Zanten, Charles van
Biography
Born: 02/01/1954
Country: Utrecht, Holland
Studies:
Teachers: Jan Smit
Website:
My father was my musical inspiration. He was a wind musician in various orchestras (including the Salvation Army, Harmonie Orchest Utrecht). At the age of 7 I started taking trombone lessons with the Harmonie Orchest Utrecht. When I was 8, I switched from trombone to small ('flat'!) drum and became a member of the drum band of this orchestra, led by Sgt. Major W. Brand and Sgt. Major De Leeuw. I received my first tambour/drum lessons from the Koch brothers from Utrecht. Phenomenal drummers back then! I switched from the drum band to the orchestra and was active as a concert percussionist and drummer for quite a number of years. At the time, the orchestra was led by trumpeter Willy Schobben, a professional conductor from whom I learned a lot. I then took drum lessons with the Utrecht professional drummer Jan Smit and classical percussion with Mrs. Franken (USO) in Montfoort.
In addition to playing in the Harmony Orchestra Utrecht, I played for many years in a Spanish Dance Orchestra founded in the Netherlands (Los Devis and later Los Rumberos) and played a lot in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. At that time he also played a lot in various (wind) orchestras and (occasional) bands.
In Military service (Light 74-1) I played with the Drum and Trumpet Corps of the Band of the Royal Air Force under the direction of Sgt. Major Eykhout and later Rudy Böhmer, also worked as a percussionist in the occasional “dance (mop) orchestra” of the trumpet corps.
After leaving military service, I quickly obtained the national music diplomas A, B, C and D (all with distinction) for percussion. I completed a two-year course as Percussion Instructor (BVOI) with the unfortunately deceased teacher Leo Pustjens in Venlo and obtained my diploma with distinction. Also followed a tambour maitre training with Jan Peeters at the CVA in Vught.
As an artistic inspirer of the Promusic Foundation (PMF), he devised the Première Festival concept (hafabra percussion) and performed it twice. I have been a member and board member of the Association of Orchestra Conductors (Department of Instructors) and was appointed “Member of Merit”. Together with Rinus Vuijk and Ria Mombarg Bosman, I wrote a policy plan for the instructors department that, among other things, advocated the integration of the instructor as a full-fledged artistic leader within the association.
After obtaining the BVO diploma, he was active as an instructor in various percussion groups in the region (including the Utrecht Police Music Association). As a teacher, I was able to train many students to become percussionists at the associations where I was active.
Was the artistic director of the Melody Percussion Band of Kunst na Arbeid Houten for twenty years. This band has won many great 1st prizes at national federation (FKM) competitions and national championships, from the lowest to the highest division. In addition to the first official Dutch (Federal) Championship, also twice a gold medal at WMC! With the MPB/KNA we have played a lot of innovative music during our own devised projects such as Percussionality and Meeting Mallets.
Until 2015, he was artistic director of the percussion ensemble and steel band of the Dutch Police Orchestra. From 2013 to 2017, artistic leader of the percussion group and samba band of De Douane Harmonie Nederland. We had an inspiring, beautiful and wonderful time with both ensembles!
Together with colleague Ruud De Ligt we have set up the very successful project The Premier Vintage Percussion Group (see YouTube and enter the name!). This project was concluded on March 17, 2011 with a fantastic concert in the De Slinger theater in Houten. I have written substantive articles for the trade magazine of the Royal Dutch Federation of Music Societies (KNFM). On behalf of the KNFM, I was a member of the music committee of the international music organization CISM.
Was partly responsible for the founding of the first National Youth Percussion Ensemble led by Leo Pustjens. For Samo Nederland/Unisono, later Kunstfactor (now LKCA), contributed to the preparation of the national Master Plan for the Drum Band Sector. Was the initiator of national projects such as Slagkracht (with Peter Kil and Ria Kornet), World Percussion On Tour (with the unfortunately deceased Victor Oskam), Guiness Book of Record events (Houten/Bunschoten Spakenburg/Uithuizenmeeden).
As a composer/music writer, I wrote a number of challenging works for the amateur percussion sector in the 1980s and 1990s, including Emotions of Life, Herald of Free Enterprise, Futuroscoop and Streetlife, which were “revolutionary” at the time and have now become part of the “standard repertoire”. I have been the owner of the Da Capo Music publishing house since 1982 and co-owner of the Dutch Music Partners publishing house since 2002.
From 1982 to 2019, I worked as a policy/project employee/advisor for Amateur Art and Art in the Neighborhoods, at the Social Development Department, Cultural Affairs department of the municipality of Utrecht. In this position, together with colleagues, I was able to realize many special projects and help (music) associations on their way to a bright and better future.
Works for Percussion
Small Ensemble
Percussion Party - Percussion Sextet
Windfall (Zanten) - Percussion Octet
Large Ensemble
Playa Caliente - Percussion 15
Turnings - Percussion 14
References