Biography

Roots

Roland van Straaten is from a swiss-dutch family. He studied composition, musical theory and classical guitar at the conservatories in Zurich and Geneva. He was acquainted with other cultures at an early age, spending long periods in the United States and Italy, and traveling widely outside Europe.

Singer-songwriter

He started his career as singer-songwriter with songs that where written in Swiss German, reflecting Roland van Straaten's wish to relate to the language that is spoken in his native town.

Harmonica

Most of Straaten's work is underpinned by the harmonica, for which he has developed a playing technique that has released the instrument from its usual restraints. Straaten won several prizes and distinctions for his work, including the "Special Award for Outstanding Performance" at the First World Harmonica Championships on Jersey (Channel Islands).

Performance and Composition

He has performed as a soloist on many projects in Europe, Asia, North Africa, Israel, Brazil, the United States and the Caribbean. His compositions include scores for musicals, ballet, theater and film.

Blues Harp Concerto Nr.1

Commissioned by the Tonhalle-Gesellschaft Zurich, he wrote the "Blues Harp Concerto No.1" (for harmonica and orchestra) on the occasion of the centennial season 1995/96. The work was first performed in 2005 at the Tonhalle Zurich with the Zurich Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Wolfgang Czeipek.

Timeline

2018

Zurich, Switzerland

Paris, France

2017

Vitznau, Switzerland

Zurich, Switzerland

Seravezza, Italia

2016

Chur, Switzerland

Enna, Sicily

2015

Wandering Minstrel

Roland van Straaten traveled with a selected choice of favorite songs, like a musical monk with precious texts on his way into exile to the desert island. He played as a wandering minstrel on Italian village squares and also as a soloist in combination with classical church organ.

With Valter Pretelli, el-g & Sergio Baroni, perc

With Susanne Philipp, p-org

2014

Collaborations

Sometimes he sings with virtuoso instrumentalists around generously set mediterranean tables, sometimes he plays at night with friends on the marble steps of a awe inspiring cathedral - tapping with one hand chords on the guitar and moving with the other hand a blues harmonica to his lips.

With Jim Gulli, el-g