Duo Abrazo   In 2004 Rob Nijboer started Duo Abrazo with soprano Marian van der Heide. Although their main focus is on Spanish and South American music, it is possible to adjust the programme to include pieces from the Renaissance and Classical period. The songs and solo pieces for guitar are performed in an intimate atmosphere in a programme which is alternately virtuoso, passionate and tranquil. Click on the buttons to listen to music samples.

F. Sor - Las mujeres y cuerdas   M. de Falla - Seguidilla Murciana   M. de Falla - Nana   M. de Falla - Polo   J. Rodrigo - Pastorcito santo   E. Blázquez - Gracias a pesar de todo

Marian van der Heide
 
Soprano Marian van der Heide studied at the Prins Claus Conservatory in Groningen and graduated in 1990 as a Performing Musician. She continued her studies with Ann Monoyios in Paris and is currently being coached by Ronald Klekamp in Haarlem in The Netherlands. Her repertoire is many-sided. As a member of the ensemble Super Librum, with medieval music, she performed at home and abroad in Italy and Switzerland and recorded several CDs.

Marian took part in various baroque ensembles and is a regular singer of Bach cantatas, for instance in the cantata series of the Nieuwe Kerk in Groningen. She also sang recitals by Romantic as well as modern composers, including George Crumb and Elwood Derr. She played the leading part in the stage version of the chamber opera The Telephone by A. Menotti. Marian van der Heide and guitarist Rob Nijboer constitute Duo Abrazo with Spanish and South American repertoire.

 
  A. Piazzolla - Bordel 1900
  A. Piazzolla - Café
  H. Villa-Lobos - Etude

Rob Nijboer & Wim de Bos
 
The unique combination of clarinet and guitar led for both instrumentalists to new angles and insights in playing their instruments. With the clarinet there is the development from a full rich orchestral playing to an intimate approach and search for refinement. Because there are not many original compositions for this musical combination, there is the necessity to be very creative in finding and adapting repertoire. The programme consists not only of works from Piazzolla and Villa-Lobos, but also their own compositions and improvisations. Listen to music samples on the left.

Wim de Bos has studied clarinet with Bas de Jong and Sjef Douwes at the Conservatoria of Utrecht and The Hague in The Netherlands. After this study he was occupied with music from the Romantic period in different chamber music ensembles and settings. He also developed a fascination for music from other cultures and in doing so he studied the vast developed rhythmic and melodic qualities of Arabian music as well as the fascinating and complex rhythms of the music of South America.