Barend Schipper, composer, pianist, vocalist

A rebirth of classical music 

Barend's source of inspiration for creating and performing new music are nature's sounds and movements, ancient and indigenous song and dance, contemporary music and classical music of all periods. He composed his first orchestra work the Suite Polynésienne for enlarged symphony orchestra, mixed choir and soprano at 21 years old. This music was enthusiastically received by the leading European composers Einojuhani Rautavaara and Jacqueline Fontyn with whom Barend then studied composition. 
 

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Composing 

At present Barend Schipper's creative output concentrates on composing and recording music ranging from string quartet, piano and wind instruments, piano solo music to orchestra music. 

On this site you can listen to his piano solo music, to a piano and flute duo and to his piano and vocal music.

Cooperations

Barend enjoys his collaborations with other musicians, with poets, choreographers, visual artists and pioneering scientists. Barend has given concerts of his music in the EU.

Barend has taught composition at the conservatory of Turku, Finland and gave lectures on ‘a rebirth of classical music in our intercultural time’ at universities, academies and concert halls in the EU. 

For 10 years he cooperated with interdisciplinary neuro scientist Dr. Han Wassenaar (Albert Pesso, Lahoya California) in the area of music creation and consciousness. This resulted in Studium Generale performances and leadership masterclasses and the article ‘a rebirth of classical music in our intercultural time’.  

He enjoyed the cooperating  with concert flutist and shaman Jan Prins (1942-2026) in the period 2005-2018, which resulted in the album Visions and Dreams on which they interpreted paintings by Rembrandt and Dalí. 

The cooperation with Choco Ramirez on Latin percussion and Bert van Erk on double bass let to the formation of Latin Trio Bernardo in the period 2005-2012. Memorable are the recording of a few albums that Barend composed and arranged for the trio, performances for the queen's commissioner of Groningen, and in the art movie theatre Forum Images with stills from Soy Cuba, for which Barend arranged the original works and a classic Cuban piece.

The cooperation with the Canadian poet James Strecker: Schipper composed music for more than 20 poems of James Strecker. On this website you can find an album of piano and vocals, solely with poems by James Strecker.

Teaching and coaching

Since his early study years Barend has enjoyed teaching composing, piano and singing, improvising and music theory often in the context of the culture and history of music. His approach is person directed, be it amateur or professional. The lessons are tailor made for the student's choice of development, of musical and personal creativity. 

Barend coached people in the field of personal development, emotion coaching, creativity, innovation and natural leadership. He worked for and with different coaching teams and individuals: private and in organisations.            

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                                                                Music Education:

Barend studied with composer Einojuhani Rautavaara at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland. 

Rautavaarae 2nd piano concert was ordered by Vladimir Ashkenazy. At the time was the cultural ambassador of the academy and invited Barend to open the series of international public lectures of the Sibelius Academy with a lecture on his ideas about a rebirth of classical music in our interconnected world. 

Barend studied privately with composer Jacqueline Fontyn near Brussels.

Jaccqueline Fontyn was at the time main professor of composition at the Royal Conservatory in Brussels and composed a violin concert for the Queen Elisabeth Concours.                                      

Barend started his main studies of composition and orchestra conducting with composer conductor                        Willem Frederik Bon. Barend studied piano in private setting with concert pianist Maria Stroo and singing originally as his 2nd main instrument in the context of music teacher, with soprano Heleen Verkley. All three were connected to the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam: several of Bon's works were performed by the orchestra, Maria Stroo appeared as a regular soloist with Concertgebouw Orchestra and formed a duo with two concert masters of the orchestra, Theo Olof and Viktor Liberman.  Also Verkley appeared as a regular soloist with the orchestra. Barend cherishes the memory of exchange of enthusiasm, inspiration and vision with his five mentors. 

Barend started his music education in the hometown of his youth, Groningen. He remembers with gratitude the many possibilities offered by the teachers and directors of this conservatory.  

                                                                   Quotes: 

 "I had the pleasure to meet Barend Schipper. He appeared to me as a very talented young composer. His feeling for colour in harmony and instrumentation and his research for a personal musical language are quite remarkable."                Jacqueline Fontyn, Brussels,  

 "Barend Schipper's music manifests a world of refined balance, energy and organically coherence. Its vigorous lyricism's both assertive and poignant, and always compelling.This refreshing music echoes the past and mirrors the future.”      James Strecker, Hamilton, Canada, poet, arts reviewer recipient of the Hamilton Arts Award, www.jamesstrecker.com