Laurens van Rooyen

Laurens van Rooyen (27 March 1935 – 21 March 2024) was a Dutch pianist and composer. He was known for his cooperation in the theater with Herman van Veen. He composed many pieces for the piano and wrote the score for several Dutch films. He wrote two books on his experiences as a musician.

Biography Laurens Johannes van Rooyen was born in Utrecht, Netherlands, as the oldest son of a grocer. After grammar school he studied at the Utrecht Conservatory of Music, where he met with Herman van Veen. With him he founded in 1966 the Harlekijn Muziektheater. They wrote songs and performed together.

In 1976 he released his first solo album: Kaleidoskoop. Ever since he continued to publish records with various record companies. At the end of the seventies he composed the score for Jos Stelling's Rembrandt fecit 1669, followed by Een vrouw als Eva (A Woman Like Eve), 1979, (Dear Boys), 1980 and (A Flight of Rainbirds), 1981. In the nineties he was also involved in the production of several Dutch films.

In 1978 Van Rooyen toured the Netherlands and Belgium, with musicians like guitarist Jan Akkerman. Together with Louis van Dijk, Tonny Eyk, Pim Jacobs, Pieter van Vollenhoven and Daniel Wayenberg he established in 1988 a companionship by the name of de Gevleugelde Vrienden (Winged Friends. 'Vleugel' meaning Wing as well as Grand Piano). They gave more than forty-five concerts throughout the Netherlands.

From the turn of the century Van Rooyen gave frequently piano recitals in the castles and coach houses along the river Vecht. He also performed for special occasions as anniversaries and jubilees. In 2004 he was commissioned a composition for the occasion of the 750th anniversary of the Cathedral of Utrecht. He also toured the theaters with De Verdwenen Minnares (The Lost Mistress), 2005, a musical ode to romance. Together with Geert Huinink he composed the Dance Opera Orfeo. This premiered at the opening of the Amsterdam Dance Event in 2005. Van Rooyen was the author of two books. In 2015 his most recent: Beethoven was ook een zzp'er (Beethoven was a freelancer, too).

Van Rooyen died on 21 March 2024, at the age of 88, six days shy of his 89th birthday.

Honours and awards In 1983 Van Rooyen was awarded the Golden Harp by Buma Culture Foundation. In 2014, Laurens van Rooyen received a royal decoration: Knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion.

Discography Europe (releases 1976-2016) Album Year Label Kaleidoskoop 1976 CBS Muziek Van Hollandse Meesters Uit De Tijd Van Rembrandt (original Motion Picture Soundtrack) 1977 CBS Laurens van Rooyen & Scarlatti 1977 CBS Mysteries 1978 CBS Silly Symphony 1979 CBS Collage 1980 Philips Flowers For A Lady 1981 Philips Een Vlucht Regenwulpen 1981 Philips Misty: A Romantic Piano Concerto 1982 CBS Just A Simple Lovesong 1983 Philips Brandende Liefde 1983 Philips Falling In Love 1984 Philips Songs For Piano 1984 Philips Portrait 1985 CBS Golden Highlights Vol. 23 1985 CBS Bordeaux Suite 1988 Rêverie Records Serenata 1989 Mercury From Laurens With Love 1990 Mercury Visage 1992 Mercury Rêverie 2 1994 Columbia Traveller 1995 Columbia Affair Play 1995 Columbia Dichter Bij Water 1997 Oreade Music Serengeti Symphony 1998 SOM The Piano 2001 SIL The Romantic Piano 2011 SIL Pianoconcert in C groot 2011 SIL

Japan (releases 2011-2016) Album Year Label Rêverie 2011 Victor Entertainment JVC Tokyo As You Like It 2015 Victor Entertainment JVC Tokyo My Green Planet 2016 Victor Entertainment JVC Tokyo

South-Korea Album Year Label As You Like It 2015 Musicmine Records Seoul Green Valley 2015 Musicmine Records Seoul In A Classical Mood 2015 Musicmine Records Seoul Love Songs In Spring 2015 Musicmine Records Seoul My Favourite Filmthemes 2015 Musicmine Records Seoul Mysterious Songs 2015 Musicmine Records Seoul Pianoconcert in C Major 2015 Musicmine Records Seoul Rembrandt, film music about the life of the great Dutch painter of the Golden Age 2015 Musicmine Records Seoul Rêverie 2015 Musicmine Records Seoul Scarlatti And Friends 2015 Musicmine Records Seoul Stella Maris 2015 Musicmine Records Seoul Symphony Of Wine, the story of famous French wine 2015 Musicmine Records Seoul The Music Of Water 2015 Musicmine Records Seoul The Piano 2015 Musicmine Records Seoul The Romantic Piano 2015 Musicmine Records Seoul Touchstone 2015 Musicmine Records Seoul Trance From A Distant Land 2015 Musicmine Records Seoul