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Belgian composer Wim Henderickx passes away

The Belgian composer Wim Henderickx died last Sunday. Belgian composer Wim Henderickx passed away unexpectedly on Sunday afternoon. This was confirmed in a press release by the Muziektheater Transparant, where Henderickx had been composer-in-residence since 1996. Henderickx was one of Belgium’s most important contemporary composers. In March he had turned…

Composer Angelo Badalamenti dies

Angelo Badalamenti, the author of David Lynch’s major film soundtracks, dies. Grammy Award-winning American composer Angelo Badalamenti died on Sunday 11 December at the age of 85. Badalamenti achieved worldwide fame with the haunting, melancholic music he composed for the television series Twin Peaks. As a regular composer for American…

Twenty five years ago died Simon Jeffes

It is twenty five years since the death of Simon Jeffes, founder of The Penguin Cafe Orchestra. Today marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the death of Simon Jeffes (Crawley, Sussex, England, February 19, 1949-Taunton, Somerset, England, December 11, 1997), English guitarist and composer and founder in 1972 of The Penguin…

The Japanese composer Toshi Ichiyanagi dies

Toshi Ichiyanagi, a leading figure of the Japanese musical avant-garde and Yoko Ono’s first husband, died in Tokyo on 7 October. Today I learned that the composer and pianist Toshi Ichiyanagi, who was at the forefront of post-war Japanese avant-garde music, died on 7 October in a Tokyo hospital at…

25th anniversary of the death of Nancarrow

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the death of Conlon Nancarrow. Today, 10 August, marks the 25th anniversary of the death of Conlon Nancarrow (Texarkana, 1912-Mexico City, 1997), the American composer (naturalised Mexican citizen in 1956) known primarily for his compositions for pianola. Born into a wealthy family (his father…

Tenth anniversary of Lol Coxhill’s death

Tenth anniversary of the death of the English free improvisation saxophonist Lol Coxhill. On 10 July 2012, a few months before his 80th birthday, the English saxophonist George Lowen Coxhil, musically known as Lol Coxhil (Portsmouth, 1932-London, 2012), passed away. Trained professionally as a bookbinder, his love of music encouraged…

100th anniversary of Iannis Xenakis’ birth

Today marks the centenary of the birth of the Greek-French composer Iannis Xenakis. This Sunday marks the centenary of the birth of the Greek-born, Romanian-born, French naturalised composer Iannis Xenakis. More than twenty years after his death, the spirit of Xenakis is still alive and well, embodied through the incessant…

Greek composer Vangelis dies of covid-19

Greek composer Vangelis, author of the “Blade Runner” soundtrack, dies, victim of covid-19. The Greek composer and musician Vangelis – whose real name was Evángelos Odysséas Papathanassíou – died on Tuesday, 17 May, at the age of 79 in Paris, according to the Greek news agency ANA (Athens News Agency)….

Klaus Schulze, pioneer of German “Krautrock”, dies

German musician Klaus Schulze, one of the crucial representatives of “krautrock”, dies. German composer and electronic music pioneer Klaus Schulze passed away on Tuesday night after a long illness, but suddenly and unexpectedly, his son Maximilian Schulze and Frank Uhle, managing director of the SPV Schallplatten record company, announced on…

Thirtieth anniversary of Olivier Messiaen’s death

Today marks the thirtieth anniversary of the death of French composer Olivier Messiaen. Today marks the thirtieth anniversary of the death of Olivier Messiaen (Avignon, 10 December 1908-Paris, 27 April 1992). He was one of the most important, influential and personal French composers of the 20th century, in whose work…

Composer and artist Hermann Nitsch is dead

Composer Hermann Nitsch, the best known representative of Viennese Actionism, has died. The international art world was shocked to learn of the death of Austrian action artist, painter and composer Hermann Nitsch on Easter Monday. Nitsch was one of the most controversial and influential artists of recent decades. Along with…

The British composer Harrison Birtwistle dies

British composer Harrison Birtwistle dies. Harrison Birtwistle, creator of an advanced music that did not belong to any school and who was considered one of the greatest contemporary British composers, has died at the age of 87. The publisher of Birtwistle’s works, Boosey & Hawkes, announced that the composer died…