners. A major event that puts Dutch composers and new music in the spotlight. This year, the New Music NOW Express music train will travel through the country. The longest track of new music ever with over 347 kilometers of music!
Newsletter and summer catalog
Wanna play music yourself this summer? Check our newsletter with a selection of our almost 1500 sheet music compositions for the individual player as well as for orchestras, ensembles and choir.
Interview with Sandro Bucciarelli
Sandro Bucciarelli won several prizes as a saxophone player. He is also in high demand as a teacher, conductor and composer. Sandro is currently working on a big Disney concert with singers from Berlin, Vienna and Cologne and recently finished a great trumpet concerto for one of the leading wind bands in Luxembourg.
Composers Spring Newsletter
Check in our spring newsletter how we like to go the extra mile for our composers with new ideas and options. And interviews with three fantastic composers from Luxembourg, who share their compositions through Sonolize, Tim Kleren, George Sadeler and Sandro Bucciarelli.
Interview with Georges Sadeler
Besides his main job in the Military Band of Luxembourg, Georges Sadeler is well on his way to making himself known as a talented composer by winning a lot of competitions. He also is a sought-after composer who often writes on commission.
Interview with Tim Kleren
Tim Kleren is a very established composer writing in various styles and for a wide array of performers. From youth to professional and from flexible bands to bigbands and wind orchestra’s he is often played around Europe.
Music for Dutch liberation day
Sonolize offers you a wonderful choice of music for your performance on the Dutch liberation day on May 5th, for Concert band, Fanfare band and Brass band.
History of publishing
A must-see video on Homayoon Kazemi's YouTube channel shows an interesting perspective on the history of music publishing and printing. From where it started to today. Watch it on Homayoon TV.
https://youtu.be/T-_xGW99XAI
Musical wishes for 2023
We wish everybody a happy, healthy, joyful, inspiring, creative, peaceful, successful and musical 2023.
Music recordings for composers
In cooperation with our partner Brevis Musica, Sonolize can offer our composers tailor-made sound recordings for individual players and small ensembles.
Winter catalog and news
Check our winter catalog on Sonolize with music for the individual player as well as for orchestras and ensembles
Laurensvocaal
We are proud that Wiecher Mandemaker, artistic director and conductor of Laurens Vocaal, and Hayo Boerema, composer and organ player at Laurensvocaal, choose to offer their choir and organ compositions through the Sonolize platform.
Interview with Ed de Boer
Ed de Boer is an established composer, he wrote three opera’s, three symphonies, two ballets and much more for symphony orchestra, wind band and fanfare band. And Ed is still writing with a lot of passion. In 2017 he was awarded the Dutch BUMA Brass Award for wind music, for his merits in this field.
Summer catalog
Check our summer catalog on Sonolize with music for orchestras, ensembles and soloists.
The Dutch “Day of the composer".
On June 18, 2022, 'New Music NOW' will organize the first 'Day of the Composer' in the Netherlands. A major event that puts Dutch composers and new music in the spotlight.
News from our Sonolists
We are very proud that Maurick Reuser, Georges Sadeler and Thom Zigterman all have won prestigious international awards for their latest compositions.
Interview with Nikolaï Clavier
The young and talented Norwegian composer Nikolaï Clavier is an award-winning composer currently living in the Netherlands. He has already composed music for 15 movies, 6 commercials and a video game. And is currently arranging Bartok’s Mikrokosmos for symphony orchestra. We are proud to introduce him to you in this newsle
Maurick Reuser wins two 1st prizes
Pianist and composer Maurick Reuser has won two first prizes in the international composition competition 'The Time of the Guitar'. The competition took place online last month. Maurick received the prizes for the guitar solo work 'From Clouds and First Winds', a duo for clarinet and guitar.
Interview with Geert Jan Kroon
Composer, conductor and musician Geert Jan Kroon is an ambitious person with fresh ideas about music and its world. Recently he achieved a wonderful result with a very positively received work that he wrote for the Dutch Brass Band Championships. We are proud to introduce him to you in this article.
Winter catalog and news
In this newsletter you will find our winter catalogue with a small selection of the music you can find at Sonolize. Also we would like to introduce you to the new Sonolize label 'Our Choice’ which was launched this month. A label that guarantees you as a musician a professional layout for sheetmusic.
Sonolize composers in the spotlight
In recent months, several composers who use Sonolize to publish their work have been in the spotlights. Joop van Dijk and Geert Jan Kroon both received the honorable assignment to write a test piece for the Dutch National Brass Band Championships. And George Sadeler and Alain Crepin won 1st and 2nd prize at the “Internazionale di composizione per Marce, Città di Allumiere”.
