PETER KERKELOV
.BIO
General information
Peter Kerkelov (1984) is a composer possessing ascetic sincerity and profound straightforwardness His works very often cross over the limits of mere sonic games and aim to the fields of philosophy, to those other art forms – elements of which he integrates in his conceptions.
Compositions
Highlights in his creative work include:
- 2023, ‘Songs of the Primitive I’ commissioned by Goethe Institut-Bulgaria and written for Viktoriia Vitrenko.
- 2023, commission by Radio France for ‘Serpents and Doves’ written for Les Cris de Paris, cond. by Geoffroy Jourdain.
- 2022-2023, duermevela – interlude and epilogue for orchestra, commissioned by Bulgarian National Radio.
- In 2018-2019, commission by State Opera-Plovdiv to write ‘The Pied Piper and the Cars‘ – Music theater-Ballet for children for soprano, bass, two choirs, wind instruments, percussion and electronics. On libretto by Dragomir Yossifov based on self-titled story by Gianni Rodari. Staged by the Russian choreographer Liliya Burdinskaya.
- In 2015, he wrote ‘Time Etudes‘ for orchestra, two choirs and voice solo, originally commissioned by Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France later on to be commissioned by Bulgarian National Radio.
- In 2017 he was commissioned by Apollonia Festival of Arts to compose ‘Windows and Oranges‘ for accordion and string orchestra. The piece was premiered by Krassimir Sterev (KLANGFORUM Wien) and Chamber Ensemble Sofia Soloists under Plamen Djouroff.
- In 2011, he composed ‘Attempt at Screaming‘ for ASKO/Schoenberg Ensemble.
- As a part of 2010 “New York comes to The Hague” project, he wrote ‘HORO‘ for Bang on a Can-All Stars.
Awards
- In 2012, Kerkelov won 59th International Rostrum of Composers in Stockholm in “under 30” category with “Attempt at Screaming”
- In 2016, his ‘Time Etudes‘ received “Top 10 recommended work” in “General” category at 63rd International Rostrum of Composers in Wroclaw
- Finalist at Sentierri Selvaggi Composition Competition, Milano
- Scholarship from Richard-Wagner-Stipendienstiftung – Bayreuth
- Twice awarded “Grant for artistic high education” by Schuurman Schimmel-van Outeren Stichting
- Twice awarded “Scholarship for classical music” by Raina Kabaivanska Foundation
Career
Peter Kerkelov is a freelance composer since 2012.
As of 2017 Kerkelov is represented exclusively by the Dutch Contemporary Music Publishing House DONEMUS
Currently, he is Lead Research Assistant in Ethnomusicology at Institute of Art Studies in Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, as well as Assistant in orchestration at National Music Academy “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov”, Sofia.
Previous projects include commissions by Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Bulgarian National Radio, Dutch Chamber Music Society, Royal Conservatoire-The Hague among others.
Kerkelov’s music has been performed in Bulgaria, The Netherlands, Germany, France, Austria, Russia, Ukraine, Armenia and the USA in distinguished venues such as Konzerthaus Wien, Gaudeamus Music Week, BOZAR Brussels, Teatro Massimo, Palermo in performances by Asko/Schoenberg Ensemble, “Bang on a Can All-Stars”, Ensemble PHACE (Austria), Ensemble “Musica Nova-Sofia”, Sofia Soloists with Krassimir Sterev, Ruysdael Kwartet (The Netherlands), Antonii Baryshevskyi (Ukraine), Hayk Melikyan (Armenia) among others.
Education
Peter Kerkelov holds a PhD degree in Ethnomusicology from Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia; a Master’s degree in composition from Royal Conservatoire, The Hague where he studied under Martijn Padding and Guus Janssen; a Master’s in composition from Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts (AMDFA), Plovdiv, Bulgaria, where his teacher was prof. Dimitar Tapkoff. From AMDFA he has also a Bachelor degree in classical guitar and music pedagogy with teachers Milena and Valentin Valchev.
In 2006-2007, as an exchange student he studied composition under prof. Dan Dediu in National University of Music, Bucharest, Romania.
Selected for masterclasses with Louis Andriessen, David Lang and Kaija Saariaho.
