Compositions by Paul Cooijmans© 1982-present Paul Cooijmans B., B.
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Paul Cooijmans was born in 1965, Lieshout, the Netherlands. Although interested in theoretical physics, cosmology and chemistry as a child, at age 15 he began composing and playing guitar as an autodidact.
From 1986 to 1993 Cooijmans studied composition and guitar at the Brabants Conservatorium, Tilburg, Netherlands. During that period he discovered a method for correlating musical structures to geometrical objects, thus modeling our perception of music.
A Netherlandic version of this brief biography is here.
The following facts may be given for a composition:
Some titles of compositions are links to recordings; These are heavy MP3 files. It is recommended to save them to your hard disk before playing them. Right-click on a link and choose "Save as...". Of course, remember where you saved the file, go to it and play it. And, there is also the music C.D. Early Guitar Compositions.
Some of the titles have MIDI files behind them; These are to give a rough impression of the piece. Notation, enharmonisation, instrumentation and the like in the MIDI file may not be identical to those in the actual score of the composition. These MIDI files are not the official versions of the compositions.
If the score of a composition is not explicitly offered below and you wish to obtain it still, contact me for information.
14 rock songs, never played in public. Writing these helped to acquire the skills needed to form and lead a rock band and compose its repertoire.
Rock songs for the band Qatweazle. Titles:
Animal [MIDI version]
Introduction (played before "Words")
All through the USSR
I am sure
Sunday afternoons
Have a coke and a smile
The story of Jim and Joanie
Girls
Other songs and instrumental pieces. Titles:
One night
Those who lie on the green grass
Jan met de pet - Netherlandic text. (Later submitted for the Eurovision Song Contest of 1993; not chosen but performed in a parody on the Contest on television in 1992.)
Killer Joe
Untitled jazz piece #1 (1984)
Untitled jazz piece #2 (1984)
Paradise lost
Doubts
Composition, title of which cannot be displayed as it is the scream of a maggot
guitar
2:00
Occurs on the C.D. Early Guitar Compositions
Score in PDF format can be bought.
Composition, title of which is to remain a secret
guitar
1:30
Occurs on the C.D. Early Guitar Compositions
Score in PDF format can be bought.
Absurd composition in plusminus b flat
guitar
1:35
Video of this piece with some improvisation
Occurs on the C.D. Early Guitar Compositions
Score in PDF format can be bought.
Composition, dedicated to Pietje
guitar
1:30
Occurs on the C.D. Early Guitar Compositions
Score in PDF format can be bought.
Note: Pietje was a canary who became very ill and got better after hearing this composition.
Composition, dedicated to apathy
guitar
1:12
Occurs on the C.D. Early Guitar Compositions
Score in PDF format can be bought.
Note: This theme is used in the "Fugue, dedicated to apathy", op. 11. The dedication to apathy relates to the apathy, passivity and complete lack of initiative observed by the composer in users of marihuana and hashish - nowadays called "cannabis" - that are the hallmark of this with the political left so popular drug, and appear to be lifelong and irreversible.
Composition, dedicated to apathy
melody + chord symbols (for improvisation)
Duration undefined
The knock on the gate
guitar
2:25
Occurs on the C.D. Early Guitar Compositions
Score in PDF format can be bought.
Note: The title refers to a short story by Franz Kafka.
The knock on the gate
melody + chord symbols (for improvisation)
Duration undefined
I wonder; why do I hate myself?
4 part setting, instruments undefined
4:30
Note: This is a waltz. Few have been able to keep their feet still under its sweet sounds.
I wonder; why do I hate myself?
4 guitars
4:30
I wonder; why do I hate myself?
4 part setting, instruments undefined + 3 voices, percussion, piano
4:30
I wonder; why do I hate myself?
guitar
4:30
Occurs on the C.D. Early Guitar Compositions
I wonder; why do I hate myself?
melody + chord symbols (for improvisation)
Duration undefined
First to fourth miserable Paul Paulmans Blues
1 or 2 guitars
7:25
Occurs on the C.D. Early Guitar Compositions
Note: The titles of these four polyphonic (canonic) pieces were inspired by a heard radio interview with someone named "Paul Koemans", who hated his name so much that he legally changed it to "Paul Paulmans". Once in the 1980s, after the composer had played the First miserable Paul Paulmans blues at a party, someone gave the composer a five-cent piece, the compound interest of which would later finance the production of the music compact disk Early Guitar Compositions, and left the room.
