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Wim Mertens (b. Neerpelt, Belgium, May 14, 1953) is a Belgian composer, countertenor vocalist, pianist, guitarist, and musicologist.
Mertens studied social and political science at the University of Leuven (graduating in 1975) and musicology at Ghent University; he also studied music theory and piano at the Royal Conservatories of Ghent and Brussels.
In 1978, he became a producer at the then BRT (Belgian Radio and Television). For Radio 2 (Radio Brabant) he produced concerts by Philip Glass, Steve Reich, Terry Riley, Meredith Monk, Urban Sax, and others, and hosted a program called Funky Town together with Gust De Meyer (with whom he recorded the experimental CD For Amusement Only).
Known primarily as a composer since the late 1970s, Mertens is best known for his opus “Struggle for Pleasure”, which was chosen as an anthem in advertisements for the Belgian mobile phone operator Proximus. He is also well known for his piece “Maximizing the Audience”, which was composed for Jan Fabre’s play The Power of Theatrical Madness, which premiered in 1984 in Venice, Italy.
Mertens’ style, while continually evolving during the course his prolific output, touches veins of minimalist, ambient and avant-garde, usually however preserving a melodic fundament to the forays that he makes into the worlds that he is exploring.
Mertens studied social and political science at the University of Leuven (graduating in 1975) and musicology at Ghent University; he also studied music theory and piano at the Royal Conservatories of Ghent and Brussels.
In 1978, he became a producer at the then BRT (Belgian Radio and Television). For Radio 2 (Radio Brabant) he produced concerts by Philip Glass, Steve Reich, Terry Riley, Meredith Monk, Urban Sax, and others, and hosted a program called Funky Town together with Gust De Meyer (with whom he recorded the experimental CD For Amusement Only).
Known primarily as a composer since the late 1970s, Mertens is best known for his opus “Struggle for Pleasure”, which was chosen as an anthem in advertisements for the Belgian mobile phone operator Proximus. He is also well known for his piece “Maximizing the Audience”, which was composed for Jan Fabre’s play The Power of Theatrical Madness, which premiered in 1984 in Venice, Italy.
Mertens’ style, while continually evolving during the course his prolific output, touches veins of minimalist, ambient and avant-garde, usually however preserving a melodic fundament to the forays that he makes into the worlds that he is exploring.
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The Belly of an Architect
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Struggle For Pleasure
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Jardin Clos
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Shoutbox
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6iovanni wrote:
stupendous!
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douglasC280 wrote:
super...
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Xylvanya wrote:
If you like ambitious and relaxing music, maybe it´s possible you like XYLVANYA: „Anxious“; „Beach II“ „SA RIERA part I“, "Imperial Crown" „Climbing“ or „Ex-Mannequin“ or „Horizont (III) or "Gewitter-Regen" or "Erinnerungen an meinen Vater" or "Trust (Piano-Version)" or "Norwegen" or "Retrospective view" and many many more.....(all in all 6 hours of music, all songs free download) . Thank you for listening, support or feedback! Peace, Xylvanya
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Neverminnd wrote:
Wandering Eyes ♥
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Joe_Blacky wrote:
Hi, people! Check this guy's GP5 music. It's influenced by Tiersen, Mertens, Glass. http://www.last.fm/music/Dejan-Josip
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ankara wrote:
language of beauty
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junkal28 wrote:
Un genio
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Amorphis92 wrote:
niiiiiiiiice
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Reveerse wrote:
We are waiting you in Russia. Awesomest music maker =)
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theZoyya wrote:
The Belly Of An Architect is one of the best soundtracks ever. and I don't like this film...
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Mulgorea wrote:
Shout, shout! :)
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Joe_Blacky wrote:
why no one shouts anyomore? O.o come to Croatia!
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Joe_Blacky wrote:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuUbhhv2Aqc ; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ggGvYK4f8A ;
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neuotq wrote:
Приятно его слушать, очень легко идет без лишнего груза на уши и сознание.
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Epitymbidia wrote:
What? Too TACKY? Do we talk about the same person here? What is "tacky" about pieces like "Passend", "Fair Warnings", "Au-delà du fleuve", "Wound to Wound", "Al" or "We are the thieves"?
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DoglessEndeavor wrote:
I've got a weakness for sentimental music, but I have to agree with benxander. I find Wim Mertens too tacky.
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merdowski wrote:
oh my god
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kospley wrote:
UNDERRATED HUMAN
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Epitymbidia wrote:
The first part of the new album is wonderful! I don't like the second part too much, but it's not bad either. Just not that consistently great.
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AquilaTeofilo wrote:
Sometimes doesn't look like classical music, but really deserve all respect and admiration. It's so introspective...
Videos
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Often A Bird - Wim Mertens…
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Birds for the Mind
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Iris
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Naviamente
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Events
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Mar
15
Wim Mertens
Ancienne Belgique, Brussels, Belgium
6 going
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Mar
16
Wim Mertens
Ancienne Belgique, Brussels, Belgium
2 going
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May
20
Wim Mertens
Teatro Cervantes, Málaga, Spain
3 going
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Recent Activity
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nscott807, dars1, lepalepa_ and 12 other people added Wim Mertens to their libraries. 47 minutes ago
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Annular_ruins tagged Wim Mertens with ‘contemporary classical’. last week
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Annular_ruins, LifeDenial, Anaellys and 4 other people added Wim Mertens to their libraries. last week
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fakethaworld tagged Wim Mertens with lernen, classical, instrumental and one other tag. last week
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Shandianzhan tagged Wim Mertens with countertenor and guitar. last month
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theZoyya wrote about Wim Mertens in 2011. last month
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antojuan added Wim Mertens to the lineup of Wim Mertens at Teatro Cervantes. last month
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