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Ludwig Albert
Marimba soloist, Dr. Ludwig Albert (born 1966 in Tongeren, Belgium) is professor marimba and founder of the European creation of a Marimba Master department at the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp (AP University College of Arts) and the "LUCA University College of Arts" (campus Lemmensinstituut.Both universities have assisted him from 2001 in the European creation of a Marimba Master’s program. Helping to drive that program is Albert's innovative movement method "The Ultimate Sound", an innovative approach for developing musicality and sonority in marimba performance.

Contents[hide]
 * 1. Biography
 * 2. Discography
 * 3. Published books of Ludwig Albert
 * 4. Published compositions of Ludwig Albert
 * 5. Published commissioned compositions
 * 6. Composers who worked for Ludwig Albert
 * 7. References

Biography [edit]
Dr. Ludwig Albert is a Belgian marimba player, composer and pedagogue. He has been a leading virtuoso in the marimba development, in terms of expanding marimba performance and due to his collaboration with the Yamaha Corporation (Europe), Adams Musical Instruments (NEL) and Innovative percussion (USA). He received the Percussion Award of Honor during the Universal Marimba & Percussion Festival Belgium in 2001. Internationally acclaimed as a virtuoso artist and devoted pedagogue, Ludwig Albert is known throughout the world as Belgian’s leading marimbist and as an important musical pioneer. He established a lyrical approach to the marimba and is hailed worldwide by major press reviews for his unique lyrical sound. He is also recognized as one of the most successful pedagogues of his generation. After obtaining the First Prize and the Superior Diploma in percussion and his Master’s Degree specialisation in marimba, he shaped his talent as the first Belgian marimbist to study with Keiko Abe in Tokyo, Japan and in 1996 began performing with her in a number of concert productions. He received in 2016 his Doctorate in the Arts at the University of Antwerp for his Doctoral thesis "Movin'Grips - Body Controlled Marimba Sound Production". He is the first European marimbist to showcase scenography as an integral part of his concert productions, creating a world of visually beautiful colors and moods, enhancing his astonishing musical performance that includes use of the Ludwig Albert eight-mallet grip. His collaboration with the award winning Belgian Scenographer Anita Evenepoel resulted in special designed décors, including a giant mobile which moved over the stage reacting to musical impulses, constantly changing shape into new figures. This visual concept was a trendsetting vision in the marimba World. As the first European marimbist to incorporate the visual with the auditory in concert, his performances received standing ovations and praise for his unique sound. His debut double concert in Belgium in 1996 with Keiko Abe at the "Warande" in Turnhout received a record breaking standing ovation of fifty minutes. Ludwig Albert has given solo concerts, concertos with orchestra and ensembles and master classes, touring regularly in more than 30 countries. He has performed a varied repertoire with well-known classic artists like Keiko Abe, Momoko Kamiya, Chin-Cheng Lin, François Glorieux, the Mol Percussion Orchestra, Supercussion Vienna and with popular artists such as the Belgian Pop star Dana Winner. A close partnership teams him up with the mezzo Katrine Druyts. Their pioneering collaboration over 20 years for marimba and voice resulted in several awarded recordings. He established a close cooperation with the Novosibirsk Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra. Past celebration tours of 15 and 20 years career concluded in sold out tours and mega guest performances for a live audience of 15.000 people at the Sportpaleis Antwerp. His double Concerto "the Universe" was premièred and broadcasted live by the China Network Television (CNTV) on October 3, 2012 at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (China) in Beijing with the Beijing Symphony Orchestra under the artistic direction of Maestro Biao Li. The World première and TV Live broadcast for the version of Wind-Orchestra took place on September 1, 2013 at the Sejong Center (National Centre of performing Arts) in Seoul, Korea with the Seoul National University (SNU) Wind Ensemble and Maestro Young Yul Kim. The version for string orchestra was premièred on December 15, 2012 with the Novosibirsk Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra and maestro Alim Shakhmametiev in Novosibirsk, Russia. Extra performances and radio broadcasts took place with the Bucharest Philharmonic Orchestra in Romania, with the Novosibirsk Philharmonic Chamber-Orchestra in Russia and Belgium, the Latvia Chamber Orchestra in Lithuania and the BSRU Wind Orchestra in Bangkok.

