Raaf Hekkema

Raaven @ TEDx Amsterdam last friday

Raaf — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 15:28:10 +0000

watch our performance here

About my arrangement of Bach’s Prelude & Fuge BWV 847

Raaf — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 14:30:38 +0000

The idea of reworking a three-part fuge into a solo piece bubbled up when I heard an organ version of a fugue that Johann Sebastian Bach had conceived for violin solo. It appeared to me that this arrangement (the organ version) actually sounded more like an original whereas the violin solo version could have been the arrangement. In which case Bach would have done a superior job in (re)designing the subject and countersubject in such a way that they could be played as a single line (even if the violin uses more than one string). I set off browsing through Bach’s smaller-scale fugues from “Das Wohltemperierte Klavier” in order to find a suitable fugue and test if I could do a similar thing (as I had imagined Bach doing) but then for my instrument. Soon, I got entangled in the world of counterpoint as I had never been before in my explorations as an arranger. It is hard to explain exactly what procedures were necessary to create a version that had a somewhat flowing character, but shifting passages up or down one or several octaves was one of them. Also, the main subject had to be rhythmically redesigned to be able to fit the countersubject between its notes. Since then, I have tried this way of working out on several other fugues, but it is such a time-consuming business that I have (so far) given up. I have played this piece many times to my own joy and that of the audience.

Work list 1984-2011

Raaf — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:42:31 +0000

An attempt to list & categorize all my 226 compositions & arrangements so far.

2011

Le chasseur maudit (C. Franck) [15’]. Wind ensemble, db & perc.
Archipel VII DOUBLE (D. Manneke) [9’]. Reed quintet
Concerto in a minor BWV 1065 – from Vivaldi’s L’Estro Armonico (J.S. Bach) [10’]. Reed quintet, str. orchestra & basso continuo
Concerto in d minor BWV 596 – from Vivaldi’s L’Estro Armonico (J.S. Bach) [10’]. Reed quintet
Suite III BWV 1009 (J.S. Bach) [20’]. Sax solo

2010

I got Rhythm variations (G. Gershwin) [10’]. Piano & reed quintet
On the Goldberg bass [15’]. Reed quintet & organ
Caprice nr. 19 (N. Paganini) [4’]. Sax & violin
The King of Denmark his Galliard (J. Dowland) [5’]. Pop trio
The Earl of Essex his Galliard (J. Dowland) [4’]. Pop trio
Flow my Tears (J. Dowland) [5’]. Pop trio
Fantasia (A. Mudarra) [6’]. Pop trio
Suite (R. de Visée) [11’]. Pop trio
Se’i languidi miei sguardi (C. Monteverdi) [9’]. Pop trio
Suite (H. Purcell) [5’]. Pop trio
Sonata ‘La castella’ (G.A. Pandolfi Mealli) [8’]. Pop trio
Sonata VI (J. H. Schmelzer) [8’]. Pop trio
Passacaglia (H. I. Biber) [9’]. Pop trio
Branle (A. le Roy) [1’]. Pop trio

2009

Romance (L. von Beethoven) [1’]. Pan pipes
Agnus Dei (W. Byrd) [3’]. 5 telescope clarinets
Trois caprices de Paganini (K. Szymanowski) [13’]. Sax & str. orch
Ricercare from Musikalisches Opfer (J.S. Bach) [7’]. For six instruments
Canons from Musikalisches Opfer (J.S. Bach) [6’]. Various instr
Canzon prima (G. Gabrieli) [3’]. Reed quintet
Canzon in eco (G. Gabrieli) [3’]. Organ & reed quintet

2008

Neuwirth Intermezzi (var. baroque arr.) [20’]. For various instr (for MusikFabrik)
Années de Pelérinage – Suisse (F. Liszt) [12’]. Reed quintet
Rapsodie Espagnole (M. Ravel) [14’]. Reed quintet
2 madrigals (C. Schuyt) [5’]. Reed quintet
Sophisticated Lady (D. Ellington) [3’]. Reed quintet
Flow my Tears (on the Dowland song) [5’]. Soloist & reed quintet
Trois caprices de Paganini (K. Szymanowski) [13’]. Sax & reed quartet (withdrawn)
Vermont Counterpoint (S. Reich) [9’]. Sax solo + pretaped saxes

2007

New York Counterpoint (S. Reich) [11’]. Version reed quintet & 6 taped reed instr
Gaspard de la nuit (M.Ravel) [25’]. Reed quintet
Variation symphoniques (C. Franck) [18’]. Reed quintet & orchestra
Duo Merveille (N. Paganini) [3’]. Sax solo
Trois caprices de Paganini (K. Szymanowski) [13’]. Sax & pf
Partita II BWV 1003 (J.S. Bach). Wind instr solo

