On Saturday and Sunday 29-30 November 1997 composer and pianist Paul Steegmans recorded, together with about thirty Limburgian musicians, a CD with nice works from Paul Steegmans himself on it. Ludo Claesen rendered his assistance to this CD as well as vibraphonist and conductor. The works on this CD follow one another in a varied strength. A number of compositions have a religious character and get rather a mystical, impressionistic expression which sometimes bears close to jazz, such as in “Inventie” or is close to the folklore as in “6 sacrale dansen voor 2 piano’s.” Other works are closer to delicate and charming salon music and are colourfully built up,
sometimes introvert, sometimes brilliant so as for example in “2 Orkestwalsen”. Some creations are based on well-known tunes. “Met Bach op de koffie” or expert orchestrations of “Blue rondo à la Turk”, “Bluesette-variatie”. The Italian composer Pietro Ferrario described it as a CD full of serene and also nostalgic moments with influences of jazz, nice orchestrations and delicious arrangements. The CD was presented in ‘Het Cultureel Centrum’ of Genk on 26th March 1998.
A golden thread runs through the music of Paul Steegmans. His first contact with music as a choir boy has apparently resulted in his compositions having an exciting melodic line. His works are a compelling whole of wonderful melodies, strong rhythm and … in every bar there is a mischievous or a splashing rhythm. His creativity reveals itself with a lively nature and his musical whole is balanced.
Brief and to the point: it's craftsmanship. (Hugo Joris) His compositions are considered as "rich in ideas" (Mirec Cerny), "expressive"(Edmond Saveniers), "melodious and neo-classical" (Jacques Van Deun), "fascinating and attractive" (Guido De Neve), "very personal and attractive"(Hugo Heughebaert), "playful and creative" (Carl Van Eyndhoven) "impressive and varied" (Jan Van de Roost) “masterly” (Thomas Ziegner) “a musical language full of emotion and modern music with good taste” (Frits Celis) The composer describes his stile as modern with influences of Romanticism and impressionism. He attaches a lot of value to melody and colour. Influenced by his talent for improvisation he is able to construct inspired compositions with rich ideas.
Paul Steegmans was born on July 3, 1957, in Hasselt, Belgium, where he still lives to this day. In 1980 he was awarded diploma 'Laureate in piano and music education' and in 1985 he received the coveted first fugue prize. Since 1981 he has striven to achieve perfection under the tutelage of J. De Tiège and J. Franssen in the Netherlands. He started as a soloist, accompanist and improviser throughout Europe, such as Germany, Sweden and England but also in Israel and Cuba.
Paul Steegmans' piano, organ and guitar works and also his chamber music have been commended in the highest orders of merit. He became a laureate of the composition contest 'Baron Flor Peeters', Cantabile (twice), and received the 'Albert de Vleeschouwer' prize. He finished his composition studies under W. Kersters with a first prize composition.
Paul Steegmans' compositions were performed in Japan, Taiwan, Finland, Lithuania, Costa Rica and even in Cuba. In this country he gave a concert and he performed his own works together with the national choir.
Since 1980 Paul Steegmans has been passing on his skills teaching piano and accompaniment at the school of music in Genk, and also as a guest teacher of 'practical harmony' at the Lemmens Institute in Louvain.
This grandiose composition was commissioned by the Comité Zevenjaarlijkse Virga-Jessefeesten and was the apotheosis of the Virga-Jessefeesten 2003. In this oratorio, of which most of the poems were written by René Geldof, the composer tries to find an answer to important existential questions. Stad van Vrede is a composition full of contrasts which starts from the history of the town Hasselt. Old texts (Pater Jonghen, Willem Bernard…) are a starting point and a source of inspiration for expressive modern and contemplative poetry (René Geldof, Anton van Wilderode). Because of this contrast the oratorio gets a strong unity and it keeps the audience riveted. The oratorio was first performed on 5 September 2003 in Hasselt, on 6 September was the second performance in Maastricht.
The performers were: Els Crommen, soprano – Robert Luts, tenor – Michel Kempeners, raconteur – De Limburgse Oratoriumvereniging – Het Limburgs Symphonieorkest conducted by Ludo Claesen.
The Belgian composer Frits Celis wrote about the score "I find your composition magnificent! This oratorio shows real inventive talent as well as enviable capacity."