Testimony
THE INAPPROPRIATE MAN CALLED THE COMPOSER – Peter Kerkelov about Peter Kerkelov.
Video testimony in Russian with English, Bulgarian and Greek subtitles:
.NEWS
New piece for cello solo premier at Beethovenfest, Bonn
Beethovenfest commissioned Peter Kerkelov to compose a new work for cello solo and electronics. The new composition will be written for and premiered by the Bulgarian cellist Stefan Hadjiev during the 2023 edition of the festival in Bonn in September.
New orchestral piece for Bulgarian National Radio
duermevela - interlude and epilogue for large orchestra was commissioned by Bulgarian National Radio and will be premiered in Bulgaria Concert Hall, Sofia in January 2023 by Symphony Orchestra of Bulgarian National Radio, cond. by Konstantin Dobroykov.
Commission by Goethe Institut – Bulgaria
A new piece for voice, electornics and Bulgarian folklore choir was commissioned to Peter Kerkelov by the Goethe Institut - Bulgaria. The new work will be composed for the Ukranian-German soprano, conductor and activist Viktoriia Vitrenko and will be performed in...
Commission by Radio France for Les Cris de Paris
As a follow-up of Kerkelov's win at the 59th International Rostrum of Composers Radio France and International Music Council jointly co-commission the composer. He will write a new work for the renowned vocal ensemble Les Cris de Paris and his artistic leader and...
Research Assistant in Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
The Art Studies Institute of Bulgarian Academy of Sciences invited Peter Kerkelov to take the position of full-time Lead Research Assistant within the Ethnomusicology Research Group. In this way Kerkelov will further his love and scientific interest in the field of...
.LISTEN
duermevela – interlude and epilogue for orchestra
Instrumentation:
3.3.3.3.-4.3.3.1.-batt. (x5)-arpa-piano-keyboard-strings
Year:
2022
Dur. (min.):
29
Premiere
20.01.2023 “Bulgaria” Concert Hall, Sofia, Bulgaria
Symphony Orchestra of Bulgarian National Radio
Cond: Konstantin Dobroykov
Info/Program notes:
Commissioned by Bulgarian National Radio
… a flying Icarus. bababadalgharaghtakamminarronnkonnbronntonnerronntuonnthunntrovarrhounawnskawntoohoohoordenenthurnuk! This is how James Joyce describes the utter cracking of thunder. However, it is something more than a mere physical scare fallen from the sky in order to shake the earthly body from the inside.
The thunder is the crushing force into the core of our soul.
The thunder is the fall of Icarus into the depths of the sea.
The thunder is the sinking swell into the ephemeral matter of the dream.
Joyce believed that during sleep man must redeem himself by means of a quest, which takes him beyond himself into a world without definitions. This quest seems to be a dream through a constant process of waking. duermevela (to be awake while asleep (Spanish)) is a dream of sounds, in which different images are superimposed, merged or flowed into one another. The instruments align themselves hectically as if part of a painting by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, in which one could recognize both rumbling thunders and familiar shapes from past and present times. Through their unclear bleak outlines, one could see that they are dancing, singing folkloric tunes, laughing and mourning.
