Wim Mertens

Since the 80s, Wim Mertens has been following his own path through music, creating albums as well as concerts that range from solo piano to full orchestra. One of the foremost composers of so-called New Music in Europe, Mertens’ music appeals to both serious music-lovers and a more general public. His early landmark albums included ‘Vergessen’ and 'Struggle for Pleasure'. Since then, he has composed pieces in different formats, from short, accessible songs or Lieder to magnanimous and complex three- and four-part cycles, and for different settings: from solo piano to chamber music ensembles and symphony orchestra. His first recording, 'For Amusement Only', was an electronic composition for pinball machines. It has been followed by more than 70 other albums. The 1984 release, 'Maximizing the Audience’ saw the introduction of his distinctive vocals in his music. His releases have included the ambitious 37-CD cycle ‘Qua' started in 1991 and 1997's guitar album 'Sin embargo'. Mertens has also created music for numerous occasions, including 'A Starry Wisdom' for the Festival van Vlaanderen in Belgium, live recordings with the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra ‘Open Continuum’, a live composition for the city of Guimarães, and 'Voice of the Living' commissioned by the FPS Chancellery of the Belgian Prime Minister to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the First World War.