NEWS

22/06/2026

Masterclasses on two of my harp works Le Rossignol Perdu and Signatures, are now available online. It was a pleasure to work with the talented participants of the National Harp Competition at the CRR de Paris and to hear my music performed with such artistry and commitment. Recordings by several outstanding students will soon be featured on the Collegium 21 website.

12/05/2026

On 25 April, I had the pleasure of attending the recording of my piece “Signatures for harp” at the magnificent Abbaye de Royaumont.

This project is an initiative led by Constance Luzzati, who is developing an especially ambitious programme: alongside my work, she is recording six contemporary pieces, as well as a selection of works by Scarlatti and Frescobaldi for her new project.

It was a great pleasure to work with her and to explore the details of my composition in depth. I am deeply grateful to have been included in this project.

Signatures will also be featured next month during the masterclass I will give for Collegium 21. It is part of their competition programme and will be performed during the event on 13 and 14 June.

23/3/2026

NEW SCORE

Suite for Orchestra Score excerpt

I’ve been working on my Suite for Orchestra over the past period, and I wanted to share an excerpt from the score here.

The piece is built as a series of five contrasting movements, all connected through shared material and a recurring harmonic idea. A single opening chord keeps returning in different forms, almost like a memory that shifts each time it comes back.

In this excerpt, you can get a glimpse of the sound world I’ve been exploring — the layering of orchestral colors, the balance between motion and stillness, and the way timbre and harmony shape each other.

I’d be very glad to hear your thoughts.

All best,

Maarten

00:00 / 14:48

28/2/2026

Sous les premiers rayons du soleil printanier, mes deux mélodies consacrées à l’automne ont été captées en vidéo dans la Grande Galerie de l’Évolution du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle à Paris.

Le moment fut un véritable régal, non seulement pour les yeux — avec une scène digne du Roi Lion — mais aussi pour les oreilles.

J’ai eu le privilège d’être profondément touché par l’interprétation pleine d’âme et d’intimité de ces mélodies par la soprano Livia Louis-Joseph Dogué, le baryton-basse Pierre-Yves Cras et le pianiste Louis Dechambre.

Un grand merci également à Génération Opéra, qui œuvre à promouvoir de jeunes chanteurs talentueux et offre aux compositeurs l’opportunité de mettre leurs œuvres en lumière.

Ce fut un véritable plaisir de faire partie du jury du concours et de participer aux masterclasses organisées par Collegium 21.

J’ai reçu la plus belle des récompenses : entendre ma musique interprétée avec une telle qualité par de jeunes musiciens ouverts, passionnés et profondément engagés. J’ai été particulièrement touché de voir avec quel enthousiasme et quelle curiosité ils ont travaillé ma musique, avec la même attention et le même investissement que pour leur autre répertoire.

Un grand merci à Ghislaine et Laurence pour l’organisation magnifique de cet événement et pour cette atmosphère si chaleureuse.

Les deux masterclasses sont désormais en ligne, et les magnifiques enregistrements de plusieurs étudiants remarquablement talentueux seront bientôt disponibles sur le site de Collegium 21.

This excerpt from the same prelude, La fête du village, whose opening I shared earlier, shifts its focus to the lovers in the background of the Flemish countryside. Perhaps emboldened by the generous flow of beer from the festivities, they wander off in search of a brief moment of passion.

The main melody is built around a simple, almost whistleable motif, accompanied by the imagined sounds of harp and lute. In contrast to the exuberant dancing of the opening section, this music evokes a more intimate and pastoral atmosphere.

This excerpt from my preludes, La fête du village, is inspired by The Wedding Dance by Pieter Bruegel the Elder. The painting depicts a lively village scene: peasants dancing and drinking, accompanied by a few musicians, while the festivities gradually descend into cheerful chaos. In the background, however, we also notice lovers embracing in the bushes and others quietly enjoying a picnic. I have always admired Bruegel’s vivid energy and his occasionally naughty sense of humor.

The opening of the prelude, which I perform here, is a spirited two-voice dance that alludes to the two musicians in the painting. The shifting rhythms reflect the staggering, drunken movement of the dancers — very much in keeping with good old Belgian tradition. Later in the piece, many other characters make their appearance, but this excerpt presents the opening scene of the celebration.