The darkness is illuminated by the light of a single candle. A candle with a flame that could not be put out. A fire which throbs even in the dark blue of the ocean depths, giving me strength to breathe in the morning dawn, strength to flap my wings high to the blinding sun, to the singing choir of birds, to my awakening as if I am…
Other Performances
Listen
The Pied Piper and the Cars (opera-ballet for children)
Instrumentation:
3.2.2.2.-2.2.3.1.-batt. (x2)-arpa-piano-no strings-electronic sounds-
soprano solo-bass solo-two choirs-children choir
Year:
2018-2019
Dur. (min.):
67
Premiere
26.10.2019 “Boris Christoff” House of Culture, Plovdiv Bulgaria
Orchestra, Choir, Children Choir and Ballet of State Opera-Plovdiv
Cond: Dragomir Yossifov
Choreographer/director: Liliya Burdinskaya (Russia)
3D scenography: Petko Tanchev
Artist: Ventzislav Dikov
Costumes: Maria Manuilova (Russia)
Info/Program notes:
Commissioned by State Opera Plovdiv
libretto by Dragomir Yossifov, based on a self-titled story by Gianni Rodari
А summary of the libretto in English download here
Other Performances
09.11.2019 “Boris Christoff” House of Culture, Plovdiv Bulgaria
Orchestra, Choir, Children Choir and Ballet of State Opera-Plovdiv
Cond: Dragomir Yossifov
Choreographer/director: Liliya Burdinskaya (Russia)
3D scenography: Petko Tanchev
Artist: Ventzislav Dikov
Costumes: Maria Manuilova (Russia)
Listen
Night and Day Hymns
Instrumentation:
Piano Solo
Year:
2018
Dur. (min.):
10
Premiere
27.04.2018 perf. by Hayk Melikyan (Armenia) in Bulgarian National Radio Concert Hall (during ppIANISSIMO FESTIVAL)
Info/Program notes:
Commissioned by ppIANISSIMO FESTIVAL and written for Hayk Melikyan
Other Performances
10.12.2018 perf. by Hayk Melikyan, Komitas Museum, Yerevan, Armenia
22.12.2019 perf. by Antonii Baryshevskyi, National Philharmonic Concert Hall, Kiev, Ukraine
Listen
Coordinates of a Temple
Instrumentation:
fl. (fl. alto), cl. (cl. basso), accordion, pno (prepared and amplified), vno, vc
Year:
2017
Dur. (min.):
11
Premiere
25.10.2017 perf. by Ensemble CRUSH at Studio 1 in Bulgarian National Radio during Agitato – Sofia Chamber Music Festival
Info/Program notes:
Commissioned by Ensemble CRUSH for Agitato – Sofia Chamber Music Festival
My very first memory is from my baptizing. I must have been about 2-3 years old. I clearly remember the large hand of the priest, the soft but bright light from above my left and the touch of the called water, which made me cry. It took place in “St. Ivan Rilsky” Church in my neighborhood in my hometown of Plovdiv. The memory has popped in and out of my mind through all my life like a shadow. Lately, I have been experiencing the strange sensation of an immense differ-ence and an immense likeness with that small-baptized baby. Somehow, this memory merges two distant moments in time, thus making them into a single small point.
For me music is the only other medium that could bring two moments into one. Therefore, I chose the musical sound to describe this peculiar sensation. In addition, to build and to rebuild my own inner temple through acoustical means – vibration, antiphonic textures, timbre; to write a map with ever-changing dimensions of a sound-space, that one can bathe his own soul in just for the beauty of the process.
Listen
Time Etudes
Instrumentation:
3322-223-2perc., pno/celesta, arpa-2 cori femminili, voce solo-9vni, 4vc, 4cb
Year:
2013-2015
Dur. (min.):
22
Premiere
22-26 Feb. 2016 recording sessions at the Bulgarian National Radio Orchestra and Female Stuff from Mixed Choir of Bulgarian National Radio with Reut Rivka Shabi (soprano solo) under Dragomir Yossifov
Listen
Two Symphonies and Postumus
Instrumentation:
2Vni, Vla, Vc
Year:
2011-2012
Dur. (min.):
18
Premiere
11 Nov. 2012 Diligentia Theater, The Hague on the 100th Anniversary Dutch Chamber Music Society by Ruysdael Kwartet
Info/Program notes:
Commissioned by the Dutch Chamber Music Society.
The Netherlands is a very windy country; this is probably why I got so fascinated by wind chimes. Not only by their sweet, beautiful sound, but also by the idea of sounds randomly winding in an endless circle – is randomness chaos? – or is it in fact a different order? These two radically clashing ideas create the two symphonies – like two worlds, which are so far and at the same time, so close to each other; sometimes it is hard to draw the line between them. And after… -What is after?… After the circle is completed, is there something more? Just like in the Universe – is there an end?- or is there another “post-world of circles”?
Other Performances:
04 Mar. 2013 Union of Bulgarian Composers Concert Hall| Frosch String Quartet-Bulgaria
11-12 Dec. 2013 Recording sessions at the Bulgarian National Radio| Frosch String Quartet-Bulgaria
Listen
Attempt at Screaming
Instrumentation:
ob. (cor ingl.), cl. in B (cl. in Es), tr, perc, pno, vla, vc
Year:
2011
Dur. (min.):
13
Premiere
15 Apr. 2011 World Music and Dance Center, Rotterdam by ASKO/Schoenberg Ens. under Bas Wiegers
Info/Program notes:
Written for ASKO/Schoenberg Ensemble within 9×7 project.