Composition, dedicated to medieval witch-burning
melody + chord symbols (for improvisation)
Duration undefined
Composition, dedicated to medieval witch-burning
guitar
2:20
Occurs on the C.D. Early Guitar Compositions
Fourth composition in b flat
Guitar
2:20
Occurs on the C.D. Early Guitar Compositions
Score in PDF format can be bought.
Note: This was composed during the winter Olympics of 1988, where Netherlandic skater Jan Ykema won silver on the 500 metre.
Composition, dedicated to total absence of expression
1 or 2 guitars
3:55
Occurs on the C.D. Early Guitar Compositions
Note: This composition, which follows a classical form type as used in sonatas, was written while watching the television series "Ti-ta-tovenaar".
Exercises in polyphony
Christ lag in Todesbanden (Motet in Renaissance style, 2-part, in e Frygian, 1987)
Allein Gott (Motet in Renaissance style, 2-part, in a Aeolian, 1987)
O bone Jesu (Motet in Renaissance style, 2-part, in g Dorian, 1987)
Agnus Dei (Motet in Renaissance style, 2-part, in d Dorian, 1987)
Asperges me (Motet in Renaissance style, 3-part, in g Dorian, 1987)
Kyrie (Motet in Renaissance style, 3-part, in G Myxolidian, 1987)
Sanctus (Motet in Renaissance style, 2-part, in C Myxolydian, 1988; second half is a crab canon on Hosanna)
Ricercar #1 in Renaissance style (3-part, in e Frygian, 1987)
Ricercar #2 in Renaissance style (3-part, in d Dorian, 1987)
Ricercar #3 in Renaissance style (3-part, in g, 1987)
Canon, 2-part, in d Dorian (1987)
Fugue #1 in Baroque style (2-part, in a, 1988)
Fugue #2 in Baroque style (3-part, in g, 1988)
Fugue #3 in Baroque style (4-part, in C, 1989)
Chromatic Fantasy (1989)
Note: These exercises were graded with a "9", on a scale from 0 to 10 (where "10" is reserved for God), at the conservatory where the composer studied at the time.
Fugue, dedicated to Apathy (Recorded live at final exam composition 1993)
Video of Paul Cooijmans playing this composition in 1993
Guitar (solo or duet)
7:00
Occurs on the C.D. Early Guitar Compositions
Score in PDF format can be bought.
Note: The dedication to apathy relates to the apathy, passivity and complete lack of initiative observed by the composer in users of marihuana and hashish - nowadays called "cannabis" - that are the hallmark of this with the political left so popular drug, and appear to be lifelong and irreversible.
Composition for 1 or 2 guitars
1 or 2 guitars
3:20
Occurs on the C.D. Early Guitar Compositions
Note: This is a suite in three parts: Prelude, Waltz, and Jazz.
Composition, dedication to total absence of compromise
2 guitars
2:40
Note: This is based on part 3 ("Jazz") of op. 12, Composition for 1 or 2 guitars. It includes improvisation using a twelve-tone sequence.
Two jazz/improvisation pieces for education purposes. Titles:
Anti-blues
Tja
First to third composition for piano
piano
3:20
Composition, dedicated to saying "Aha" in a monotone voice
8 saxophones (2x sopr, 2x alto, 2x ten, 2x bar)
5:00
To buy score and/or parts of op. 14, go to publisher Donemus, section Music publications, and search for "Paul Cooijmans" or the Netherlandic title (Compositie, gewijd aan het met toonloze stem zeggen van: Aha).
Composition for string orchestra
string orchestra
2:00
Slow bossa nova for flute, electric guitar and piano
flute, electric guitar and piano
5:00
Slow bossa nova for marimba and piano
marimba and piano
5:00
Composition, dedicated to wondering why one hates oneself
4 part setting, instruments undefined + 3 voices, percussion, 2x piano
10:00
Notes: With Netherlandic text; This composition was awarded the second prize in the composition contest of the Brabants Conservatorium, 1990. In this recording: Part 1 (Prelude) en Part 4 (Fugue); Parts 2 and 3 are not included here.
Composition, dedicated to wondering why one hates oneself
symphony orchestra
7:00
The punishment
brass band + electrical guitar
11:00
Collection of words and sentences, never to be uttered in my presence on pain of having one's tongue ripped out without anesthetic
choir + guitar
17:00
Note: Netherlandic text. Strange enough, no choir has been found willing to perform this yet.
A silent enjoyer
4 voices (vocal canon)
Duration undefined
Note: Netherlandic text.
