musicentry loader
Peter Kerkelov - Composer

Peter Kerkelov - Composer

Peter Kerkelov, born in 1984, is a Bulgarian freelance composer since 2012. As of 2017 Kerkelov is represented exclusively by the Dutch Contemporary Music Publishing House Donemus. Kerkelov’s music possesses ascetic sincerity and deep straightness. His works very often cross over the limits of simple sound games and aim to the field of philosophy.
Share

Career
Peter Kerkelov is a freelance composer since 2012.

As of 2017 Kerkelov is represented exclusively by the Dutch Contemporary Music Publishing House DONEMUS (http://donemus.nl/peter-kerkelov/)

Current projects include commission by Radio France for vocal ensemble Les Cris De Paris directed by Geoffroy Jourdain scheduled for 2023, an hour long vocal monodrama/music-theater “Songs of the Primitive I” inspired by the Eleusinian Mysteries and written for the Ukrainian-German soprano, conductor and activist Vitoria Vitrenko as well as a performance by ensemble unitedberlin. 

Peter Kerkelov is Lead Research Assistant in Ethnomusicology at Institute of Art Studies in Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Previously he was appointed as a teacher in Counterpoint and Orchestration at AMDFA and served as “expert stage activity” and music score librarian at State Opera-Plovdiv. Prior to that, he was appointed as a classical guitar teacher at National School of Music and Dance Arts “Dobrin Petkov”, Plovdiv.

Previous projects include commissions by Trio Imàge (Berlin), Ensemble CRUSH (Germany), State Opera-Plovdiv, ppIANISSIMO Festival, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Bulgarian National Radio, Dutch Chamber Music Society, Royal Conservatoire-The Hague among others.

Kerkelov’s music has been performed in Bulgaria, The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Russia, Ukraine, Armenia and the USA in distinguished venues such as Konzerthaus Wien, Gaudeamus Music Week, BOZAR Brussels, Teatro Massimo-Palermo in performances by Asko/Schoenberg Ensemble, “Bang on a Can All-Stars”, Ensemble PHACE (Austria), Ensemble “Musica Nova-Sofia”, Sofia Soloists with Krassimir Sterev, Ruysdael Kwartet (The Netherlands), Antonii Baryshevskyi (Ukraine), Hayk Melikyan (Armenia) among others.

Next to that he has a fruitful collaboration with Bulgarian National Radio, where up to date he has recorded: ‘Time Etudes‘ with the Orchestra and Choir of BNR with Israeli soprano Reut Rivka Shabi under Dragomir Yossifov; ‘Attempt at Screaming‘ with Ensemble Music Nova-Sofia under Dr. Yossifov; ‘Two Symphonies and Postumus‘ with string quartet FROSCH (Bulgaria).

Education
Peter Kerkelov holds a PhD degree in Ethnomusicology from Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Master’s degree in composition from Royal Conservatoire, The Hague where he studied under Martijn Padding and Guus Janssen, as well Master’s in composition from Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts (AMDFA), Plovdiv, Bulgaria, where his teacher was prof. Dimitar Tapkoff. From AMDFA he has also a Bachelor degree in classical guitar and music pedagogy with teachers Milena and Valentin Valchev. In 2006-2007, as an exchange student he studied composition under prof. Dan Dediu in National University of Music, Bucharest, Romania.

Selected for masterclasses with Louis Andriessen, David Lang and Kaija Saariaho.

Compositions
Kerkelov’s music possesses ascetic sincerity and profound straightforwardness. Though gaming with repetitive overtone-based melodic structures with multiple, self-reflecting transmigrations, his works very often cross over the limits of mere sonic games and aim to the fields of philosophy, to those other art forms – elements of which he integrates in his conceptions. Highlights in his list of works are:

In 2018-2019, commissioned by State Opera-Plovdiv to write ‘’The Pied Piper and the Cars’’ - Music theater-Ballet for children for soprano, bass, two choirs, wind instruments, percussion and electronics. On libretto by Dragomir Yossifov based on self-titled story by Gianni Rodari. Staged by the Russian choreographer Liliya Burdinskaya.   

In 2015, he wrote ‘’Time Etudes’’ for orchestra, two choirs and voice solo, originally commissioned by Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France later on to be commissioned by Bulgarian National Radio.

In 2017 he was commissioned by Apollonia Festival of Arts to compose ‘’Windows and Oranges’’ for accordion and string orchestra. The piece was premiered by Krassimir Sterev (KLANGFORUM Wien) and Chamber Ensemble Sofia Soloists under Plamen Djouroff.