#Bruegel #musiccomposition #museumcurator #detroitinstituteofarts @diadetroit

Samedi dernier, j’ai eu le plaisir d’assister à l’enregistrement de ma pièce Signatures dans la magnifique Abbaye de Royaumont. Il s’agit d’une initiative de @constanceluzzati , qui mène un projet particulièrement ambitieux : aux côtés de ma pièce, elle enregistre pas moins de six œuvres contemporaines, ainsi qu’un ensemble de pièces de Scarlatti et de Frescobaldi pour son nouveau projet.

Ce fut un grand plaisir de travailler avec elle et de plonger dans les détails de ma pièce. Je lui suis très reconnaissant de m’avoir associé à ce projet.

Ma pièce Signatures sera également à l’honneur le mois prochain lors de la masterclass que je donnerai pour @collegium21. Elle fait partie du programme de leur concours et sera interprétée lors de celui-ci, les 13 et 14 juin.

I wrote a set of preludes for solo piano in 2025. This one is titled Les dernières cloches de novembre. The piece carries a strong sense of symbolism: November evokes remembrance—particularly of war, All Saints’ Day, and the end of the season, when the last leaves fall. Combined with chorale-like textures and bell-like sonorities, it suggests the image of a church.

The idea of death is omnipresent, culminating in an ascending motif at the end. While I am not Catholic, it remains part of my cultural background, and its theatrical dimension makes abstract themes especially visible.

Originally conceived for solo piano, the work is presented here in an arrangement for organ and bells to highlight these associations. #classicalmusic #musiccomposition #pianomusic #newmusic #contemporary

Reflections — Prelude III
The third prelude explores reflection through sound itself — lively, virtuosic, and in constant motion. Inspired by water and light, it shimmers with an almost impressionistic energy.
Where Prelude I turns inward and Prelude II contrasts in character, this final piece flows freely — fluid, sparkling, and alive.
Discover the full score on my website.
#ContemporaryMusic #PianoMusic #NewMusic #Composition #Impressionism

My take on “Body and Soul” during a free moment between two classes. Although I don’t study jazz and improvisation as much as I used to, it still brings me great joy and has definitely shaped my path as a musician and composer.
The flexibility of improvised bebop lines is something you can certainly find in my compositions, along with a sense of harmony rooted indirectly with one foot in Bill Evans and Clare Fischer, and the other in Takemitsu, Dutilleux, and Debussy.
I know that many paths today are moving toward fusion, electroacoustic music, performance art, and so on—all of which are very interesting. But I still have so much to discover in melody and harmony that it would feel like a betrayal of myself to leave that path.
Playing jazz standards helps me remember what truly matters to me and who I am.

Reflections — Prelude Il

The second prelude is built from four measures, each centered on a different interval—from a perfect fifth to a tritone, a perfect fourth, and finally major and minor thirds. Each interval carries its own distinct color. As the intervals contract, the rhythm accelerates and the music rises into higher registers. A recurring motif returns in transformed versions, with an almost orchestral approach to the piano.

The full score is available on my website.

#classicalmusic #composer #musiccomposition #filmcomposer #production

Reflections — Prelude I

This first prelude explores the idea of reflection through mirrored melody and harmony—like a stone dropped into still water, where each ripple expands outward in gentle waves. A calm, introspective sound world where time seems to slow down.

Curious to see the full score? It’s available on my renewed website.

#newmusic #contemporaryclassical #composition #piano #originalmusic

Hier, sous les premiers rayons du soleil printanier, mes deux mélodies sur l’automne ont été captées pour une vidéo dans la Grande Galerie de l’Évolution du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle à Paris. Ce fut un véritable régal non seulement pour les yeux — avec une scène digne du Roi Lion — mais aussi pour les oreilles. J’ai eu le privilège d’être touché par l’interprétation pleine d’âme et intime de mes mélodies par @liviasoprano_ , le baryton-basse @pierreyvescras , et le pianiste @louis_dechambre .
Un grand merci également à @generation.opera , qui œuvre à promouvoir de jeunes chanteurs talentueux et offre aux compositeurs l’opportunité de mettre leurs œuvres en lumière.

