Happy 80th birthday Sigiswald Kuyken

[pjme]

80 years .... Congratulations!  

With his orchestra "La Petite Bande", Sigiswald Kuijken is one of the pioneers of historical performance practice alongside Gustav Leonhardt and Nikolaus Harnoncourt. Born on February 16, 1944 in Dilbeek near Brussels, everything for him begins with a "medieval fiddle," as he says. At the age of seven he discovered the treble viol - and love lasted a lifetime! In addition to studying the violin, he teaches himself to play the viol with his brother Wieland. In the 1960s it was not yet a subject at the conservatories in Bruges and Brussels. "We kept complete double-entry bookkeeping for all these years," recalls Kuijken. "Everything we learned in official music lessons was such a completely different world than what we discovered for ourselves. And we didn't want to take that away from us and we didn't want to let it influence us. We're just a bit stubborn, but it was worth it ."

[San Antone]

I've been a fan of Sigiswald Kuijken ever since I first heard his music.  I especially enjoy his interpretations of the music of Bach.

[DavidW]

In honor of his birthday I might to listen to a Bach cantata or two out of his liturgical cycle.



Or the Magnificat... haven't heard his recording in a long time.

[Que]

Sigiswald Kuijken is the last surviving member of the pioneering Dutch-Flemish HIP gang of Gustav Leonhardt, Frans Brüggen, Anner Bijlsma and Sigiswald Kijken, ocassionaly joined by his brothers Wieland (cello) and Barthold (flute) (both still alive). May they enjoy many happy years to come.

[Florestan]

Sigiswald Kuijken is the last surviving member of the pioneering Dutch-Flemish HIP gang of Gustav Leonhardt, Frans Brüggen, Anner Bijlsma and Sigiswald Kijken, ocassionaly joined by his brothers Wieland (cello) and Barthold (flute) (both still alive). May they enjoy many happy years to come.

Indeed, the Kuijken brothers are a gift from God to music-making and music-lovers (as were all the others you nominated, of course --- but I think this is a unique phenomenon, three brothers all of them exceptional musicians. Their Telemann Paris Quartets and Haydn Flute Trios recordings represent for me a paragon of joy and happiness which has few, if any, equivalents, at least none that I can think of otomh).

[Mandryka]

Sigiswald Kuijken is the last surviving member of the pioneering Dutch-Flemish HIP gang of Gustav Leonhardt, Frans Brüggen, Anner Bijlsma and Sigiswald Kijken, ocassionaly joined by his brothers Wieland (cello) and Barthold (flute) (both still alive). May they enjoy many happy years to come.

Was Koopman not part of this rat pack?

[Gurn Blanston]

Was Koopman not part of this rat pack?

Not so much, but I would certainly add Jaap Schroeder. This is the outfit that introduced me to HIP/PI, it has been tough for the last 10 years watching them pass on. Along with PB-S. A few of Sigi's albums are in my personal Top 10. Glad to hear he is still hanging in there! 🤠

[Florestan]

A few of Sigi's albums are in my personal Top 10.

Beside consummate violinist, he is also a very competent conductor, sympathetic and attuned to the music. His Cosi fan tutte is desert island stuff, at least in my book...



...and so is his series of Haydn symphonies, too many covers to post.

The guy's truly a living legend.