biography (october 2011)
Christopher de Groot is a
musician and composer from Perth, Western Australia. Primarily a
pianist he also works with an array of acoustic instruments (flute and
musical saw among others) as well as analogue synthesizers and writes
music for ensembles. De Groot has a special interest in the
relationship between music and film.
De Groot’s atypical attitude to film scoring has brought a unique depth and resonance to many of the film scores he has created. Working mainly with acoustic musicians and ensembles often in combination with electronics (but not sample instrument libraries) his music has featured on three independent feature films and 16 shorts. Much of his film work utilises interesting recording techniques such as recording directly to cassette tape (The Big Tip [Palinkas, 2011]), creating musique concrète scores from original acoustic recordings (The Director’s Cut [Komadina, 2009]) and unusual instrumental combinations through his Annexia ensemble. De Groot also has a keen interest in French impressionist silent films creating an original score to accompany Dimitri Kirsanoff’s Ménilmontant (1926) in 2009.
De Groot actively performs in various projects/groups including: free improvisation and improvised theatre (The Triple Threats with Tristen Parr and Callum Moncrieff), minimalist pop (Sir Thomas with Kitt Byfield, Callum Moncrieff and Mel Hall) and noise improvisation (with Sam Gillies and Callum Moncrieff).
De Groot has a particular affinity with the vibraphone and has an ongoing creative relationship with vibraphonist/percussionist Callum Moncrieff. Moncrieff has performed vibraphone in several of his film scores and has also commissioned original works for the instrument (most recently The Fourth Step – for vibraphone, cassette tape and narration).
De Groot was a participant in the 2010 West Australian Symphony Orchestra’s Composition Project. This project involved the composition of a new work for WASO’s Echo Chamber Orchestra, which culminated in a performance/recording at ABC studio 620, Perth, Western Australia. Other achievements include tenure as Artist In Residence at WAAPA, a Western Australian Screen Award for his feature film score The Director’s Cut (as well as two subsequent nominations [2010, 2011]), several short film scores and commissions by numerous chamber ensembles, most notably new music ensemble Decibel. De Groot is currently composing the soundtrack for Sam Barrett’s Italian inspired thriller Sororal.
De Groot holds a Masters degree in composition and is also a part-time staff member at the Western Australian Academy Of Performing Arts’ (WAAPA) composition department. He also works part time for arts organisation Tura New Music as Emerging Artist Coordinator.
De Groot’s atypical attitude to film scoring has brought a unique depth and resonance to many of the film scores he has created. Working mainly with acoustic musicians and ensembles often in combination with electronics (but not sample instrument libraries) his music has featured on three independent feature films and 16 shorts. Much of his film work utilises interesting recording techniques such as recording directly to cassette tape (The Big Tip [Palinkas, 2011]), creating musique concrète scores from original acoustic recordings (The Director’s Cut [Komadina, 2009]) and unusual instrumental combinations through his Annexia ensemble. De Groot also has a keen interest in French impressionist silent films creating an original score to accompany Dimitri Kirsanoff’s Ménilmontant (1926) in 2009.
De Groot actively performs in various projects/groups including: free improvisation and improvised theatre (The Triple Threats with Tristen Parr and Callum Moncrieff), minimalist pop (Sir Thomas with Kitt Byfield, Callum Moncrieff and Mel Hall) and noise improvisation (with Sam Gillies and Callum Moncrieff).
De Groot has a particular affinity with the vibraphone and has an ongoing creative relationship with vibraphonist/percussionist Callum Moncrieff. Moncrieff has performed vibraphone in several of his film scores and has also commissioned original works for the instrument (most recently The Fourth Step – for vibraphone, cassette tape and narration).
De Groot was a participant in the 2010 West Australian Symphony Orchestra’s Composition Project. This project involved the composition of a new work for WASO’s Echo Chamber Orchestra, which culminated in a performance/recording at ABC studio 620, Perth, Western Australia. Other achievements include tenure as Artist In Residence at WAAPA, a Western Australian Screen Award for his feature film score The Director’s Cut (as well as two subsequent nominations [2010, 2011]), several short film scores and commissions by numerous chamber ensembles, most notably new music ensemble Decibel. De Groot is currently composing the soundtrack for Sam Barrett’s Italian inspired thriller Sororal.
De Groot holds a Masters degree in composition and is also a part-time staff member at the Western Australian Academy Of Performing Arts’ (WAAPA) composition department. He also works part time for arts organisation Tura New Music as Emerging Artist Coordinator.