2006

Study #20 (C. Nancarrow) [3’]. Reed quintet & pf
Study #3b (C. Nancarrow) [6’]. Reed quintet & pf
New York Counterpoint (S. Reich) [11’]. For 11 wind instr
Prelude & Fuge in f minor WTK I (J.S. Bach) [5’]. Reed quintet
God bless the Child (B. Holiday) [7’]. Reed quintet
Duetto buffo de due gatti (G. Rossini) [3’]. Reed quintet
Duetto buffo de due gatti (G. Rossini) [3’]. Violin & sax
8 duos (B. Bartók) [8’]. Vln & sax
Cantabile (N. Paganini) [4’]. Sax & string quartet
Caprice nr. 24 (N. Paganini) [6’]. Violin & sax
Caprice nr. 17 (N. Paganini) [4’]. Violin & sax
Sonata (C. Franck) [28’]. Sax & pf
Tzigane (M. Ravel) [10’]. Vln & reed quintet

2005

Study #11 (C. Nancarrow) [4’]. Reed quintet & pf
Study #16 (C. Nancarrow) [3’]. Reed quintet & pf (withdrawn)
Study #26 (C. Nancarrow) [3’]. Reed quintet & pf (withdrawn)
Surabaya Johnny (K. Weill) [5’]. Voice & reed quintet
Youkali (K.Weill) [5’]. Voice & reed quintet
Hommage à Rameau (C. Debussy) [7’]. Reed quintet
La cathédrale engloutie (C. Debussy) [6’]. String quintet & reed quintet
Three 2-part studies (C. Nancarrow) [5’]. Reed quintet

2004

Prelude & Fuge nr 2 WTK I (J.S. Bach) [5’]. Sax solo
Satin Doll (D. Ellington) [4’]. Reed quintet
Suite la triomphante (J-Ph. Rameau) [30’]. Reed quintet
Goldberg Variations (J.S. Bach) [45’]. Reed quintet
Sechs Geistliche Gesänge (H. Wolf) [10’]. Reed quintet
Missa de beata virgine (J. des Prez) [25’]. Reed quintet
Study #15 (C. Nancarrow) [3’]. Reed quintet
Study #3c (C. Nancarrow) [3’]. Reed quintet & pf
Study #3d (C. Nancarrow) [3’]. Reed quintet & pf
Study #4 (C. Nancarrow) [3’]. Reed quintet & pf

2003

Caprice 4 (N. Paganini) [7’]. Sax solo
Caprice 18 (N. Paganini) [3’]. Sax solo
Caprice 8 (N. Paganini) [4’]. Sax solo
Study #10 (C. Nancarrow) [4’]. Reed quintet & pf
Study #7 (C. Nancarrow) [10’]. Reed quintet & pf
Study #12 (C. Nancarrow) [8’]. Reed quintet & pf
Study #14 (C. Nancarrow) [3’]. Reed quintet & pf
Study #6 (C. Nancarrow) [5’]. Reed quintet & pf
Missa Prolationem (J. Ockeghem) [30’]. Reed quintet

2002

Rapsodie (C. Debussy) [10’]. Reed quintet
Fantasia Betica (M. De Falla) [12’]. Reed quintet
Caprice 17 (N. Paganini) [4’]. Sax solo
Caprice 19 (N. Paganini) [4’]. Sax solo
Caprice 21 (N. Paganini) [3’]. Sax solo
Caprice 5 (N. Paganini) [4’]. Sax solo
Study #18 (C. Nancarrow) [3’]. Reed quintet
Ballade vom ertrunkenen Mädchen (K.Weill) [3’]. Voice & reed quintet

2001

Rêverie et caprice (H. Berlioz) [8’]. Sx, pf
Caprice 20 (N. Paganini) [4’]. Sax solo
Caprice 22 (N. Paganini) [3’]. Sax solo
Caprice 23 (N. Paganini) [3’]. Sax solo
Caprice 11 (N. Paganini) [4’]. Sax solo
Seeräuber Jenny (K. Weill) [3’]. Voice, Reed quintet
Concerto nr. 2 La Campanella [30’]. Sx & orch.
From Holberg’s Time (E. Grieg) [22’]. Reed quintet
Syrinx (C. Debussy) [3’]. Sx solo
Suite IV BWV 1010 (J.S. Bach) [25’]. Sax solo
Motet (R. Ford) [3’]. Reed quintet
Study #2 (C. Nancarrow) [3’]. Reed quintet
Study #3c (C. Nancarrow) [3’]. Reed quintet
Study #3d (C. Nancarrow) [3’]. Reed quintet