Everyone has had at least once this strong thirst to scream. I mean these inner screams which can bring a certain level of purification but for many reasons they never become a real, actual scream. It’s like a very big massive explosion which nobody hears. The screaming for me stays as a symbol of the strong will to reach outer spaces in ourselves. However, this idealistic notion is only a utopia as the human mind is not capable of even touching universes, only imagination is. Therefor I feel that we are inescapably trapped in this inter-space continuum where time is only a memory of the real world and our longing to overcome it, no matter how strong and insane it is, is staying endlessly an attempt – an attempt at screaming – feeling – knowing – living –
Other Performances:
16 Apr. 2011 Korzo Theather The Hague| ASKO/Schoenberg Ens. under Bas Wiegers
17 Apr. 2011 Conservatorium van Amsterdam| ASKO/Schoenberg Ens. under Bas Wiegers
24 June 2011 Union of Bulgarian Composers Concert Hall Sofia| Ensemble Musica Nova-Sofia under Dragomir Yossifov
25-25 Oct. 2011 Recording sessions at the Bulgarian National Radio| Ensemble Musica Nova-Sofia under Dragomir Yossifov
05 Mar. 2015 Chamber hall “Bulgaria” Sofia| Ensemble Musica Nova-Sofia under Dragomir Yossifov
Listen
Five Songs on Bulgarian Folk Lyrics
Instrumentation:
voice/ cymbal and guitar
Year:
2010
Dur. (min.):
18
Premiere
21 May 2012 Korzo Theater, The Hague by Veronique van der Meijden and Yiannis Giagourtas
Info/Program notes:
Written for Duo CaJon
Other Performances:
07 Mar. 2011 Union of Bulgarian Composers Concert Hall Sofia| Olga Mihailova and Valentin Valchev
07 Sep. 2012 Huis a/d Werf Utrecht (during Gaudeamus Music Week)| Reut Rivka Shabi and Peter Kerkelov
30 Sep. 2012 Concert Hall- Beegden, The Netherlands| Veronique van der Meijden and Yiannis Giagourtas
12 Oct. 2012 Waalse Kerk-Berda, The Netherlands| Veronique van der Meijden and Yiannis Giagourtas
Listen
Horo
Instrumentation:
el. gtr, cl. basso, perc, keyboard, vc, cb (all instruments amplified)
Year:
2010
Dur. (min.):
7
Premiere
12 Apr 2010 Korzo Theater, The Hague by Bang on a Can-All stars
Info/Program notes:
Written for Bang on a Can-All Stars within New York comes to The Hague Project.
“Horo” (Хоро) is a Bulgarian word for national dance. There are many different types of dances with variety of time signatures, scales, tempo, instrumentation etc. but there is always one thing in common — the dancing is about constant tension and acceleration of the tempo in order to leave the participants in it breathless at its end. In this “Horo” the electric guitar imitates the national bagpipe and the percussion set up (the two sided drum) is an essential imitation of a Bulgarian bass drum called Tupan (Тъпан). In addition there is а sampled bagpipe sound for the keyboard part. Dancing in Bulgaria is much more than a row of complicated moves, it reflects character and devotion to a purifying rhythm.
