Dutch b* clarinetist

Henri Bok (born 9 March 1950, Rotterdam) is a Dutch b* clarinetist known for his unique compositions.

Contents

• 1 Career
• 2 Discography
• 3 References
• 4 External links

Career

One of the 'Big Three' in b* clarinet history, Henri Bok is a very active worldwide amb*ador of his beloved instrument, one to which he has devoted his life as a performer, teacher, improviser and composer. His unique rich and warm sound can be heard on numerous recordings.

Bok is noted for his new sound combinations leading to unusual instrumental groups: Duo Contemporain (with marimba/vibraphone), Duo Novair (with accordion), B* Instincts (with b* oboe), Duo Clarones (b* clarinet duo with Luis Afonso 'Montanha'), Duo HeRo (with jazz pianist Rob van Bavel) and Duo Hevans (with Eleri Ann Evans, saxophones).

Bok has also collaborated with fellow musicians Gustavo Beytelmann, José Luis Estellés, Mike Garson, Josef Horák, Bennie Maupin, Justo Sanz, Louis Sclavis, Willem Tanke, Henri Tournier, Dawn Upshaw, Eric Vloeimans, and many others from all styles and genres. These collaborations have resulted in many new pieces dedicated to him.

Bok has been professor of b* clarinet at Codarts/Rotterdam Superior Conservatoire (The Netherlands). He was professor of b* clarinet at Musikene until 2020 (San Sebastian, Spain), as well as guest professor at the Robert Schumann Hochschule für Musik (Düsseldorf, Germany). He has just taken up a new position at the Fontys Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, Tilburg. Since 2000, he has also taught the b* clarinet cl* during the annual Julian Menéndez clarinet summer course in Ávila (Spain). Bok is also professor of free improvisation and has performed at several improvisation festivals (amongst others in Tallinn, Estonia).

New Techniques for the B* Clarinet (www.shoepair.com), which Bok wrote in 1989 (revised in 2011), is considered to be the standard work for instrumentalists and composers interested in extended techniques.

In 2005 Bok was the initiator and artistic director of the first World B* Clarinet Convention, which took place in Rotterdam and was attended by more than five hundred b* clarinetists from all over the world.

Following his first piece Vinho do Porto Brasileiro (1997), Bok has written a large number of solo works and chamber music. His compositions are published by Shoepair Music.

In recognition of his exceptional contribution to music, Henri Bok was made a knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion by King Willem Alexander in April 2014.

In 2018 he received his PhD at Leiden University with a thesis en*led 'The deep-rooted microtonality of the b* clarinet'.

Bok is an endorser for Buffet Crampon , D'Addario reeds, Pomarico, and Wiseman bells and cases.

Discography

• "Duo Contemporain", with Miquel Bernat. Globe, 1994
• "Duo Novair", with Miny Dekkers. Globe, 1995
• "Tube Makers", with Miquel Bernat. Globe, 1998
• Music for B* Clarinet and Piano, with Rainer Klaas. Clarinet Cl*ics, 1999.
• Worlds of B* Clarinet. Globe, 1999.
• "Duo Clarones", with Luis Afonso Montanha. YBMusic, 2001
• Wicked!. Artistic License, 2003
• B*ics, with Rob Broek. Clarinet Cl*ics, 2003.
• HeRo, with Rob van Bavel. Bloomline, 2005.
• Henri Bok plays David Loeb. Vienna Modern Masters, 2005.
• "In a Nutshell". DVD Shoepair Music Prod., 2006
• "HeRo's Own", with Rob van Bavel. Shoepair Music Prod., 2008
• "HeRo's Heroes", with Rob van Bavel. Shoepair Music Prod., 2008
• "HeRo's Cl*ics", with Rob van Bavel. Shoepair Music Prod., 2008
• "Windsongs", with Joaquin Meijide. Vienna Modern Masters, 2009
• "Voices of the Four Seasons", Vienna Modern Masters, 2012
• "Mul*asking", Shoepair Music Prod., 2012

References

External links

• Henri Bok Official Website
• Bok Henri Bok at AllMusic