Thorwald Jørgensen
{{short description|Dutch classical musician (born 1980)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Thorwald Jørgensen
| image = Thorwald Jørgensen, theremin.png
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| birth_place = Zaltbommel, Netherlands
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| instrument = Theremin
| genre = Classical, Electronic
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| website = {{URL|www.thorwaldjorgensen.com}}
}}
Thorwald Jørgensen (born 1980){{cite news |last1=Moerman |first1=Bas |title=Bommelse thereminist speelt in eigen stad |url=http://www.detorenbommelerwaard.nl/nieuws/bommelse-thereminist-speelt-in-eigen-stad-1.6001651 |access-date=4 January 2021 |work=De Toren |date=10 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611102754/http://www.detorenbommelerwaard.nl/nieuws/bommelse-thereminist-speelt-in-eigen-stad-1.6001651 |archive-date=11 June 2016 |language=Dutch}} is a Dutch classical musician who specialises in the theremin, an electronic musical instrument.
Biography
Jørgensen was born in Zaltbommel. He took up playing percussion instruments at age 14 and began playing in orchestras. He took up classical music as a career full-time after graduating from the Utrecht and Tilburg Conservatory. He became influenced by the theremin after hearing the work of Clara Rockmore and began researching the instrument's history and teaching himself how to play one.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} As well as watching old videos of Rockmore, he consulted a friend who played the cello for musical advice. He has subsequently played over 100 concerts using the theremin, including in Saint Petersburg and a tour of the United States.{{cite web|url=http://www.dordrecht.net/agenda/2013-10-05-3266-voor-ieder-wat-wils-bij-concerten-van-dordrechts-philharmonisch-orkest.html|title=Voor ieder wat wils bij concerten van Dordrechts Philharmonisch orkest|publisher=Alles over Dordrecht|language=Dutch|date=1 October 2013|accessdate=2 April 2015}}
In 2014, Jørgensen performed at the Music and Beyond festival in Ottawa, performing Daniel Mehdizadeh's "The Awakening of Baron Samedi".{{cite news|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/music/not-just-beethoven-and-brahms-music-and-beyond-puts-contemporary-music-on-the-stage|title=Music and Beyond puts contemporary music on the stage|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|date=10 July 2014|accessdate=2 April 2015}} Together with Dutch harp player Renske de Leuw, Thorwald premiered "Sirenum scopuli" by Canadian composer Victor Herbiet at the X Rio Harp Festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2015.{{cite news|url=http://oglobo.globo.com/sociedade/conte-algo-que-nao-sei/thorwald-jrgensen-musico-no-rio-tudo-mais-relaxado-16320165|title=No Rio, tudo é mais relaxado|newspaper=O Globo|language=Portuguese|date=1 June 2015|accessdate=8 June 2015}} In 2023, Thorwald premiered "Cinq moments dans la vie trépidante de Léon Théremine",{{cite news|url=https://www.ludwig-van.com/montreal/2023/02/11/critique-orchestre-metropolitain-etrange-beaute-concerto-theremine|title=Orchestre Métropolitain: l'étrange beauté d'un concerto introspectif et touchant|newspaper=Ludwig van Montreal|language=French|date=11 February 2023|accessdate=17 February 2023}} a theremin concerto by Canadian composer Simon Bertrand with the Orchestre Métropolitain conducted by Daniela Candillari.
Jørgensen has been described as "one of the most important exponents of classical music on the theremin".{{cite web|url=http://radio.uchile.cl/2014/11/06/el-instrumento-que-no-se-toca-tiene-su-propio-festival-en-gam|title=El instrumento que no se toca tiene su propio festival en GAM|publisher=Diario Uchile|language=Spanish|date=6 November 2014|accessdate=2 April 2015}} In interviews, he has said he considers the theremin capable of being a serious instrument, rather than the novelty it is normally perceived as. He believes he can reproduce all the sounds in a typical classical string section from double bass to violin.{{cite news|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/music/champion-of-an-unsung-instrument-theremin-no-novelty-act-player-says|title=Theremin no novelty act, player says|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|date=4 July 2014|accessdate=2 April 2015}} He has assembled a library of theremin music from stock libraries in both the Netherlands and worldwide, and has lectured on composition at the Conservatory of Amsterdam and Rotterdam Conservatory.{{cite web|url=http://thorwaldjorgensen.com/en/bio|title=Thorwald Jørgensen - bio |publisher=Thorwald Jørgensen (Official Website)|accessdate=2 April 2015}}
Outside of classical music, Jørgensen has also played theremin on the Dutch progressive metal band Satinoxide's album "Still in the Sun".{{cite journal|url=http://www.pzc.nl/extra/cultuur-in-zeeland/satinoxide-verweeft-metal-in-prikkelende-variaties-1.1918461|title=Satinoxide verweeft metal in prikkelende variaties|journal=PZC|language=Dutch|date=11 August 2011|accessdate=2 April 2015}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://thorwaldjorgensen.com/}}
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Category:Dutch classical musicians