Koetsier, Jan

14 August 1911, Amsterdam, The Netherlands – 28 April 2006, Munich, Germany
Dutch composer and conductor.

Works for Brass Ensemble
  • Badinerie (after JS Bach), Opus 105/1 (1982) for solo tuba and brass quartet
  • Bamberger Promenade, Opus 44 (1957; revised 1970) for brass quintet
  • Brass Quintet, Opus 65 (1974)
  • Brass Quintet Lirico, Opus 141 (1994)
  • Brass Symphony, Opus 80 (1980) for brass ensemble
  • Canon ostinato, Opus 157 (2000) for large brass ensemble
  • Chorale and Fugue on “So take my hands” Opus 33/3 (1947) for brass quartet
  • Chorale variations, Opus 159 (2001) for brass ensemble
  • Christmas Carol Suite, Opus 97 (1983) for brass ensemble
  • Colloquium for Brass Instruments, Opus 67b (1978) for brass ensemble
  • Don Giovanni’s Höllenfahrt, Opus 153 (1999) for solo tuba and brass ensemble
  • Don Quixote, Opus 144 (1996) for brass quintet
  • Figaro Metamorphoses, Opus 131 (1992) for trumpet, horn, and trombone
  • Grassauer Zwiefacher, Opus 105 (1992) for brass ensemble
  • Introduction and Variations on a Theme by Brahms, Opus 139 (1994) for brass ensemble
  • Introduction and Variations on the Vyšehrad (Smetana), Opus 71 (1976) for harp and brass quintet
  • Kinderzirkus, Opus 79b (2006) for brass quintet
  • Kleiner Zirkusmarsch, Opus 79 (1978; revised 1984) for brass quintet
  • Les Adieux (Farewell to Philip Jones), Opus 105/2 (1985) for brass ensemble
  • Metamorphoses on a Theme from Die Moldau (Smetana), Opus 102 (1985) for harp and brass quintet
  • Mundus Juventutis, Opus 148 (1997) for brass ensemble
  • Petite Suite for Brass Quintet, Opus 33/1 (1947; revised 1957)
  • Philip Jones Story, Opus 135 (1993) for brass ensemble
  • Quartettino, Opus 33/2 (1950) for brass quartet
  • Sonata da Chiesa, Opus 146 (1996) for brass ensemble
  • Sonata Praeclassica, Opus 142 (1995) for brass ensemble
  • Unteragner Länders, Opus 155 (2000) for brass quintet

Works for Trumpet Ensemble

  • Concertino Piccolo, Opus 101 (1985) for 2 piccolo trumpets and 3 trumpets
Works for Horn Ensemble
  • Cinq Nouvelles, Opus 34a (1947) for horn quartet
  • Cinq Miniatures, Opus 64 (1971; revised 1987) for horn quartet
  • Colloquy for a Horn Workshop, Opus 67a (1972) for horn octet
  • Concert Music for Eight Horns, Opus 78 (1979)
  • Hymn, Opus 69/2 (1980) for horn quartet
  • Six Tüsslinger Horn Calls, Opus 105/4 (1986) for 6 or more horns
  • Solemn Music, Opus 114b (1984) for horn quartet
Works for Trombone Ensemble
  • The Bremen Town Musicians, Opus 138 (1994) for trombone quartet
  • Cinq Impromptus, Opus 55 (1970 / 1972) for trombone quartet
  • Concerto Grosso, Opus 140 (1994) for trombone octet
  • Falstaffiade; Variations on a Theme by Otto Nicolai, Opus 134a (1993) for solo bass trombone and 3 trombones
  • Max and Moritz, Opus 127 (1991) for trombone quartet
Works for Tuba Ensemble
  • Cloud Shadow, Opus 136 (1993) for tuba quartet
Biography

Jan Koetsier studied at the music school in Berlin. From 1942 to 1948, he was director of the Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam. From 1949 to 1950, he led the resident orchestra in the Hague, and from 1950 to 1966 he was director of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra in Munich. From 1966 to 1976 he led the band directing course at the music high school in Munich.

As a composer, he wrote chamber music, and orchestral and choral works, as well as the opera Frans Hals. A well-known example of his composition is Brass Symphony from 1979, which is divided into three movements and arranged for a brass dectet.

In 1992, the Jan Koetsier Foundation was established by an endowment from the composer. One of the main responsibilities of the Foundation, which has been based at the Hochschule since 2001, is the organization of the biennial International Jan Koetsier Competition.

References