Paul Cooijmans
symphony orchestra
14:00
"Easy introduction"
to the art
of advanced music-making
4 part setting, instruments undefined + 3 voices, percussion, piano
3:45
"That's a long story and the sting is in the tail..."
choir
1:00
Note: Netherlandic text from "Alice in Wonderland".
Ick ging op eenen morgen
choir
1:00
Note: Netherlandic text. Existing melody.
Composition, dedicated to the singing of a very strange little bird
Video of a performance of this composition
treble recorder + guitar
6:00
Note: This title was inspired by someone who, surprisingly, had called me a "strange bird".
A Treatise on the neddiH dlroW of Intervals
Composition for 3 instruments
Flute, sopr. sax + clarinet
6:00
Invention
2x picc, 2x fl, 3x clar, bassoon, bassclarinet, guitar
1:30
Invention for 8 instruments
fl, hb, cl, bassoon, hrn, trp, trb, double bass
9:00
Invention for 8 instruments
Fl, sopr. Sax, CL, ten. Sax, hrn, trp, trb, double bass
9:00
The distance
soprano + guitar
7:00
Note: Netherlandic text from op. 23 (Netherlandic version).
Canon voor 1 tot 11 guitars
1 to 11 guitars
Duration undefined
Etude
1 to 35 guitars
1:00
String quartet
String quartet
11:00
Eppur si muove
3 part women's choir
3:10
Notes: Italian text, with optional piano accompaniment.
The compromise
sopranino recorder/treble recorder, tenor/bass recorder, soprano, percussion, guitar (English terms for the recorder types not quite right here)
11:00
Intermezzo a 2 voci
soprano + guitar
2:00
Note: Text by William Shakespeare: If music and sweet poetry agree. This is 2-part polyphony between voice and guitar.
Signals for 3 trumpets
3 trp
3:13
Self portrait in 3 colours
picc/fl/altfl, bass clarinet, perc, piano
16:00
Score in digital format can be bought but contains much Netherlandic explanatory text.
2-part setting of "Mijn hertze en can verbliden niet"
picc, bass clarinet, perc
1:00
Score in PDF format can be bought.
Ut!
mezzo soprano + guitar
2:30
Note: Netherlandic text concering a memory from the cradle at nine months old.
Hidden triangles
Fl, CL(La), vl, vc, vib, pfte
6:12
Score in PDF format can be bought.
Fugue on "Mijn hertze en can verbliden niet" (unfinished)
Psychometric Saxophone Quartets (unfinished)
Saxophone quartet
For who loves truth, the garrote called life is daily tightened a turn
Guitar + attributes
11:00
Note: This is a practice recording. This was actually composed by an algorithmic system called "The Graduator", which got its input from a test for advancedness in guitar playing that was the composer's first psychometric instrument. The algorithm had to be executed by hand.
The Graduator Items (unfinished)
Guitar
Composition, the title of which cannot be displayed here as it is the sounding music itself.
Guitar
Note: guided improvisation.
Educational pieces:
Blues (guitar)
4-part setting of Greensleeves (3 recorders and guitar)
4-part setting of Scarborough fair (4 guitars)
Dante's Discordion
2 accordions
6:00
Score in PDF format can be bought but only in the Netherlandic language as yet.
Note: Guided improvisation; no actual notes notated.
Guitar improvisation June 6, 1998
Occurs on the C.D. Early Guitar Compositions
Glia Society Canon
Harpsichord
1:45
Organoid antiphon on Animal [MIDI version]
Guitar or two guitars
2:48
Note: This uses the theme from the song "Animal" from op. -3.
If it says in the above list the score of a composition is available as a P.D.F. file (or another digital format), you can buy it for € 2; Pay via this PayPal button and edit the Quantity field accordingly if buying more than one score. Or use one of these alternative methods of payment. At the same time, send an e-mail to let me know which score or scores you are ordering; Give opus number and title. Do note these are TWO things you have to do. The order will be sent to you by e-mail or, if the file size is too large for e-mail, put online for downloading. This will mostly be a photographic reproduction of a manuscript; I have not done much with notation software yet.
Paul Cooijmans is the copyright holder of all of the compositions, performances, and recordings on this web page. Paul Cooijmans is the sole owner and administrator of the copyrights held by Paul Cooijmans; That is, Paul Cooijmans is not affiliated with copyright organizations such as BUMA-STEMRA or SENA, and those organizations are therefore legally not entitled and not allowed to administrate copyrights held by Paul Cooijmans, or charge money for publication of the materials in question. Paul Cooijmans owes no payment to anyone or any organization for publishing the music of Paul Cooijmans as done on this page.