About Peter van Bergen
Peter van Bergen is a composer, improviser and performer on soprano-, alto, tenor- and baritone saxophone, Ab-, Bb- bass- and contrabassclarinet, tarogato, computers, electronics. He is the founding director of LOOS (since 1982), Studio LOOS (since 2004), the Timecircle festival (1990’s) and the International Sound Art Festival The Hague (since 2023) - positions he still holds. Van Bergen studied saxophone at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague with Leo van Oostrom. In 1990 he received a two year international scholarship to study extended techniques with Evan Parker. Since then he has been working in contemporary composed and improvised music, with and without electronics, and often interdisciplinary. Several composers, such as Louis Andriessen, Guus Janssen, Cornelis de Bondt, Huib Emmer, Paul Termos, Georg Katzer, Martijn Padding, Elliott Sharp, Gao Wei-jie, Roberto Morales and Maarten Altena, have written compositions for him or ensembles/projects through the LOOS Foundation.
with Cecil Taylor, 1988. Photo Dagmar Gebers
He received his Ph.D. Doctor of Arts at the VUB/KCB – Free University of Brussels/Royal Conservatory Brussels. As an artist/artistic researcher (Topic “Improvisation, interactivity and instability: artistic transformations”) he has given lectures and workshops in numerous countries (a.o. Brazil, Mexico, USA, Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, South Africa).
In 2024, he received a Royal Decoration, Knight of Orange Nassau, for his work in experimental, innovative interdisciplinary music including founding and directing LOOS and Studio LOOS.
In 1987 he received the Dutch Podiumprize for Jazz and Improvised Music, and in 1985 he was awarded with the Ooyevaer Prize for New Music from The City of The Hague. In 2000 he and the LOOS Ensemble were awarded the GENECOprize 2000 for exceptional contributions to contemporary composed Dutch music.
The Cecil Taylor Quintet, BIMhuis Amsterdam 1990. Left to right: Cecil Taylor, Peter van Bergen, Tristan Honsinger, William Parker, Tony Oxley. Photo Huib Emmer
As an IMPROVISER Van Bergen gave innumerable concerts - both solo and with musicians like Cecil Taylor, Derek Bailey, Evan Parker, Anthony Braxton, William Parker, Han Bennink, Misha Mengelberg, Arto Lindsay, Gunther Christmann, Ikue Mori ,Thomas Lehn, John Zorn, Jacques Palinckx, Wolter Wierbos, Gert Jan Prins, Wilbert de Joode, Nicole Mitchell, Hamid Drake, Ken van der Mark, Roscoe Mitchell, George Lewis, Richard Teitelbaum, Butch Morris , Garth Knox, Tomoko Mukayama, John Russell, Phil Wachsman, Paul Lytton , Nicolas Collins, Peter Brotzmann, Balasz Pandi, Peter Evans, Leo Wadada Smith, Joel Ryan, Zeena Parkins . Also he was involved in groups under the direction of Evan Parker (UK, Evan Parker Electro-Acoustic Ensemble), Guus Janssen (NL, Guus Janssen Septet & various operas) , Paul Termos, Georg Graewe, Wolfgang Fuchs (DE, King Übü Orchestrü), Maarten Altena (NL, Maarten Altena Ensemble), Radu Malfatti (DE, Ohrkiste), Michiel Braam (NL, Bik Bent Braam) and David Kweksilber (NL,David Kweksilber Bigband).
Currently he is participating in the following groups: QUARTET I with Ike van Bergen (grand piano, keys), Wilbert de Joode (double bass), Giacomo Camilletti (drums), QUARTET II with Ike, Desh, Ardita and special guest Pink Oculus, PETER VAN BERGEN Quartet with Ike van Bergen, Wilbert de Joode, Frank Rosaly, DECONSTRUCTED MELODIES with Gert-Jan Prins, Koen Nutters, Jeroen Kimman, ALL ELLINGTON under the direction of Eric Boeren, UNPOLISHED - a special program by Nieuw Amsterdams Peil (NAP) under the direction of Gerard Bouwhuis and Heleen Hulst with Paul Koek and Koen Kaptijn
with Odeon Pope, 1987 Dutch Podiumprize Gemeentemuseum Den Haag
LOOS 1984 with Franklin Ardin, Jan de Boer, Willem Jansen, Jan Willem van der Ham. Photo José Kolijn
As a COMPOSER he received several commissions and long term stipends (since 1994) from the Dutch Fund for Composition and the City of Amsterdam. Besides all his compositions for the LOOS Ensemble ( Factorseries, compositions with a major role for improvisation and multiple choices) he has written for soloists , ASKO Ensemble, De Volharding, Maarten Altena Ensemble, Holz Fuer Europa, Pianoduo Post&Mulder Zengea Karimba Ensemble (ZIM),several ad hoc combinations and musictheater- and danceproductions like Doof, Het Slijpen, Scherven en Menuet (Theatergroup Hollandia with Paul Koek and Johan Simons), Cinderellas and Aan/Uit (PostProductions), ‘t Zandmeisje (Nomadproductions), Veranderingen and Motion Capture (Veranderingen Foundation/Karin Post) and I-Space (Krisztina de Châtel dance company).
In his role as an INTERPRETER of modern composed music he was a member of Hoketus, founded by composer Louis Andriessen, from 1984-86 Solo and with several main ensembles he premiered many new works and was involved in operas from ao Huib Emmer/Ken Hollings, Louis Andriessen/Peter Greenaway, Guus Janssen/Friso Haverkamp and Martijn Padding/Friso Haverkamp, Anne LeBaron/Yuval Sharon.
at the Total Music Meeting, Berlin, 2001