Biography

About Jacob de Haan

Jacob de Haan, born on March 28, 1959, in Heerenveen, the Netherlands, is one of the most popular and most performed wind music composers of our time. In a long-time cooperation with his publisher he has issued numerous successful compositions, also for choir.

Personal life

Jacob de Haan lives in the northeastern part of the Netherlands, in the countryside. He has a son and a daughter, and he is the proud grandfather of three grandchildren. Jacob is a true bon vivant and enjoys indulging in delicious food and wines. He also loves to travel for his work all over the world.

Jacob de Haan has a passion for opera. He regularly attends performances in various opera houses in Europe. The works of Richard Wagner hold a special place in his heart.

Short Biography:

Personal life

Jacob de Haan lives in the northeastern part of the Netherlands, in the countryside. He has a son and a daughter, and he is the proud grandfather of two grandchildren. Jacob is a true bon vivant and enjoys indulging in delicious food and wines. He also loves to travel for his work all over the world.

Jacob de Haan has a passion for opera. He regularly attends performances in various opera houses in Europe. The works of Richard Wagner hold a special place in his heart.

The start of the career

Jacob is the eight year younger brother of Jan de Haan, also a well known composer and for a long time his publisher as well. Jan taught him the basics of playing the piano at a very early age, as well as the music theory fundamentals. He also encouraged Jacob to start composing. And that was the beginning of a successful career. Jacob’s work is now performed all over the world, and he is a highly sought-after guest conductor.

Study at Music Academy in Leeuwarden

Jacob completed his studies, majoring in school music and organ, at the Music Academy Leeuwarden. Subsequently, he lectured in arranging at the same Academy.

International breakthrough

His work Oregon brought about his international breakthrough. His oeuvre for wind band further consists of compelling concert works with different grades of difficulty, short concertante works, didactic material for beginners, entertainment music, and marches. He also writes various arrangements of existing classical works and chorales. Very successful are his choir works, like Missa Brevis and Missa Katharina. His most performed work of all time is Concerto d’Amore.

Awards

In 2018 he received two prestigious awards, the Buma Classical Award and the Buma Wind Music Award. In 2003 he already received a music award for his entire oeuvre from the regional broadcasting company of his province of birth.

Awards

Composing

Every new composition begins with improvising on his 100-year-old Steinway piano. “Sitting down and just playing, brainstorming, is the basis of every creative process. It helps in finding new and innovative melodies and musical themes. Finally, it leads to the creation of the definitive structure” Jacob de Haan explains. He often records fragments with his phone. And continues improvising until a piece of music forms in his mind, which he then develops little by little, ultimately resulting in an effective and attractive instrumentation.

Source of inspiration

Commissions have taken Jacob de Haan all around the world. Travelling to different countries has allowed him to explore and learn about foreign cultures, people, local regions and nature. Poems, opera and other art forms are also an important source of inspiration.

Ideas can also come from seemingly thin air: while hiking in nature, for instance. Jacob de Haan can hear the music in the silence, the geese flying by and the waving of the wind. The sound of nature always brings inspiration for Jacob de Haan. Luckily, he always carries his cell phone with him so he can quickly record these musical ideas.

Jacob de Haan always lets his emotions help guide his musical endeavours. As he himself has said, “I am always looking for new ways to surprise and engage my audience and musicians who play my music”.