Biography Quirijn van Regteren Altena
Double bassist Quirijn van Regteren Altena enjoys a diverse musical life by combining his activities as a soloist, chamber music player and orchestral musician.
Mr. Altena was principal double bass of the Residentie Orchestra The Hague for 20 years and a member of the world renowned ASKO|Schönberg Ensemble for 25 years. Currently he is professor of double bass at the Royal Conservatory of Music in The Hague as well as the Utrecht Conservatory.
Mr. Altena has toured extensively throughout Europe and the U.S. along with pianist Peter Beijersbergen van Henegouwen performing on his 1720 Giovanni Baptista Grancino double bass.
As a soloist he has commissioned many works for his instrument by composers such as Maarten Altena, Louis Andriessen, Patrick van Deurzen, Ron Ford, Roy Nachshon and Roel van Oosten.
Four of these compositions have been featured on his critically acclaimed CD’s “Characters” (Olympia Records OCD 467), and “Pantomime” (Aristo 1002). As part of the 2016 Thomas de Hartmann Project (BASTA Music), Quirijn Altena released a recording of the previously unknown double bass Concerto by this composer.
Alongside the Cuban saxophonist and composer Paquito D’Rivera he has performed “Conversations with Cachao” accompanied by the Dutch Metropole Orchestra.
His interest in finding new venues and new ways of engaging audiences lead Quirijn van Regteren Altena to create “Romance with Double Bass”, a concert-movie experience based on the Chekov short story. As featured Carte Blanche Artist of the Muziekgebouw Amsterdam, he produced a unique concert experience where film is accompanied by live music, actor and musician both being Quirijn van Regteren Altena.
His collaboration with Ernst Oosterveld in the duo ZEQ-Attack has led to many projects including the development of a new Hybrid set up for the double bass: channeling unique sounds from the instrument with the use of the computer while improvising in various contexts. This interesting exploration began in 2003 with the Schönberg Ensemble´s commission of a new work entitled “SEQ” featuring the Zeta Bass. Their partnership is a continuing musical journey, pushing the envelope by combining traditional compositions, computer triggered music and improvisation, searching for new soundscapes.