Ludwig Albert has been invited repeatedly to renowned music festivals such as the Percussice Arts Society International Convention (United States), the International Marimba Festival in Tuxtla Gutiérrez (Mexico), the IPEW festival (Croatia), the International Percussion Festival Patagonia (Argentine), the International Marimba Festival Linz (Austria), the International Percussion Festival Novosibirsk (Russia), the International Percussion festival Valencia (Spain), the International festival Perkumania Paris (France), the International BUM festival (Slovenia), the International Drum Festival Seoul (Korea), the International Wind & Percussion Festival Jeju (Korea), the International Festival of drums and percussion Ukmergė (Lithuania), the International Marimba Festival Santa Fe, New Mexico (United States), the International Mercedes-Benz Festival Beijing (China), the International Wind & Percussion Festival Bangkok (Thailand), the Universal Marimba Festival Sint-Truiden (Belgium), the International Percussion festival Bucharest Romania and many others.

In 2011, Albert, a Yamaha artist up to that point, began an important relationship with the Dutch instrument manufacturer Adams Musical Instruments in the design, construction and release of the Ludwig Albert signature Adams marimba model. He is the first European marimba virtuoso to receive this honor. In addition, the American company Innovative Percussion began production of his signature mallet line in 2007. Albert is the founder and organiser of several international academies and competitions such as the "International Percussion Youth Competition Belgium" and the prestigious "Universal Marimba Competition Belgium". Since 2011, this biennial Competition has received the High Patronage of Her Majesty Queen Paola of Belgium. In addition, he is in charge of the International biennial Percussion Competition in Jeju City (Korea), is the artistic director of several festivals and president of the Belgium chapter of the Percussive Arts Society.

Ludwig Albert is artistic director of the yearly "Ludwig Albert International Marimba Academy" and performed abroad his master class “the Ultimate Sound” at academies, festivals and distinguished Universities such as the Royal College of Music (England), the Seoul National University (Korea), the Universidad de Ciencias y Artes de Chiapas (Mexico), the Anton Bruckner Private University for Music, Drama, and Dance in Linz (Austria), the Conservatoire de Paris (France), the Jazeps Vitols Latvian Academy of Music in Riga (Latvia), the Taipei National University of the Arts (Taiwan), the Rangsit University in Bangkok (Thailand), the Escuela Universitaria de Música in Montevideo (Uruguay), the Stanisław Moniuszko Academy of Music in Gdańsk (Poland), the Universidad de Morelia (Mexico), the Universidad de Xalapa (Mexico), the Universidad de la Patagonia (Argentine), the Krasyonarsk Music Academy (Russia), the Rajabhat University College of Music Bangkok (Thailand), the Soekyeong University in Korea, the National University in Jeju (Korea), the Lithuanian Academy of Music in Vilnius (Lithuania), the National University Fangu (Korea), the National Dankook University (Korea), the Conservatório de Música in Lisbon (Portugal) and many others. He served as a jury member at the World Marimba Competition in Stuttgart, Germany in 2008 and is a regular guest at International Marimba and Percussion Competitions in Mexico, Russia, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Lithuania, Korea, portugal, Finland and Thailand.