#composer #classicalcomposer #classicpianist #jazzpianist #opera

Hier, j’ai été accueilli par les derniers rayons du soleil de la journée au conservatoire de la Rue Madrid, où j’ai reçu un accueil tout aussi chaleureux dans la classe de Ghilaine Petit-Volta. Elle m’a aidé à apporter les dernières touches à une pièce, une commande du Collegium 21, qui sera interprétée par plusieurs élèves à travers toute la France, en compagnie d’une autre de mes œuvres, dans le cadre d’un concours pédagogique. J’ai également été invité à donner deux masterclasses sur ce projet l’année prochaine. J’espère que les élèves prendront autant de plaisir à jouer cette pièce, intitulée ‘Le Rossignol Perdu’ que j’en ai eu à l’écrire.

My Suite Concertante pour Violoncelle et Orchestre was performed by cellist Victor Julien-Laferrière, accompanied by the Orchestre National d’Île-de-France under the baton of Léo Warinsky. The performance was recorded and broadcast by France Musique in Paris. This event held great significance for me, as opportunities to have one’s work played by a symphonic orchestra are rare, and I learned so much from the experience!

The movement I am sharing is the final movement of the suite, titled Epilogue. It features a great deal of freedom in the music and evokes a certain post-romantic sensibility that harmonizes beautifully with the rich sound of the cello.

#CelloComposer #CelloMusic #CelloLove #CellistLife #ClassicalComposer #ModernComposer #ContemporaryCello #CelloArtistry #StringsMusic #CelloPassion #MusicComposition #CelloPerformance #InstrumentalMusic #OriginalComposition #CelloVibes #OrchestralMusic #SoloCello #ComposingMusic #CelloInspiration #ChamberMusic

The opening movement of the suite Charles Dream begins with a delicate “comptine” on the celesta, evoking innocence and wonder. Influenced by John Williams, Elmer Bernstein, and Aaron Copland, this piece blends lyrical motifs with warm orchestration. Conceived as an imaginary film score, it celebrates the birth of my firstborn son with joy and tenderness.

#FilmScore #OrchestralMusic #ClassicalComposition #Celesta #MusicOfInnocence #InspiredByLegends #NewMusic #ComposerLife #CharlesDream #ModernClassical #InstrumentalMusic #JoyAndWonder

As the days grow shorter, the quiet elegance of Chopin’s nocturnes beckons. Here is the first page of the first nocturne, where the right hand weaves a delicate bel canto melody, its chromatic intervals laden with sorrow, while the left hand offers a tender bed of spread arpeggios. The key of B-flat minor deepens the melancholy, wrapping the piece in a somber, introspective glow.

#ChopinNocturne #ClassicalMusic #PianoMusic #FredericChopin #RomanticEra #PianoPerformance #MusicLovers #NocturneInBFlatMinor #MelancholyMusic #BelCanto #Chromaticism #SoloPiano #PianoArtistry #DarknessAndElegance #TimelessMusic #PianistLife #ExpressivePiano #MusicalSorrow #Arpeggios #MoodMusic

An excerpt from my Poème for violin, featuring the violin cadenza. The writing is particularly challenging for the instrument, especially due to the combination of double stops and lyrical lines.

The Poème was commissioned by Belgian Radio, Klara, as part of a project titled Thinking About Belgium, which aimed to promote Belgian music through young performers.

In this recording, the piece is performed by the young Belgian violin virtuoso Vilmos Csikos, who achieved an excellent balance between lyricism and instrumental mastery.

#ComposerLife
#ViolinAndPianoComposer
#ClassicalComposition
#ChamberMusicCreator
#InstrumentalComposer
#PianoAndViolinMusic
#OriginalCompositions
#MusicForStringsAndKeys
#ViolinPianoDuets
#ContemporaryComposer
#ClassicalMusicWriting
#MusicCreation
#ComposerForDuets
#ViolinAndPianoHarmony
#ComposingForInstruments
#ModernClassicalMusic
#MusicalComposition
#ViolinPianoArt
#ComposerAtWork
#InstrumentalDuetComposer

As the seasons shift from the eerie mystery of Halloween to the joyful anticipation of Christmas, this symphonic arrangement seeks to unite these contrasting worlds. With its haunting undertones and delicate interweaving of timeless Christmas melodies, it captures the unique interplay of shadow and light, mystery and warmth. This piece invites you to experience the evocative power of music as it bridges the macabre and the merry, offering a reflection of the transitional beauty of this time of year.