2000

Die Kunst der Fuge (J.S. Bach) [80’]. Reed quintet (1991-2000)
Pia mater (anonymus) [5’]. Reed quintet
Credo (anonymus) [5’]. Reed quintet
Caprice 1 (N. Paganini) [3’]. Sax solo
Caprice 24 (N. Paganini) [5’]. Sax solo
Caprice 9 (N. Paganini) [4’]. Sax solo
Caprice 12 (N. Paganini) [4’]. Sax solo
Caprice 14 (N. Paganini) [2’]. Sax solo
Caprice 15 (N. Paganini) [3’]. Sax solo
Caprice 7 (N. Paganini) [4’]. Sax solo
Was die Herren Matrosen sagen (K. Weill) [6’]. Voice, Reed quintet
La Poule (J-Ph. Rameau) [3’]. Reed quintet
Video cellos apertos [7’]. Reed quintet
Jump for Joy (D. Ellington/B. Webster) [3’]. Reed quintet
Sonata (N. Paganini) [18’]. Sx, pf
La Campanella (N. Paganini) [9’]. Sx, pf
Polacca con variazioni (N. Paganini) [8’]. Sx, pf
Musae Jovis (N. Gombert) [5’30’’]. Reed quintet

1999

7 Canons (M. Reger) [10’]. Sopr sx & bar sx
6 Fantasias (O. Gibbons) [12’]. Sopr sx & bar sx
Sonata e major BWV 1014 (J.S. Bach) [12’]. Sopr sx & bar sx
Sonata prima (D. Castello) [8’]. Sopr sx & bar sx
Canon [3’]. Sopr sx & bar sx
6 Sequuntur Cantiones (O. di Lasso) [15’]. Sopr sx & bar sx
6 Duets (T. Morley) [15’]. Sopr sx & bar sx
Ogni Dilecto (M. Piero) [3’]. Sopr sx & bar sx
Le ray au soleil (J. Ciconia) [2’]. Sopr sx & bar sx
Giunge l’ bel tempo (J. da Bologna). [3’]. Sopr sx & bar sx
Prelude & Fuge nr. 10 from WTK I (J.S. Bach) [5’]. Sopr sx & bar sx
Caprice 16 (N. Paganini) [3’]. Sax solo
Caprice 13 (N. Paganini) [3’]. Sax solo
Caprice 10 (N. Paganini) [3’]. Sax solo
Caprice 6 (N. Paganini) [5’]. Sax solo
Caprice 3 (N. Paganini) [3’]. Sax solo
Caprice 2 (N. Paganini) [3’]. Sax solo
Perpetuum mobile (N. Paganini) [4’]. Sx, pf
Isfahan (B. Strayhorn) [4’]. Reed quintet
Estampes (C. Debussy) (rev. 2008) [16’]. Reed quintet
The River (D. Ellington) [30’]. Reed quintet
Quintet in C major, mov. 1 (F. Schubert) [18’}. Reed quintet
Suite le rappel des oiseaux (J-Ph. Rameau) [23’]. Reed quintet

1998

La plus que lente (C. Debussy) [5’]. Reed quintet
Viderunt Omnes (Perotinus) [10’]. Reed quintet
Seven Tears or Lachrimae (J. Dowland) [15’]. Reed quintet
4 Canons from Die Kunst der Fuge (J.S. Bach) [20’]. Sopr sx & bar sx
4 Duets (J.S. Bach) [10’}. Sopr sx & bar sx
Sonata e minor BWV 1013 (J.S. Bach) [15’]. Sopr sx & bar sx
15 2-part Inventions (J.S. Bach) [25’]. Sopr sx & bar sx
Sonata from Il pastor fido (A. Vivaldi). [10’] Sopr sx & bar sx
l’Isle Joyeuse (C. Debussy) [7’]. Sx quintet & str quintet

1997

Tierkreis (K. Stockhausen) [30’]. Reed quintet
Il Banchetto musicale (J. H. Schein) [8’]. Reed quintet
Mort, tu as navré (J. Ockeghem) [8’]. Reed quintet
Credo from Missa Caput (J. Ockeghem) [6’30’’]. Reed quintet
Prenez sur moi (J. Ockeghem) [5’]. Reed quintet
Intemerata dei mater (J. Ockeghem) [6’30’’]. Reed quintet
Salve Regina (J. Ockeghem) [7’]. Reed quintet
Fumeux Fume (Solage) [6’]. Tsx, bcl, bs
Suite Dido & Aeneas (H. Purcell) [18’]. (High voice &) reed quintet

