Mark Van Overmeire | World music & Classical music
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'Angkor' - Symphonic suite by Mark Van Overmeire
With Angkor, Mark Van Overmeire has composed a collection of eight symphonic impressions of Southeast Asia.
These musical short stories are based on the composer's experiences while touring the region.
The mysterious aura that hangs like a veil around the famous temple ruins of Angkor is evoked through a combination of Balinese gamelan sounds and an ethereal violin melody. Then, sounds of dance rhythms take us hundreds of years back in time to a Khmer celebration that might have taken place here. The brass section evokes the splendour and grandeur of the royal court. Suddenly, the atmosphere changes as the decline of the kingdom is expressed through menacing Japanese taiko drums and rising and ...
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Angkor (preview) - Available on CD and as Digital Download on our webshop.
Impresiones (preview) - Available on CD and as Digital Download on our webshop.
© Pablo Vicente
The release of the classical/world music CD Impresiones in November 2003 made a strong impact on the world music scene. The CD was conceived after a 4 year stay in South America. The music on 'Impresiones' is, according to Henri Brun from KRTU, a mixture of world music and elegance all in one.
Beautiful and evocative, the music on 'Impresiones' received worldwide radio broadcastings and introduced Mark Van Overmeire to an audience of classical/world music aficionados in many countries.
Mark's classical/world music CD Angkor, released in November 2011, is inspired by places and events in Southeast Asia. All music on 'Angkor' is performed by the Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra. Guest musicians, such as Grammy Award winning drum legend Dave Weckl (known for his work with jazz icon Chick Corea) and avant-garde cellist Arne Deforce, participate on 'Angkor'.
Biography
Mark was born in Sint-Amandsberg, Belgium on April 2, 1968 but grew up in the mesmerizing town of Bruges. World music sparkled his imagination when he was well in his teens and he started studying music when he was 15 years old learning the basics of drums and guitar.
At the age of 17 Mark entered the intriguing world of composition to master the fundamental rules of classical music. At that time he got interested in the exciting rhythms of jazz and studied jazz harmony.
His fascination for the rhythms of drums, world percussion and exotic music of other cultures led Mark to make a decision that would change his life forever. He left the country with nothing more than a backpack and headed to a continent full of untold mysteries... South America.
The existential journey would have Mark in its grip for 4 years. After his return some of the stories had to be told and this led to the release of his first full CD Impresiones.
The concept of writing classical/world music inspired by travel experiences works very well for Mark. Southeast Asia was backpacked for a few months in 2004. After returning home in January 2005 Mark started composing music for a new album. Due to the ambitious scope, both artistically and financially, production of the album was put on hold many times. It was only in 2010 a budget to work with a symphony orchestra was secured by Mark. The CD Angkor, with works inspired by his journey in Southeast Asia, was released on CD and Digital Download in 2011.
Mark currently resides in Ghent, Belgium.