#SeasonalSymphony #HalloweenToChristmas #MusicalAlchemy #OrchestralElegance #TimelessMelodies #SpookyToFestive #HauntinglyBeautiful #HolidayReflections #MusicForTheSeason #SymphonicJourney

The shorter, colder, and sometimes misty days made me think of the jazz standard ‘a foggy day’ composed by George Gershwin, with melancholic yet playful lyrics written by his brother, Ira. The lyrics are as follows:

I was a stranger in the city
Out of town were the people I knew
I had that feeling of self-pity
What to do, what to do, what to do
The outlook was decidedly blue
But as I walked through the foggy streets alone
It turned out to be the luckiest day I’ve known
A foggy day, in London town
Had me low, had me down
I viewed the morning, with much alarm
British Museum, had lost its charm
How long I wondered,
Could this thing last
But the age of miracles, hadn’t past
For suddenly, I saw you there
And through foggy London town,
The sun was shining everywhere

#JazzLover #JazzLife #SmoothJazz #LiveJazz #JazzMusic #JazzVibes #CoolJazz #JazzSoul #JazzAddict #JazzNight #JazzCafe #JazzClub #ClassicJazz #ModernJazz #JazzAndBlues #JazzFusion #JazzStandards #JazzFest #JazzPiano #JazzSax #JazzGuitar #JazzDrums #JazzBass #JazzCommunity #JazzVinyl #JazzRecords #JazzFestival #JazzMusician #JazzInspiration #JazzEveryday

The Sign of the Hamster (1963) by Belgian author Hugo Claus is an introspective poem that follows a two-day journey from Ghent to Bruges, during which the poet contemplates his troubled life, grappling with themes such as guilt, hereditary burdens, and the decision to have a child. Known for its enigmatic style and layered metaphors, the poem reveals Claus’s personal struggles.

To make the work more accessible, renowned Belgian actor François Beukelaers asked me to compose a score for the text. I chose a specific instrumentarium: Soprano, Clarinet, Bassoon, Double Bass, Vibraphone, and Drums. The music incorporates elements of polyphony, a nod to the Flemish polyphonists of Ghent and Bruges, alongside folkloric sounds and popular music from Claus’s time.

This particular passage of the poem is an absurd text, shifting between a nature documentary about the hamster (Claus’s alter ego), fragments of Frank Sinatra, a TV quiz, and a family scene where the hamster is dying. This absurdity is reflected in the music through playful counterpoint, polyrhythmic drums, and Sinatra quotes, creating a surreal and vibrant atmosphere.

#MusicArranger #MusicProducer #ArrangingMusic #Orchestration #MusicComposition #StudioLife #ProducerLife #MusicProduction #SongArrangement #ComposerLife #MusicStudio #RecordingSession #DigitalArranger #FilmScoring #MusicDirector #SoundDesign #MusicEditing #ArrangementSkills #OrchestralArrangements #MixingAndMastering #CreativeProcess #MusicCreation #MusicianLife #ScoreComposer #AudioEngineering #MusicTheory #SoundProduction #MusicInspiration #StudioSession #MusicWorkflow

Presenting my #BigBand arrangement of Billy Strayhorn’s timeless classic, “Chelsea Bridge” (1941). This #JazzStandard, celebrated for its lush harmonic textures and evocative, impressionistic style, draws deeply from the influence of #ClassicalMusic.

Strayhorn’s work captures a unique mood—a dreamlike soundscape that transports listeners to a foggy evening along the riverbanks. Honoring this piece’s elegance and emotional depth, my arrangement aims to bring new colors and dynamic energy to this beloved masterpiece.