1996

Serenade in E flat KV 375 (W.A. Mozart) [27’]. Reed quintet
Istampitta nr. 2 (anonymus). [10’]. Sx solo
Anadolu Dan (A. Saygun) [10’]. Reed quintet
Magnificat Antiphons (A. Pärt) [15’]. Counter tenor & Reed quintet
Blauwe maandag (Blue Monday) [2’]. Pf solo
Concerto for Harpsichord (M. De Falla) [10’]. Harpsichord & Reed quintet

1995

Danse Russe Trepak (P. Tchaikovski) [2’]. Reed Orch.
La Valse (M. Ravel) [13’]. Reed orch.
Magnificat (W. Byrd) [5’]. Counter tenor & Reed quintet
Ludus Tonalis (P. Hindemith) [60’]. Reed quintet

1994

Adagio in b flat KV 411 (W.A. Mozart) [6’30’’]. Reed quintet
Adagio in f KV 410 (W.A. Mozart) [2’]. Cl, sx, bcl
Beauté Parfaite (A. de Caserta) [3’]. Reed quintet
Het Tuinfeest (op tekst van M. Nijhoff) (The Garden party) [9’]. Low voice, ob, vln, vla, vlc

1993

3 madrigals (G. Gabrieli) [10’]. Reed quintet & organ
Browning (W. Byrd) [3’]. Reed quintet
Fantasia (W. Byrd) [5’]. Reed quintet
Tombeau de Couperin (M. Ravel) [25’]. Reed quintet
Prelude & Ground (W. Byrd) [4’30’’]. Reed quintet
Die Zauberflöte Overture (W.A. Mozart) [8’]. Reed quintet (withdrawn)
Dame d’honour en qui (A. de Caserta) [3’]. Reed quintet
Se Galaas (J. Cuvelier) [3’]. Reed quintet

1992

Suite [13’]. Bsn solo (rev. 2009) (later transcr. for sx)
Sonate 1001 [10’]. Vln solo
Quintet in g minor KV 516 (W.A. Mozart) [30’]. Reed quintet
La Spagna (anonymus) [3’]. Reed quintet

1991

Luyken liederen (Luyken songs) (on Jan Luyken texts) [13’]. Mixed choir, 2 vns, vla, vlc, db
Saxofoonkwartet ‘Signaal’ (Saxophone Quartet ‘Signal’) [9’]. Sax quartet
Children’s Corner (C. Debussy) [16’]. Reed quintet

1990

Veertien Rieten (14 reeds) [21’]. 2 obs, eng horn, bsn.
Incest suite (for a play) [16’]. Fl, vln, harp
3 motets (the middle one was added later) (Antoine Brumel) [12’]. Reed quintet

1989

Serenade [12’]. Large orch.
Gestures (D. Manneke) [9’30’’]. ob, cl, 2 sx, bsn (recorded in 1991 for Erasmus records)
Stranddivertimento (Beach Divertimento) [8’30’’]. Ob, vln, vla, vlc
6 madrigals (C. Gesualdo) [16’]. Reed quintet
De lange nacht (The long night) [4’40’’]. Chamber Orch.
Theevisite (High tea) (for a silent movie) [6’]. Film orch.
There’s a boat (G. Gershwin) [3’]. For high voice & reed quintet

1988

Nutcracker Overture (P. Tchaikovski) [3’]. Reed quintet
Güell Nocturne [6’40’’]. 10 wind instr
Concert in Turquoise [4’30’’]. 2 obs
Reismuziek (Travel music) [5’]. tp, 2 hrns, trb
Zes stadsbeelden (Six city images) [8’30’’]. 2 vlc
Music for awhile (on a Purcell text) [7’30’’]. High voice, ob, bsn, pf
Since from my dear (on a Purcell text) [2’]. High voice, ob, bsn, pf
Let’s dance (on a Purcell text) [2’]. High voice, ob, bsn, pf

1987

Romanian folk Dances (B. Bartok) [6’]. Reed quintet
September [var.]. for jazz octet

1986

Blaaskwintet (Wind Quintet) [6’30’’]. ob, cl, 2 sx, bsn
Miniatuur (Miniature) [1’30’’]. ob, cl, 2 sx, bsn
Strijkkwartet [5’30’’]. str quartet