Sonolize presents ‘Our Choice’
At Sonolize we like to be transparent in what we offer. And that is quality. But also at Sonolize there are composers who stand out and pay extra attention to their scores. Especially for compositions with such attention there is now 'Our Choice'. A label that guarantees the buyer a professional layout.
Engraving service for composers
It doesn't stop at Sonolize with the introduction of the 'Our Choice' label. Sonolize also offers you the option of having your composition engraved by a professional at a very reasonable rate.
Summer catalog and news
In this newsletter you will find an interview with the Dutch conductor and composer Peter Habraken. We also would like to introduce you to the Sonolize quality label 'Our choice’. And of course, our catalog with a selection of the music you can find at Sonolize.
Interview with Peter Habraken
In this interview Peter Habraken talks about his inspiration and work as a composer, conductor and musician. But also about the future of the music landscape.
WMC opens applications for 2022
Applications for the 19th World Music Contest in 2022 have started. From this moment on, bands can apply for the marching and show contests and the contests for wind bands, fanfare bands, percussion ensembles and brass bands. Registration closes on November 1, 2021.
Interview with Frank Nuyts
We would like to introduce you to the Belgian composer Frank Nuyts. Frank is one of the most renowned composers in Belgium and has written an extensive oeuvre including 5 symphonies, 18 piano sonatas and a lot of chamber music with the piano in the central role.
More music at school
In the days previous to the Dutch Queen Máxima's 50th birthday on 17 May, the Dutch foundation "Meer Muziek in de Klas" (More music education at schools) is calling on all of the Netherlands to make an extra effort in music education at schools.
From piano music to orchestral works.
The great thing about Sonolize is that composers know how to find each other to learn from each other. Tom Schipper, for example, helps the young composer Tae Hyung Ruisch to become even better. Read his blog on how.
Interview with Adriaan Dropsie
We are very excited that Adriaan Dropsie is offering his classical Spanish compositions for guitar and flute through Sonolize. We would like to introduce him to you in this interview.
Webinar by Alex Schillings at Brabant Association
"The search for the main and side issues. A lifelong occupation for a conductor ". That is the title of the webinar that Alex Schillings will be leading on Sunday 24 January at the invitation of the Brabant Association of Music Associations (BBM).
VLAMO aims a composition competition for fanfare
The Flemish music organisation VLAMO is focusing on the brass band for the 2021 Composition Competition. Composers can participate by submitting a new work for the lower divisions before August 31, 2021.
Merry Christmas and a happy New Year
We wish all our friends, composers and musicians a beautiful Christmas season and a joyful, inspiring, successful, peaceful, musical and most importantly a happy and healthy 2021.
Drummer & pianist Jeroen Elfferich: "The essence of music lies in simplicity"
Interesting article - in Dutch - about Jeroen Elfferich and his passion for music, written by Thea Derks on Contemporary Classical.
How can I find the copyright holder as an arranger?
If you want to arrange a work from a composer, you will have to ask the copyright holder. But how do you find out who manages the rights of the composer you are looking for?
Composers newsletter
Check out this autumn's Composers newsletter with tips on applying for rights as arranger, marketing and music uploading.
Interview with Arend Gerds
We are very excited that Arend Gerds offers his own classical compositions for wind music through Sonolize. We would like to introduce him and his passion for composing to you in this interview.
Sonolize in the press
On September 18, DPG media published a nice article about Sonolize in which our passion is aptly expressed.
Press release
Groundbreaking initiative Sonolize offers an alternative to traditional publishers of sheet music
Masterclass Composition and Conducting
The School of the Arts in Bern (Switzerland) offers a masterclass Composition and Conducting, specifically for Brass bands.
COVID-19 responses from the music sector
From the Music sector, various actions are taken per country to support music authors and the music sector in general during these difficult times.
Sonolize is growing
We have great ambitions and want to become the place in Europe where composers can offer and sell their sheet music digitally.
Fair practice code
Sonolize endorses the Fair Practice Code for entrepreneurship in the arts and culture sector. It's all about Fair Pay, Fair Share and Fair Chain.
Advisory board
We are proud to anounce that Alex Schillings, Mariska Bogaard-Rethans, Micha Schimmel and Geert van Wijk will take a seat in the Sonolize Advisory Board.
Merry Christmas and let’s celebrate 2020
We wish our friends, composers and musicians a beautiful Christmas season and a happy, healthy, joyful, inspiring, successful, peaceful, musical and truly amazing welcome in the ‘roaring twenties’.
Proudly we present
We are proud to announce that a number of composers have joined us to realize something special together with us.
Sonolize is live
Join Sonolize and start up- and downloading music today. From composers to players, digital, independent, fair and with a wide choice of qualified music.