#Jazz #JazzArrangement #ImpressionisticMusic #BillyStrayhorn #chelseabridge

With some of Debussy’s Préludes, he truly opened a window to contemporary music. The way he used sound and harmony still resonates in today’s music.

Two examples of this are Feux d’artifice, which translates the fireworks of Bastille Day into music, and the dense harmonies of Les feuilles mortes, which stands with one foot in the post-Romantic world and the other in the modernist world, capturing the colorful season we can witness at this very moment.

#ClassicalPianist #PianoMusic #ClassicalMusic #PianoPerformance #SoloPiano #PianistLife #PianoLover #ConcertPianist #PianoVirtuoso #PianoArt #PianoInspiration #PianoPractice #ClassicalMusician #PianoRecital #PianoTechnique #PianoPassion #PianoMasters #PianoSoloist #GrandPiano #ClassicalPiano #PianoConcert #MusicForTheSoul #PianoPerformanceArt #ClassicalPianistLife #PianoDreams #PianoJourney #MasteringThePiano #PianoMagic #LoveForPiano

This extract is from my latest string quartet, Tableaux (2022). The work features five movements, each inspired by concepts found in abstract painting.

These contrasting movements are connected through recurring motifs and harmonies. The particular movement, Jeu de points et de lignes, is playful and features curved lines, pizzicati, and canonic interplays.

#StringQuartet #Tableaux2022 #AbstractArtInspiration #ContemporaryClassical #Pizzicato #ChamberMusic #ModernComposition #MusicalMotifs #NewMusic #ClassicalMusic #JeuDePointsEtDeLignes #MusicAndArt

I composed this piece specifically for a commercial that highlights Japanese lifestyle products, aiming to capture the essence of the culture through music. To achieve this, I incorporated influences from traditional Japanese music, blending them seamlessly with orchestration techniques inspired by Ravel. The result is a sophisticated and elegant sound that complements the beauty and craftsmanship of the products being promoted, creating a rich auditory experience that resonates with both modern and traditional elements.

#CommercialMusic #AdMusic #MusicForAds #SoundtrackForAds #BrandMusic #AdCampaignSoundtrack #MusicProduction #MusicForBrands #MarketingMusic #AudioBranding #AdvertisingSoundtrack #MusicComposition #CreativeSoundDesign #MusicForCommercials #JingleMusic #MusicInAdvertising #CustomMusic #AdSoundDesign #MusicForMarketing #MusicAndBranding

You might recognize this theme from Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), Someday my prince will come became a jazz standard thanks to its lyrical melody and harmonic depth. Jazz legends like Miles Davis and Bill Evans popularized the song with their iconic versions.

#DisneyJazz #DisneyMusic #JazzCovers #DisneyTunes #JazzDisney #DisneySongs #SwingDisney #DisneySoundtracks #JazzRemix #DisneyMelodies #JazzVersions #JazzCoversDisney #DisneyJazzVibes #DisneyClassics #JazzStandards #SmoothJazzDisney #DisneyInspiredJazz #JazzGrooves #DisneyMovieSongs #JazzArrangements #DisneyMusicLovers #SwingJazzDisney #DisneyInstrumentals #JazzFusionDisney #DisneyJazzExperience #ClassicDisneyJazz #JazzDisneyCovers #DisneyJazzLounge #DisneyJazzChill #maartenlingier

This comes out a songcycle for piano, inspired by beautiful music from the past such as: Nocturnes, Lieder Ohne Wörte, Impromptus, etc... which used to be in front of me on my music stand. I wrote the music only for the sake of my own pleasure and it has no other ambition than to express itself. Since the writing seemed inviting to orchestrate, I also made a symphonic version of each movement. This is the beginning from the first movement entitled nocturne in both versions.

#CreativeJourney #ComposerLife #ComposerGoals #MusicNetworking #SyncMusic #OriginalSoundtrack #ScoreComposer #SoundDesign #CreativeComposer #MusicCreation #MusicCommunity #StudioSessions #MusicCollaboration #MusicIndustry #SongwritingCommunity #ComposerMindset #ComposerGoals #MusicInspiration

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@maartenlingier.music

NEWS

22/06/2026

12/05/2026

23/3/2026

28/2/2026

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