Wim Franken


Wim Franken was a Dutch composer, pianist, and carillonneur.

Life and work

Franken studied piano with J. Wilderbeek and T. Hart Nibbrig-de Graaf, theory with Hugo Godron and Karel Mengelberg, carillon with Leen 't Hart and Peter Bakker. He taught piano at the music schools in Hilversum and Amersfoort and was carillonneur in the city of Weesp and at the Zuiderkerk in Amsterdam.
Franken composed operas, ballets, orchestral works, chamber music, piano and organ works, choral music, song cycles, film scores and electronic music. He is a noted composer of music for carillon, making exceptional contributions to the repertoire, including the Torenmuziek series for carillon and brass instruments.

Selected works

;StageDe keizer en de nachtegaal, School Opera in 3 acts ; after the story by Hans Christian AndersenRoxelane en de beren, Ballet Il sacro furto, Church Opera ; libretto by the composer
;Orchestral
  • Sinfonietta
  • Concerto for String Orchestra Circo for chamber orchestra Rapsodie over vijf Europese volksliederen Muziek uit de film "Portret van Frans Hals" for chamber orchestra Divertimento naar de balletmuziek "Roxelane en de beren"
;Concertante
  • Concertino for piano and string orchestra Rapsodia campestra for violin and orchestra Concert in G for piano and orchestra
  • Concerto for piano, brass and percussion
;Chamber music
  • Sonata for oboe solo
  • Divertimento for flute, viola, cello and piano Serenata for chamber ensemble
  • Sonata for viola solo
  • Sonata for violin or clarinet and piano
  • Serenade for flute, piano and double bass Horlepiep, Folk Dance Arrangement for string quartet Intermède à la Russe for accordion ensembleEn passant for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and horn
  • Sonata for cello and piano Tijdeloos for 6 recorders and 2 organs
;Carillon en fughetta over een oud Frans kerstlied Prélude, fantasie en rondeau for carillon or piano Arioso en passacaglia De geuzen , Torenmuziek No. 1 for carillon, brass and percussion ; version for carillon in C Zes ritmische studies for carillon or piano Musica di campanile , Torenmuziek No. 2 for carillon, brass and percussion Rapsodie française sur trois chansons populaires Drie impressies naar Frans Hals for 4- or 5-octave carillon Mascarade: quatre scènes de ballet Torenmuziek No. 3 for carillon, brass and percussion Nachtlied: metamorfosen over een avond- en een ochtendlied for 4- or 5-octave carillon Sic preludebat In de wind, Torenmuziek No. 4 for 3 carillons, 3 trumpets and snare drum Le cercle céleste for carillon 4-hands Groninger rapsodie Echo, Torenmuziek No. 5 for carillon 4-hands and brass ensemble Scarlattiana, Torenmuziek No. 6 for carillon and brass ensemble
;Organ
  • Sonata for organ
;Piano
  • Piano Sonata No. 1
  • Piano Sonata No. 2 Suite from the Ballet Music "Jan Klaassen op reis"
  • Sonatina
;VocalZes Rilke-liederen for low voice and piano ; words by Rainer Maria RilkeVolkswijze, 5 Songs for voice and piano ; words by J. SlauerhoffYoeng Poe Tsjoeng, 8 Songs on Old Chinese Poems for high voice and piano ; Dutch translation by J. SlauerhoffZes Slauerhoff-liederen for medium voice and piano or low voice and piano ; words by J. SlauerhoffCinq poèmes de François Villon for tenor and piano ; words by François Villon
;ChoralHolland for male chorus and piano or organ ; also for male chorus, carillon and brass ensemble; words by Carel Steven Adama van ScheltemaCantate campanae op randschriften van oude luid-, slag- en beiaardklokken for mixed chorus and orchestra with obligato piano Curaçau, Folk Song Arrangement for male chorus, wind ensemble As de boer 'n poar klompen aan het, Folk Song Arrangement for chorus and orchestra Ik zeg adieu, Folk Song Arrangement for chorus and orchestra In Holland staat een huis, Folk Song Arrangement for chorus and orchestra Onze patriotjes, Folk Song Arrangement for chorus and orchestra Cinq poèmes de Jacques Prévert for mixed chorus a cappella ; words by Jacques PrévertDaar het nu feest van Pasen is, Folk Song Arrangement for mixed chorus and chamber orchestra Nieuwjaarslied, Folk Song Arrangement for female chorus and chamber ensemble Te Laren op de dam, Folk Song Arrangement for male chorus and chamber ensemble Boerenjongs en wichter, Folk Song Arrangement for mixed chorus and orchestra 't Haasken, Folk Song Arrangement for mixed chorus and orchestra Weefliedje , Folk Song Arrangement for mixed chorus and orchestra Wie wil er mee naar Wieringen varen, Folk Song Arrangement for mixed chorus and orchestra Wel Anne Marieke, Folk Song Arrangement for mixed chorus and chamber orchestra Heederik-cantate for mixed chorus, orchestra and tape Sneeuw-liedje: volksliedje uit grootmoeders tijd, Folk Song Arrangement for unison chorus and orchestra Het zingende meisje: volksliedje uit grootmoeders tijd, Folk Song Arrangement for chorus of like voices and orchestra Huzaren-liedje, Folk Song Arrangement for chorus of like voices and orchestra Tancuj, tancuj , Folk Song Arrangement for chorus of like voices and orchestra Eine kleine Mozartreise: op gedichten en brief-fragmenten van Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart for mixed chorus and brass quintet or piano Windstreken: voor de verenigde ensembles van een muziekschool en geluidsband for children's chorus, ensemble and tape De vloed in klank, Oratorio for narrator, soloists, 3 choruses, 6 recorders, 3 organs, 2 orchestras and tape Le déluge: trois fragments tirés du mystère "Le déluge" d'Alfred de Vigny for mixed chorus a cappella In weer en wind for children's chorus and piano ; words by the composerMissa Nicolaï for mixed chorus, canto della comunità, brass, 2 organs Luctor et emergo: gedeelten uit het oratorium De vloed in klank for chamber chorus, male chorus, brass and 2 organs ; words by A. de Vigny, H. Marsman, M. Revis