Dr. Ludwig Albert (BE)

www.ludwigalbert.com

After obtaining the Superior Diploma in percussion and his Master’s Degree specialization in the marimba, he shaped his talent as the first Belgian marimbist to study with Keiko Abe in Tokyo and in 1996 began performing with her in a number of concert productions.Ludwig Albert founded ‘Patrasche’ in 1995 as he was searching for new sound-combinations for the marimba and his compositions. As pioneers of the marimba-voice duo, they developed a unique style and have inspired artists and composers to create new music in this genre for more than 20 years. They mainly perform Albert’s own compositions, creations and improvisations, all based on traditional folksongs and evoking a fascinating world. Their first album “Japanese Impressions” received outstanding reviews internationally and they were regular guests of radio broadcasts and festivals. After their second album, “Impressions of the Low-Countries,” they released their newest album “Ardor“ with selected songs from Spain & Mexico. 

In 2011 Albert, a Yamaha artist up to that point, began an important relationship with the Adams Percussion company in the design, construction and release of his own new signature Adams marimba model. He is the first European marimba virtuoso to receive this honor. In addition, the American company Innovative Percussion began production of his signature mallet line in 2007.

He is titular professor of marimba at the Royal Conservatoire of Music in Antwerp (AP University), known as Europe’s largest art faculty, and the Lemmens Institute (LUCA University) known as one of Europe’s oldest universities. Both universities have assisted him for the past 15 years in the European creation of a new Marimba Master’s program and degree and have become known as Europe’s most successful marimba departments. Helping to drive this program is his innovative Albert Method of Movement: “The Ultimate Sound,” a unique new approach for developing musicality and producing a revolutionary new sonority. Numerous alumni, all trained in this method,  from all continents have won more than sixty-five top prizes at international competitions, positions abroad at universities and orchestras and established careers as soloists and recording label artists.    

Albert is the founder and organizer of several international academies and competitions such as the yearly Ludwig Albert International Marimba Academy, the International Percussion Youth Competition and the prestigious Universal Marimba Competition Belgium. Since 2011, this biennial competition has received the High Patronage of Her Majesty Queen Paola. In addition he is in charge of the International percussion Competition Jeju Korea, is the artistic director of several festivals, president of the Belgium chapter of the Percussive Arts Society and serves as a jury member of international competitions.
 
He is the first European marimbist to showcase scenography as an integral part of his concert production, creating a world of visually beautiful colors and moods, enhancing his astonishing musical performance that includes use of the Ludwig Albert eight-mallet grip. As the first European marimbist to incorporate the visual with the auditory in concert, his performances receive standing ovations and praise for his unique sound.
 
For more than 25 years, Ludwig Albert has performed concerts as a soloist and in collaboration with significant guest artists, ensembles and orchestras and has conducted master classes, touring regularly in more than 30 countries. For both his 10th and 15th year career anniversary celebrations, he released double albums, appeared in a Belgian mass production with more than 15,000 spectators and performed a sold out Belgian concert tour. His successful tours in Russia were mentioned on the Russian National news broadcast. For his 20th year career anniversary, he released four new albums and performed an international tour featuring the world-première of his latest marimba double concerto, “The Universe,” on live television and radio broadcasts in prestigious halls such as the Beijing and Seoul National Centres of the Performing Arts and the Radio Hall in Bucharest. Additional performances with special versions for wind orchestra, string orchestra and percussion ensemble took place in Belgium, Russia, Lithuania, Thailand & Portugal. The 25th year celebration of his international career in 2016 will include the release of new albums and  master classes and concert productions with special guests, from Pop to Classical, in Russia, Poland, Lithuania, Belgium, Hong Kong, Italy, Spain, Korea, China, Taiwan, St-Petersburg, Mexico and Japan. In addition three books will be published in the fall of 2016 with his vision of the future in marimba education and arts, for which he will be awarded with the Doctoral title at the Antwerp University. He has developed a true marimba culture in several countries including Russia and Mexico, and achieved acknowledgement as a celebrated star & pioneer. His total repertory of over 25 original compositions, 100 arrangements and 30 commissioned works by leading composers for marimba solo, chamber-music and orchestra is published by Beurskens music editions (NL), edition Svitzer (Denmark), Dhalmann editions (FR) and Splendid Arts Edition (BE). Well-known as one of the rare outstanding lyrical performers, he has been honoured with several awards and has been reviewed and praised by music critics in the international press.
 
Well-known as one of the rare outstanding lyrical performers, he’s honored with several awards such as the percussion award of honor 2001, and is praised by international press-reviews with critics writing: “refined variegated compositions, excellent sensitive virtuoso performance, extra ordinary clarity, El Belga L.Albert- un gran maestro del Mundo, hearing Mr Albert’s performance: you will never lose the sound of the marimba, un musicien sans vanité, his sound penetrates into the heart so naturally, his playing will keep touching our hearts forever, Belgian artist at the top in the marimba-world, tremendous popular marimbist performs with 8 mallets, excellent marimbist of the new generation, this is music of the purest water, L.A. succeeds in giving the listener a view of the marimba’s prowess as a lyrical instrument and diminishing its reputation being only a novelty instrument, one of world’s best rising marimba-player, impressing- the overall excellence and superb musicianship of L.A.,-Es uno de los exponentes lideres en toda Europa, Albert is a rising star among marimba-performers worldwide, Albert’s Yamaha marimba sounds very warm and even throughout its register, Albert evokes through his marimba the sound of nature, LA begeisterte mit virtuositàt und theatralischer expressivitàt, extraordinario musico, Siberia melts for L. Albert, His compositions are expressive and flashy, a demonstration of technical and expressive skills, contrasting techniques and colours intrigues the audiences, Magico concierto, marimbista del mundo, Extraordinario musico the Pantani of the marimba, Ludwig Albert is nothing short of miraculous, His performance takes the listener into a new world of Sound and Magic”.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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