The string quartet ‘Two Symphonies and Postumus‘ was commissioned by the Dutch Chamber Music Society on its 100th Anniversary, and was written for Ruysdael Kwartet, who premiered the work.

In 2011, he composed ‘Attempt at Screaming‘  for ASKO/Schoenberg Ensemble.

As a part of 2010 “New York comes to The Hague” project, he wrote ‘HORO‘ for Bang on a Can-All Stars.

Awards

In 2012, Kerkelov won 59th International Rostrum of Composers in Stockholm in “under 30” category with “Attempt at Screaming”

In 2016, his ‘Time Etudes‘ received “Top 10 recommended work” in “General” category at 63rd International Rostrum of Composers in Wroclaw

Finalist at Sentierri Selvaggi Composition Competition, Milano

Scholarship from Richard-Wagner-Stipendienstiftung – Bayreuth

Twice awarded “Grant for artistic high education” by Schuurman Schimmel-van Outeren Stichting

Twice awarded “Scholarship for classical music” by Raina Kabaivanska Foundation

 

  • Facebook page : Peter Kerkelov (composer's page)

-  Listen to Peter Kerkelov's stream - SoundCloud

-  Listen to Peter Kerkelov's YouTube channel

 

C O M P O S I T I O N S  :

The Pied Piper and the Cars (opera-ballet for children)

Instrumentation: 3.2.2.2.-2.2.3.1.-batt. (x2)-arpa-piano-electronic sounds-soprano solo-bass solo-two choirs-children choir

Year: 2018-2019

Dur. (min.): 67

Premiere 26.10.2019 “Boris Christoff” House of Culture, Plovdiv Bulgaria Orchestra, Choir, Children...

  - Here is a video of the full staged performance with English subtitles: https://youtu.be/qhf2zeAQAQs

  - Here is a video to  audio only video of the full opera with English subtitles: https://youtu.be/eiBIVwq2m7g 

 

Ecstatic eruptions…

Instrumentation: Vno, Vc, Pfte

Year: 2019

Dur. (min.): 10

Premiere 15.09.2019 perf. by Trio Imãge (Berlin), Duisbirger Philharmoniker, Duisburg, Germany Info/Program notes: Commissioned by and written for Trio Imãge...

 

Night and Day Hymns

Instrumentation: Piano Solo

Year: 2018

Dur. (min.): 10

Premiere 27.04.2018 perf. by Hayk Melikyan (Armenia) in Bulgarian National Radio Concert Hall (during ppIANISSIMO FESTIVAL) Info/Program notes: Commissioned by ppIANISSIMO FESTIVAL and written for Hayk Melikyan...

 

Windows and Oranges

Instrumentation: Accordion and String orchestra 4.4.3.2.1.

Year: 2017

Dur. (min.): 9:30

Premiere 30.08.2017 during Apollonia Festival of Arts at Amphitheater – Sozopol, Bulgaria perf. by Krassimir Sterev (acc) and Sofia Soloists under Plamen Djouroff...

 

Coordinates of a Temple

Instrumentation: fl. (fl. alto), cl. (cl. basso), accordion, pno (prepared and amplified), vno, vc

Year: 2017

Dur. (min.): 11

Premiere 25.10.2017 perf. by Ensemble CRUSH at Studio 1 in Bulgarian National Radio during Agitato – Sofia Chamber Music Festival...

 

Time Etudes

Instrumentation: 3322-223-2perc., pno/celesta, arpa-2 cori femminili, voce solo-9vni, 4vc, 4cb

Year: 2013-2015

Dur. (min.): 22

Premiere 22-26 Feb. 2016 recording sessions at the Bulgarian National Radio Orchestra and Female Stuff from Mixed Choir of Bulgarian National...

 

Melody and Vibrations

Instrumentation: percussion (one performer)

Year: 2014

Dur. (min.): 12

Premiere t.b.a. Info/Program notes: Written for Konstantyn Napolov Listen

 

Two Symphonies and Postumus

Instrumentation: 2Vni, Vla, Vc

Year: 2011-2012

Dur. (min.): 18

Premiere 11 Nov. 2012 Diligentia Theater, The Hague on the 100th Anniversary Dutch Chamber Music Society by Ruysdael Kwartet Info/Program notes: Commissioned by the Dutch Chamber Music Society.The...

