Born: 1935, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

“Music should be about emotions and experiences, time and surroundings – besides being about music – no matter to what extent these are concealed or stylized.”

The son of a composer, Ketting studied trumpet at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague and composition with his father. He played trumpet in the Hague Residentie-Orkest for seven years, before quitting for further composition study with Karl Amadeus Hartmann in Munich. Writing from a modernist perspective that takes in tonality and atonality equally, Ketting has created works in most genres of classical music, from symphonies to solo piano works, including a number of film scores. His opera Ithaka was composed for the official opening of the Amsterdam Muziektheater in 1986.

Further listening:Symphony No. 1 (1959)Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra,Hans Rosbaud (RCO Live)