Caecilia comes from the renowned Andriessen family of musicians and composers. She developed a method of teaching with multiple pianos. To do so, she adapted sheet music. The documentary was developed while Caecilia Andriessen was still alive. Unfortunately, she died before filming began. Her former piano students collected her sheet music and had it digitised for the release.
The digitised sheet music is available at Donemus. Her cultural heritage will thus be preserved for future generations of young piano players who take pleasure in playing together.
Caecilia Andriessen (1931-2019) was a pianist, music teacher and composer. She studied piano and organ playing at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague and received at early age a scholarship for studying manuscripts by Domenico Scarlatti in Italy. Caecilia Andriessen added to the innovation of music education. She specialized in music for multiple pianos. She developed teaching methods for piano ensembles for which no educational material existed, among others Mini and Modern, Beestenbende, Groot Avontuur and Blij met Bach. This volume contains a selection of unpublished arrangements she made since the 90s for intermediate piano players who can play for example sonatas by Haydn. She arranged scores, such as for string quartets and piano by famous composers that are easy to play on two or three pianos. Besides offering piano players the opportunity to play together with others, this edition is a journey through music history. It starts and ends with the Dutch composers Sweelinck and Henriëtte Bosmans, but the famous composers of the international classical repertoire are certainly present.
The works arranged by Caecilia Andriessen’s typically show her music skills in all aspects. She was part of a family of composers with her father Hendrik Andriessen and brothers Louis and Jurriaan, who significantly contributed to Dutch music life. The music publication and documentary are a tribute to Caecilia Andriessen, who until the end of her life inspired piano students. They ensure that her unique work is further documented and does not fall into oblivion. “Play nicely” was her motto. A great motto for playing together with two or three piano players.
With thanks to Els Dinnissen
Produced by Ellen Kocken (DZIGA)
Composers in the crosshairs of our attention