 

Two Iranian Songs

Instrumentation: fl, cl, perc, arpa, mezzo sopr., vla, vc

Year: 2012

Dur. (min.): 7

Premiere 06 May 2016 Arnold Schoenberg Zaal Royal Conervatory The Hague | Veronique van der Meijden Info/Program notes:...

 

…In Memoriam Dimitar Tapkov Without External Sound

Instrumentation: voice and percussion

Year: 2011

Dur. (min.): 16

Premiere 05 Sept. 2011 Royal Conservatoire, The Hague Opening Ceremony by Reut Rivka Shabi and Paula Brouwer Info/Program notes: Commissioned by Royal Conservatoire The...

 

Attente

Instrumentation: amplified chamber ensemble amplified ens. (sopr. sax, tenor sax, trb, perc, pno, keyboard, b. gtr.

Year: 2011

Dur. (min.): 2

Premiere 05 Mar 2011 Korzo, The Hague by Ensemble KLANG Info/Program notes: Written for official opening of Korzo Theather...

 

Attempt at Screaming

Instrumentation: ob. (cor ingl.), cl. in B (cl. in Es), tr, perc, pno, vla, vc

Year: 2011

Dur. (min.): 13

Premiere 15 Apr. 2011 World Music and Dance Center, Rotterdam by ASKO/Schoenberg Ens. under Bas Wiegers Info/Program notes: Written for ASKO/Schoenberg Ensemble...

 

Five Songs on Bulgarian Folk Lyrics

Instrumentation: voice/ cymbal and guitar

Year: 2010

Dur. (min.): 18

Premiere 21 May 2012 Korzo Theater, The Hague by Veronique van der Meijden and Yiannis Giagourtas Info/Program notes: Written for Duo CaJon Other Performances: 07 Mar. 2011 Union of Bulgarian...

 

Horo

Instrumentation: el. gtr, cl. basso, perc, keyboard, vc, cb (all instruments amplified)

Year: 2010

Dur. (min.): 18

Premiere 12 Apr 2010 Korzo Theater, The Hague by Bang on a Can-All stars Info/Program notes: Written for Bang on a Can-All Stars within New York comes to...

 

Eremia

Instrumentation: fl, 2 cl, tr, pno, perc, vno, vla, vc, cb

Year: 2007-2008

Dur. (min.): 11

Premiere 19 Apr 2010 Union of Bulgarian Composers Concert Hall, Sofia by ens. Music Nova-Sofia under Dragomir Yossifov

 

Sonata

Instrumentation: violin and piano

Year: 2007

Dur. (min.): 20

Premiere 12 Feb 2009 Union of Bulgarian Composers Concert Hall, Sofia by Nedialcho Todorov and Tatiana Gigova Info/Program notes: Dedicated to Nedialcho...

 

Father

Instrumentation: voice, vc, pno

Year: 2006-2007

Dur. (min.): 10

Premiere May 2008 Academy of Music, Dance and Fine arts Concert Hall by Vladimir Nikov, Magdalena Chikcheva and Velislava Karagenova Info/Program notes: in the Memory of my father Atanas Other...

 

Six miniatures

Instrumentation: violin and viola

Year: 2006

Dur. (min.): 9

Premiere Apr 2007 Academy of Music, Dance and Fine arts, Plovdiv by Nedialcho Todorov and Ivelina Hristova

Selected Performances of music by Peter Kerkelov

2023

New composition t.b.a.

Les Cris De Paris (France) under Geoffroy Jourdain

Radio France Recording Studio,Paris, France

 

2022

Songs of the Primitive I

Viktoria Vitrenko

Germany, Bulgaria

 

2019

22/12/2019

Night and Day Hymns

Antonii Baryshvvskyi (Ukraine)

National Philharmonic Concert Hall,Kiev, Ukraine

9/11/2019

The Piece Piper and the Cars

Orchestra, Choir, Children Choir and Ballet of State Opera-Plovdiv

“Boris Christoff House of Culture” Concert Hall, Plovdiv, BG

 26/10/2019

The Piece Piper and the Cars

Orchestra, Choir, Children Choir and Ballet of State Opera-Plovdiv

“Boris Christoff House of Culture” Concert Hall, Plovdiv, BG

15/9/2019

Ecstatic eruptions…

Trio Imΰge (Berlin) Duisburger Philharmoniker,

Duisburg, Germany

30/3/2019

Coordinates of a Temple

Ensemble CRUSH (Germany)