Other Performances:
20 Oct. 2013 Konzerthaus Wien – Schubert-Saal (100th Anniversary)| Ensemble PHACE under Simeon Pironkoff
23 Oct. 2013 Konzerthaus Wien – Berio-Saal| Ensemble PHACE under Simeon Pironkoff
27 May 2014 Belarus National Philharmony Chamber Hall “Gr. Shirma” Minsk| Ensemble FAMILIUS PLANETARIUM
Listen
PETER KERKELOV
.EVENTS
| t.b.a. 2023 | New composition | Les Cris De Paris (France) under Geoffroy Jourdain |
Radio France Recording Studio, Paris, France |
| 22.12. | Night and Day Hymns | Antonii Baryshevskyi (Ukraine) | National Philharmonic Concert Hall, Kiev, Ukraine |
| 09.11. | The Piece Piper and the Cars |
Orchestra, Choir, Children Choir and Ballet of State Opera-Plovdiv Cond: Dragomir Yossifov |
“Boris Christoff House of Culture” Concert Hall, Plovdiv, BG |
| 26.10. | The Piece Piper and the Cars |
Orchestra, Choir, Children Choir and Ballet of State Opera-Plovdiv Cond: Dragomir Yossifov |
“Boris Christoff House of Culture” Concert Hall, Plovdiv, BG |
| 15.09. | Ecstatic eruptions… | Trio Imàge (Berlin) | Duisburger Philharmoniker, Duisburg, Germany |
| 30.03. | Coordinates of a Temple | Ensemble CRUSH (Germany) | March Music Days Festival, Ruse, BG |
|
10.12. |
Night and Day Hymns |
Hayk Melikyan (Armenia) |
Komitas Museum, |
|
27.04. |
Night and Day Hymns |
Hayk Melikyan (Armenia) |
Bulgarian National Radio Concert Hall, Sofia, BG |
| 19.11. | Attempt at Screaming | Thallein Ensemble (UK) | BOZAR, Brussels, BL |
| 25.10. | Coordinates of a Temple | Ensemble CRUSH (Germany) | Bulgarian National Radio, Sofia, BG (during Agitato Sofia Chamber Festival) |
| 25.10. | Attempt at Screaming | Ensemble Musica Contemporanea V. Bellini Conservatory | Teatro Massimo, Palermo, IT (during Settimane di nuova musica) |
| 15.10. | Horo | Contemporanea Interactive Art Ensemble | Sofia Live Club, National Palace of Culture, Sofia, BG (during Concordia Festival) |
| 30.08. | Windows and Oranges | Krassimir Sterev (KLANGFORUM Wien) and Sofia Soloists, under Plamen Djouroff | Apollonia Festival of Arts, Sozopol, BG |
| 19.05. | Attempt at Screaming | Ensemble Musica Contemporanea V. Bellini Conservatory | Scarlatti Hall, V. Bellini Conservatory, Palermo, IT |
| 31.03. | Attempt at Screaming | Thallein Ensemble (UK) | Recital Hall, Birmingham Conservatoire, Birmingham, UK |
|
11.12. |
Attempt at Screaming |
Thallein Ensemble, UK |
BOZAR, Brussels |
|
22-26.02. |
Time Etudes |
Orchestra and Female Choir of Bulgarian National Radio with |
Recording Sessions at the |
|
05.03. |
Attempt at Screaming |
Ensemble “Musica Nova” under Dragomir Yossifov |
Chamber Hall “Bulgaria” |
|
11-12.12. |
Two Symphonies and Postumus |
Frosch String Quartet |
Recording Sessions at the Bulgarian National Radio |
|
23.10. |
Horo |
Ensemble PHACE |
Konzerthaus Wien |
|
20.10. |
Horo |
Ensemble PHACE |
Konzerthaus Wien |
|
04.04. |
Two Symphonies and Postumus |
Frosch String Quartet |
Union of Bulgarian Composers (UBC) Hall |
|
11.11. |
Two Symphonies and Postumus |
Ruysdael Kwartet |
Diligentia Theater |
|
07.09. |
Five Songs on Bulgarian Folk Lyrics |
Reut Rivka Shabi – voice Peter Kerkelov – guitar |
Huis a/d Werf |
|
21.05. |
Five Songs on Bulgarian Folk Lyrics |
Veronique van der Mijeden – voice Yiannys Giagourtas – guitar |
Korzo theater |
|
25-26.10. |
Attempt at Screaming |
Ensemble “Musica Nova” under Dragomir Yossifov |
Recording Sessions at the |
|
05.09. |
…in memoriam Dimitar Tapkov “Without External Sound” |
Reut Rivka Shabi – voice |
Royal Conservatoire The Hague |
|
24.06. |
Attempt at Screaming |
Ensemble “Musica Nova” under Dragomir Yossifov |
UBC Concert Hall |
|
16.04. |
Attempt at Screaming |
ASKO/Schoenberg Ens. under Bas Wiegers |
Korzo theater |
|
15.04. |
Attempt at Screaming |
ASKO/Schoenberg Ens. |
World Music and Dance Center |
|
14.03. |
Horo (for orchestra) |
Vratsa Symphony Orchestra under Valeri Vachev |
UBC Concert Hall (during New Music Preview Festival) |
|
07.03. |
Five Songs on Bulgarian Folk Lyrics |
Olga Mihailova – voice |
UBC Concert Hall |
|
19.04. |
Eremia |
Ensemble “Musica Nova” under Dragomir Yossifov |
UBC Concert Hall |
|
12.04. |
Horo (for amplified ens.) |
Bang on a Can All-Stars |
Korzo theater – |
.WORKS
Serpents and Doves – bestiary for four female voices
Instrumentation: 3 soprano, 1 mezzo-soprano Year: 2023 Dur. (min.): 13...