1985

Herbst (on a Rainer Maria Rilke poem) [4’]. Low female voice, 4 sx
De Leeuw (The lion) (on a Roald Dahl poem) [2’]. Low female voice, sopr sx
Requiem [2’]. Cl, asx, bsn
Overture [2’]. Cl, asx, vln, vla, vlc
Droevige melodie (Sad melody) [1’30’’]. Fl, 2 vlns, vla, 2 vcl
Boos menuetje (Angry little minuet) [1’]. Asx, Bsn, 2 Vcl
2 Walsjes (2 waltzes) [3’]. Cl, bsn, str quartet.
Wegstervende Melodie [var.]. Vln, vla, vlc

1984

Andante [2’]. 2 asx, bsn
Trio [2’]. 2 asx, bsn

Raaven meets great enthusiasm at Dag vd Klassieke Muziek

Raaf — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 18:56:45 +0000

At the combined Dutch Chamber Music Meeting & the Dag vd Klassieke Muziek Raaven seems to have been the great hit. After the performance there was a run on the demo CDs. Also, many presenters denounced they were inclined to … Continue reading →

Essential listening for those who desire to understand Raaf Hekkema

Raaf — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 13:37:14 +0000

Andrew Manze – Pandolfi Mealli, violin sonatas
vibrant perfomances of crazy music from the early baroque
Duke Ellington Orchestra – Three Suites
perfect fusion between classical music and jazz. by the Duke & Billy Strayhorn
Zoltán Kocsis – Debussy, Images
breathtaking interpretations of maybe the finest piano music ever written
Elvis Costello & The Brodsky Quartet – Juliet Letters
an almost perfect fusion between a classical chamber group and a pop singer

Sting & Edin Karamazov – Songs from the Labyrinth
the way to deal with pop music from the sixteenth century. just sing it.
Tomita – Debussy, Snowflakes are dancing
exemplary thought-through arrangements for synthesizer (in 1974!). well-informed and utterly beautiful.
Billie Holiday with Ray Ellis & his Orchestra, Last Recording
the strange yet moving voice of Billie Holiday in her last days combined with the buttery orchestral arrangements by Ray Ellis
Billy Preston, That’s the way God planned it
steaming soul with hammond organ
Lowell George, Thanks I’ll eat it here
one of the greatest voices of American Rhythm & Blues
All Elvis Costello records between 1976 and 1990

This list is, and probably will always be, incomplete

Raaven invited for TEDx Amsterdam

Raaf — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 12:12:32 +0000

Raaven invited to play at the prestigious TEDx Amsterdam on November 25th
http://www.tedxamsterdam.com/

Raaven’s first results from the studio: Flow my Tears

Raaf — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 07:27:27 +0000

on the Listen page, you’ll find Raaven’s first recording results (with me making my group debut as a singer!).

Raaven Showcase @ Dag v/d Klassieke Muziek

Raaf — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 07:24:05 +0000

Raaven has the honor to play a showcase at the Dag v/d Klassiek Muziek. Monday 17 october, 14h at Muziekgebouw a/h IJ, Amsterdam muziekcentrumnederland

Schott Music publishes my ‘Suite for saxophone’

admin — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:26:01 +0000

Schott Music international publishes my composition ‘Suite for Saxophone solo’.
Available here: SCHOTT MUSIC

Paganini Caprices, Jed Distler

admin — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 18:07:43 +0000

Artistic Quality 10, Sound Quality 10
Have you ever stopped to think what Paganini’s violin caprices would sound like on the saxophone? Or, to be more specific, what they’d sound like in the hands of an instrumentalist whose technique does not know the meaning of “impossible”, whose tone is unfailingly even, beautiful, and controlled beyond belief, and who seems never to take a breath?

Then you’ve come to the right place–indeed, the only place. Listen to Caprice No. 4′s alternating long legato lines and scampering interval leaps and you wonder if Raaf Hekkema really is playing a soprano saxophone instead of a hybrid cello/oboe/clarinet/flute prefabricated not to slip out of tune. On the alto saxophone, No. 6′s double-stops are reinterpreted as the fastest, quietest arpeggios in the West, resembling the kind of instrument you’d get if you crossed a marimba with a viola da gamba.

More importantly, musical considerations always govern Hekkema’s choices so far as register, articulation, and phrasing are concerned. For example, he inflects each of No. 24′s variations with awesome variety and wit, and even resorts to gentle slap tonguing to replicate plucked strings. At first I found MDG’s recording quality chilly, distant, and too resonant, but gradually came to realize how perfectly the ambience suits the performances. Hekkema’s excellent booklet notes not only discuss the music but also the process of and challenges involved in adapting Paganini’s caprices for saxophone. In addition, MDG manages a total single-disc playing time of 81 minutes and 28 seconds. What a tour-de-force! If only Paganini could come back to life and hear this disc.