March Music Days Festival,Ruse, BG

 

2018

10/12/2018

Night and Day Hymns

Hayk Melikyan (Armenia)

Komitas Museum, Yerevan, Armenia

27/4/2018

Night and Day Hymns

Hayk Melikyan (Armenia)

Bulgarian National Radio Concert Hall, Sofia, BG

 

2017

25/10/2017

Coordinates of a Temple

Ensemble CRUSH (Germany)

Bulgarian National Radio, Sofia, BG

(during Agitato Sofia Chamber Festival)

 25/10/2017

Attempt at Screaming

Ensemble Musica Contemporanea V. Bellini Conservatory

Teatro Massimo, Palermo, IT

15/10/2017

Horo

Contemporanea Interactive Art Ensemble

Sofia Live Club, National Palace of Culture, Sofia, BG

30/8/2017

Windows and Oranges

Krassimir Sterev and Sofia Soloists, under Plamen Djouroff

Apollonia Festival of Arts, Sozopol, BG

 

2016

11/12/2016

Attempt at Screaming

Thallein Ensemble,

UK BOZAR, Brussels

 22-26/2/2016

Time Etudes

Orchestra and Female Choir of Bulgarian National Radio with Reut Rivka Shabi-soprano

Recording Sessions at the Bulgarian National Radio

 

2015

5/3/2015

Attempt at Screaming

Ensemble “Musica Nova” under Dragomir Yossifov

Chamber Hall “Bulgaria” Sofia, Bulgaria

 

2013

11-12/12/2013

Two Symphonies and Postumus

Frosch String Quartet

Recording Sessions at the Bulgarian National Radio

23/10/2013

Horo

Ensemble PHACE Under Simeon Pironkoff

Konzerthaus Wien Berio-saal Vienna, Austria

20/10/2013

Horo

Ensemble PHACE Under Simeon Pironkoff

Konzerthaus Wien (100th Anniversary) Schubert-saal

Vienna, Austria

4/4/2013

Two Symphonies and Postumus

Frosch String Quartet

Union of Bulgarian Composers (UBC) Hall Sofia, Bulgaria

 

2012

11/11/2012

Two Symphonies and Postumus

Ruysdael Kwartet

Diligentia Theater The Hague, The Netherlands

(100th Anniversary Dutch Chamber MusicSociety

7/9/2012

Five Songs on Bulgarian Folk Lyrics

Reut Rivka Shabi – voice

Peter Kerkelov – guitar

Huis a/d Werf Utrecht, The Netherlands

(during Gaudeamus Music Week)

 21/5/2012

Five Songs on Bulgarian Folk Lyrics

Veronique van der Mijeden – voice

Yiannys Giagourtas - guitar

Korzo theater The Hague, The Netherlands

 

2011

25-26/10/2011

Attempt at Screaming

Ensemble “Musica Nova” under Dragomir Yossifov

Recording Sessions at the Bulgarian National Radio

05/9/2011

…in memoriam Dimitar Tapkov “Without External Sound”

Reut Rivka Shabi – voice

Paula Brouwer – perc.

Royal Conservatoire The Hague

24/6/2011

Attempt at Screaming

Ensemble “Musica Nova” under Dragomir Yossifov

UBC Concert Hall Sofia, Bulgaria

16/4/2011

Attempt at Screaming

ASKO/Schoenberg Ens.under Bas Wiegers

Korzo theater The Hague, The Netherelands

15/4/2011

Attempt at Screaming

ASKO/Schoenberg Ens.under Bas Wiegers

World Music and Dance Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands

14/3/2011

Horo (for orchestra)

Vratsa Symphony Orchestra under Valeri Vachev

UBC Concert Hall (during New Music Preview Festival) Sofia, Bulgaria

7/3/2011

Five Songs on Bulgarian Folk Lyrics

Olga Mihailova – voice

Valentin Valchev - guitar

UBC Concert Hall (during New Music Preview Festival)

Sofia, Bulgaria

 

2010

19/4/2010

Eremia

Ensemble “Musica Nova” under Dragomir Yossifov

UBC Concert Hall (during New Music Preview Festival)

Sofia, Bulgaria

12/4/2010

Horo (for amplified ens.)

Bang on a Can All-Stars (New York)

Korzo theater – The Hague, The Netherlands

Cookies help us improve our services. By using our website, you agree to the use of cookies.