duermevela – interlude and epilogue for orchestra
Instrumentation: 3.3.3.3.-4.3.3.1.-batt. (x5)-arpa-piano-keyboard-strings...
The Pied Piper and the Cars (opera-ballet for children)
Instrumentation: 3.2.2.2.-2.2.3.1.-batt. (x2)-arpa-piano-no strings-electronic...
Ecstatic eruptions…
Instrumentation: Vno, Vc, Pfte Year: 2019 Dur. (min.): 10 Premiere 15.09.2019...
Night and Day Hymns
Instrumentation: Piano Solo Year: 2018 Dur. (min.): 10 Premiere 27.04.2018...
Windows and Oranges
Instrumentation: Accordion and String orchestra 4.4.3.2.1. Year: 2017 Dur....
Coordinates of a Temple
Instrumentation: fl. (fl. alto), cl. (cl. basso), accordion, pno (prepared and...
Time Etudes
Instrumentation: 3322-223-2perc., pno/celesta, arpa-2 cori femminili, voce...
Melody and Vibrations
Instrumentation: percussion (one performer) Year: 2014 Dur. (min.): 12...
Two Symphonies and Postumus
Instrumentation: 2Vni, Vla, Vc Year: 2011-2012 Dur. (min.): 18 Premiere 11...
Two Iranian Songs
Instrumentation: fl, cl, perc, arpa, mezzo sopr., vla, vc Year: 2012 Dur....
…In Memoriam Dimitar Tapkov Without External Sound
Instrumentation: voice and percussion Year: 2011 Dur. (min.): 16 Premiere 05...
Attente
Instrumentation: amplified chamber ensemble amplified ens. (sopr. sax, tenor...
Attempt at Screaming
Instrumentation: ob. (cor ingl.), cl. in B (cl. in Es), tr, perc, pno, vla, vc...
Five Songs on Bulgarian Folk Lyrics
Instrumentation: voice/ cymbal and guitar Year: 2010 Dur. (min.): 18 Premiere...
Horo
Instrumentation: el. gtr, cl. basso, perc, keyboard, vc, cb (all instruments...
Eremia
Instrumentation: fl, 2 cl, tr, pno, perc, vno, vla, vc, cb Year: 2007-2008...
Sonata
Instrumentation: violin and piano Year: 2007 Dur. (min.): 20 Premiere 12 Feb...
Father
Instrumentation: voice, vc, pno Year: 2006-2007 Dur. (min.): 10 Premiere May...
Six miniatures
Instrumentation: violin and viola Year: 2006 Dur. (min.): 9 Premiere Apr 2007...
.PUBLISHER
All works by Peter Kerkelov are exclusively published by DONEMUS.
Find Peter Kerkelov’s scores in DONEMUS’ catalogue
Donemus (compounded from Documentatiecentrum NederlandseMuziek) is the Dutch institute dealing with the documentation of contemporary music composed in the Netherlands. Founded in 1947 it published thousands of scores and produced all instrumental parts.
After 2000 it merged with organizations like Centrum voor Nederlandse Muziek (CNM), RIM, Gaudeamus and the NPI.
After 65 years the government stopped the subsidy and starting from January 2013 a small Donemus continued on a commercial basis.
.CONTACTS
Contact me trough email :