Wim Mertens

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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 Gent 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.

Tagged as:

contemporary classical, minimalism, piano, classical, instrumental
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Sin Embargo
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With Usura
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The Belly Of An Architect
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Top Tracks

1	Close Cover	413
2	Struggle For Pleasure	341
3	Birds For The Mind	193
4	4 Mains	150
5	Often A Bird	120
6	Humility	108
7	The Rhythm	100
8	The Scene	97
9	Iris	70
10	Tourtour	62
11	Maximizing the Audience	40
12	Time Passing	38
12	No Testament	38
14	The Aural Trick	36
15	Multiple 12	35

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Myrkrith wrote:
September 2009

if you like him, you should have a look at my stuff... freestyle-improvisation at http://www.myrkrith.de

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IndigoVertigo wrote:
July 2009

"4 MAINS" is definitely a stroke of genius. Otherworldly, passionate, delightfully surreal. A monument of contemporary music.

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maramos wrote:
July 2009

my first track on last. - piano solo 8:22 http://www.lastfm.com.br/music/Marcos+Alexandre+Ramos/_/8:22

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LeneChristin wrote:
July 2009

Calming.

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VULCANAVELUDO wrote:
June 2009

a good trip!

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CIRISTIDES wrote:
April 2009

En Abraxas, una discoteca de Palma hace bastantes años, al amanecer, con vistas a la bahía y pinchando un sosias de Jesucristo, con perdón, la isla de la calma, el chocolate, las copas, y una música increíble...¿Alguien estaba allí?...

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holly1990 wrote:
April 2009

i love his music its beautiful, full of emotion! x

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hearditfirst wrote:
April 2009

About time the UK woke up to this man and his contribution to music...." A Tiels Leis" and "Lir".....mmmmmm

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broleddu wrote:
April 2009

great

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GingerDayWalker wrote:
March 2009

Amazing.

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zung21 wrote:
March 2009

illusions

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nursebynight wrote:
March 2009

pure beauty. nothing more to say

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ramides wrote:
February 2009

Yes he is awesome...

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SANLEGAS wrote:
February 2009

he is amazing

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daweedospina wrote:
February 2009

hello, i invite everyone to download my new album for free at: www.myspace.com/davidospinamusic or check it out on: http://www.lastfm.es/music/David+Ospina hugs from colombia!

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VoxMagius wrote:
February 2009

amazing!

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Jorammeke wrote:
January 2009

His music rocks, so beautiful. For more minima piano classical music, check this out: http://www.last.fm/music/Joram+Feitsma

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Epitymbidia wrote:
January 2009

It seems, popluhv, as if you are not too familiar with his music. Otherwise you would know that the mixture you talk about is by no means the result of a budgetary decision but something he does quite often actually. In fact, the "Integer-Valor-Intégrale"-trilogy isn't so much synthetic as you said. Just have a look at the credits and you will see there is not ONE "synth-trying-to-sound-acoustic-instrument" but quite a big ensemble of classical performers.

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Epitymbidia wrote:
January 2009

"L'heure du loup" is a wonderful album.

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MichaelMcLinn wrote:
December 2008

why oh why have i not heard of this before? its perfect.

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