Ludwig Albert
Ludwig Albert enjoys international recognition and ranks among the very top as a leading Belgian marimba player. He is regarded as one of the most successful marimbists and pedagogues of his generation. After obtaining a First Prize in Percussion, a Higher Diploma and a specialised Master’s degree in marimba at the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp, he further refined his musical talent through intensive study with the Japanese marimba virtuoso Keiko Abe. From 1996 onwards, he performed with her on various international concert tours, including "Keiko Abe plays Keiko Abe" (Belgium 1996), "Ludwig Albert in concert" (Osaka Japan 1996), the "Keiko Abe Charity Gala Concert" (Japan 1996), the Belgian tour "Dialogue in Nature, K. Abe & L. Albert in concert" (1997 and 2000) and the Japanese tour "Dialogue in Nature" (1997).
Starting in 1995 Ludwig Albert searched for new sound combinations and founded the duo ‘Patrasche’ with the unique combination of marimba and voice. As true pioneers of this combination, they developed a style of their own and inspired several artists and composers to create new music for this strength. They mainly perform Albert’s own compositions, creations and improvisations, all based on international traditional folksongs. Their musical combination evokes a fascinating world. For their first album ‘Japanese Impressions’, prefaced by Keiko Abe, they received international outstanding critics and were regular invited guests at several dedicated radio broadcasts and festivals. In 2002 they released their second album ‘Impressions of the Low Countries’ and are preparing their newest production for release in 2011.
In 1996, he founded the organization ‘Marimba-Projects’ with the purpose to develop the marimba by organizing marimba events and pedagogical projects. He founded in 2000 the ‘Universal Marimba Competition & Festival of Belgium’ and is related as Artistic Director to this prestigious event, his international Marimba Academy, the Keiko Abe International Academy and the Flanders Marimba Ensemble. With the aid of the Royal Conservatory Antwerp he created and founded for several years a marimba department offering Europe’s first official marimba master degree. Helping to drive this program is the Ludwig Albert pioneering Movement Method designed to reach ultimate sound and musicality.
Showered with several titles, he recorded 8 label albums: ‘Japanese Impressions’, ‘Marimba Paraphrases’, ‘Marimba Dances’, ‘Impressions of the Low Countries’, ‘Marimba Christmas Fantasy’, ‘Marimba Selections’, ‘Marimba Waves’ and ‘Global Marimba’ with mainly his own dedicated works, arrangements, improvisations and first recordings. Recently he signed with an American label and will release 4 new albums during 2011-2012. He appeared over a decade as a ‘Yamaha Artist’. From 2011 he’s related as Adams endorser and assisted in the construction of the Ludwig Albert concert model, released by Adams company from 2011. This honor is presented for the first time to a European marimbist.
He astonished his audience by playing in premiere the marimba with 8 mallets and is the first European marimbist using special designed decors and light directions during his performances, with the purpose to introduce the marimba to a larger audience. For over a decade he performed several international tours with the cooperation of significant artists, ensembles and orchestras and is receiving invitations worldwide as a regular guest to perform solo recitals, concertos with orchestra and master classes at significant festivals and universities in Belgium, Spain, Argentina, Mexico, Russia, Japan, Colombia, Austria, Brazil, USA, China, Taiwan, Netherlands, France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Hong Kong, Hungary, Poland, Korea, Lithuania, Uruguay and more.
He’s titular professor of marimba at the marimba department at the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp (Artesis Hogeschool) and titular professor of the percussion and marimba department at the Lemmens Institute (Hogeschool Leuven). He’s guest professor at the Universidad Nacional de las Artes in Chiapas Mexico, doctorandus at the University of Antwerp and serves as President of the Percussive Arts Society USA chapter Belgium. He appeared abroad as jury member at international competitions in Russia, Spain, Mexico, France, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Croatia, Lithuania and more.
For his celebrations of 10 and 15 years of career, he released a new double album ‘Global Marimba’, appeared in a Belgian mass production with more than 15,000 spectators and performed in 2006 a sold out Belgian concert tour ‘Ludwig Albert & guests, a decade’ and a sold out Russian tour with a new production ‘Orient Express’. This successful production received coverage on Russian national TV news. His total repertory is published and distributed worldwide by Beurskens music editions NL and his signature mallet line is produced by Innovative Percussion USA.
Well known as one of the rare outstanding lyrical performers and praised for his unique warm sound, he’s honored with several awards such as the Percussion Award of Honour 2001, and is praised by international media and press with critics often describing him on major broadcasts and printings with phrases such as, Refined variegated compositions, Excellent sensitive virtuoso performance, Extraordinary clarity, Belgian artist at the top in the marimba world, Tremendous popular marimbist performs with 8 mallets and many more accolades.