He cooperated from 1996 with several labels as Digi Classics (BEL), Centaur Records (USA), Marimba-Projects (BEL), Splendid Arts Edition (BEL) and Talent Records (BEL) and released 12 albums with mainly own compositions, improvisations, arrangements and dedicated works in a variety of musical styles, all featuring in essence his artistic portfolio. His total repertoire for Marimba Solo, Chamber music and Orchestra is published by Beurskens Music Edition (NEL), Editions François Dhalmann (FRA), Svitzer Edition (DEN) and Splendid Arts Edition (BEL). He owns in several countries a status as pioneer and celebrated star and has been reviewed and praised by music critics in the international press. "His sound penetrates into the heart so naturally" - Abe, Keiko (1996). CD Japanese Impressions, Tokyo, JAP. "This is music of the highest quality" - Knack (magazine) weekend, Roularta Media group, Brussels, BEL, February 5, 1997. "He succeeds in giving the listener a view of the marimba's prowess as a lyrical instrument and diminishing its reputation as only a novelty instrument" - Rogers, Lisa (2001). Percussion Notes, Indianapolis, USA. "I am very impressed with the overall excellence and superb musicianship of Ludwig Albert. Albert is a rising star among marimbaperformers worldwide, particularly those who perform with 6 and 8 mallets" - Lambert, Jim (2003). Percussive Notes, Indianapolis, USA. "The many contrasting techniques and colors will intrige audiences" - Frock, George (2004). Percussive Notes, Indianapolis, USA. "Mr. Ludwig's lyrical marimba approach is very unique" - Abe, Keiko, CD Global Marimba, June 9, 2006, Tokyo, JAP. "Ludwig Albert is nothing short of miraculous. His performance takes the listener into a new world of Sound and Magic" - Kurzbauer, The Strad (magazine), London, UK, May 18, 2014. "His marimba playing is outstanding and thoroughly displays the unique sound and wide range of the instrument" - American Record Guide, Cincinatti, Ohio, USA, August 2014).

Discography [edit]

 * Japanese Impressions (1996 with mezzo Katrine Druyts, DIGI Classics)
 * Marimba Dances (2000 Talent Records)
 * Marimba Paraphrases (2001 with Momoko Kamiya, Talent Records)
 * Impressions of the Low Countries (2002 with mezzo Katrine Druyts, Adelheid Sieuw and Guy Remmerie, Beurskens Music Edition)
 * Marimba Christmas Fantasy (2004 with Tim Ouderits, Tom Ouderits, Evert Van Eynde and Ann Lemmens, Talent Records)
 * Marimba Selections (2007 Beurskens Music Edition)
 * Marimba Waves (2007 with Chin-Cheng Lin, Katrine Druyts and the Mol Percussion Orchestra, Beurskens Music Edition)
 * Marimba Express (2012 with the Flanders Marimba Orchestra, Marimba-Projects)
 * The Best of (2012 with Galaxy Studios Orchestra, Marimba-Projects)
 * Ardor (2013 with Katrine Druyts and Chin-Cheng Lin, Centaur Records)
 * Marimba Concerti (2015 with Chin-Cheng Lin and the Novosibirsk Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, conductor Alim Skahmametiev, Splendid Arts Edition)
 * Marimba Universe (2015 with Chin-Cheng Lin, the Novosibirsk Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, conductor Alim Skakhmametiev, Irena Manolova, Tomasz Golinski, Antonio Rubio, Splendid Arts Edition)

Composers who worked for Ludwig Albert [edit]

 * Keiko Abe (JPN)
 * Frank Agsteribbe (BEL)
 * Maurizio Bignone (ITA)
 * Francoise Choveaux (FRA)
 * Guillo Espel (ARG)
 * François Glorieux (BEL)
 * Tomasz Golinski (POL)
 * Eckhard Kopetzky (GER)
 * Jan Van Landeghem (BEL)
 * Igor Lešnik (CRO)
 * Chin-Cheng Lin (Taiwan)
 * Leo Ouderits (BEL)
 * Matthias Schmitt (GER)
 * Dr. Piet Swerts (BEL)
 * Flor Verschueren (BEL)
 * Frank Zabel (GER)

References [edit]

 * Shaw, Alison (2004). "Exploring The Ultimate Sound with Ludwig Albert". Percussiove Notes, Vol.42, No.5, pp.46-48, ISSN 0553-6502.

Marika Hansen (talk) 19:44, 5 January 2017 (UTC)