Photo: Unknown photographer · Public domain · credits
Tier 3 · vertical & regional
Henk Badings
Person · male · Kingdom of the Netherlands · Bandung · born 1907 · died 1987 · recording since 1960
Dutch composer born in Java
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Also known as Badings · ヘンク・バーディングス
Timeline
12 events▣ Album 9◦ Birth 1★ Debut release 1† Death 1
1900s
1960s
· Debut release
Debut release: Electronic Music: Badings: Capriccio For Violin And Two Sound Tracks / Badings: Genese / Badings: Evolutions / Raaijmakers: Contrasts
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
· Album
Album: Electronic Music: Badings: Capriccio For Violin And Two Sound Tracks / Badings: Genese / Badings: Evolutions / Raaijmakers: Contrasts
Album
source: musicbrainz
1980s
1990s
· Album
Album: 400 Years of Dutch Music, Volume 8: Andriessen, Diepenbrock, Van Gilse, Badings
Album
source: musicbrainz
2000s
2010s
2020s
Biography
English biography595 words · 5 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1362903939
Biography
Henk Badings (hĕngk bä'dĭngz) (17 January 1907 – 26 June 1987) was an Indonesian-Dutch composer.
Early life
Born in Bandung, Java, Dutch East Indies, as the son of Herman Louis Johan Badings, an officer in the Dutch East Indies army, Hendrik Herman Badings became an orphan when he was seven years old. Having returned to the Netherlands in 1915, Badings took up violin and piano, however was dissuaded by his guardians from pursuing a career in music. Badings enrolled at the Delft Polytechnical Institute (later the Technical University), graduating in 1931. He worked as a mining engineer and palaeontologist at Delft until 1937, after which he dedicated his life entirely to music. Though largely self-taught, he became a pupil of Willem Pijper, the doyen of Dutch composers at the time, but their musical views differed widely and after Pijper had attempted to discourage Badings from continuing as a composer, Badings broke off contact.
Music career
In 1930 Badings had his initial big musical success when his first cello concerto (he eventually wrote a second) was performed at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. Champions of his work included such eminent conductors as Eduard van Beinum and Willem Mengelberg. He held numerous teaching positions; e.g., at the Musikhochschule Stuttgart and the University of Utrecht. Accused after the Second World War of collaboration with the Nazi occupation forces, in April 5, 1942 he was briefly cancelled from professional musical activity, but by June 3, 1947 he had been reinstated.
Badings used unusual musical scales and harmonies (e.g., the octatonic scale); he also used the harmonic series scale from the eighth to the fifteenth overtone. An exceptionally prolific artist, he had produced over a thousand pieces at the time of his death in Maarheeze in 1987.
Compositions by Badings include fifteen numbered symphonies, at least four string quartets, several concertos, other orchestral works including a "Symphonietta : speelmuziek voor klein symphonie-orkest", other chamber music works, piano works, and incidental music.
In the 21st century, interest in Badings' music has grown. The German label CPO has committed itself to recording Badings' entire orchestral œuvre, and a Badings Festival was held in Rotterdam during October 2007.
Orchestral
Symphony No. 1 (for 16 solo instruments) (1932)
Symphony No. 2 (1932)
Symphony No. 3 (1934) (dedicated to Willem Mengelberg)
Symphony No. 4 (1943)
Symphony No. 5 (1949) (dedicated to the Concertgebouw)
Symphony No. 6 Psalmensymphonie (1953)
Symphonic Scherzo, for orchestra (1953)
Symphony No. 7 Louisville (1954)
Symphony No. 8 (1956)
Symphonic Variations on a South African Theme (1960)
Symphony No. 9 for string orchestra (1960)
Symphony No. 10 (1961)
Symphony No. 11 Sinfonia Giocosa (1964)
Symphony No. 12 Symphonische Klangfiguren (1964)
Pittsburgh Concerto for wind and brass (1965)
Symphony No. 13 for wind instruments (1966)
Symphony No. 14 Symphonic Triptych (1968)
Symphonietta for small orchestra (1971)
Concerto for Orchestra (1982)
Symphony No. 15 Conflicts and Confluences for symphonic band (1983)
Concertante
Piano Concerto (1940)
Double Piano Concerto (1964)
Violin Concerto No. 2 (1935)
Violin Concerto No. 3 (1944)
Violin Concerto No. 4 (1947)
Double Violin Concerto No. 1 (1954)
Double Violin Concerto No. 2 (1969)
Concerto for Violin, Viola and orchestra (1965)
Concerto for Viola and string orchestra (1965)
Cello Concerto No. 1 (1930)
Cello Concerto No. 2 (1939)
Flute Concerto No. 1 (1956)
Flute Concerto No. 2 for flute and wind instruments (1963)
Concerto for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet and orchestra (1981)
Concerto for Bassoon, Contrabassoon and wind orchestra (1964)
Saxophone Concerto (1951)
Concerto for Four Saxophones and Orchestra (1984)
Concerto for Harp and small orchestra or wind orchestra (1967)
Organ Concerto No. 1 (1952)
Organ Concerto No. 2 (1966)
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 19 | 79.7th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 9 | 81.7th |
| Studio albums | 9 | 90th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 12 | 88.9th |
| Recording span (years) | 27 | 60th |
| Genres | 2 | 74th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (9 release groups · 9 studio albums)
Albums · 9
1960 · studio album
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Tracklist · 4 tracks
A1Capriccio for Violin and Two Sound Tracks: Introduzione / Lento / AllegroA2GeneseB1Evolutions: Ballet Suite: Overture / Air / Ragtime / Intermezzo / Waltz / FinaleB2Contrasts400 Years of Dutch Music, Volume 8: Andriessen, Diepenbrock, Van Gilse, Badings
1992 · studio album
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Tracklist · 7 tracks · 1:14:48
1Symphony no. 4: I. Molto grave e energico. Allegro vivace11:092Symphony no. 4: II. Andante sostenuto5:543Symphony no. 4: III. Allegro vivace6:074Lydische nacht18:415Ricercare9:206Thijl: Treurmuziek10:407Symfonische proloog12:5750 Jaar Stichting Huygens Fokker
1999 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 1:05:56
1Collages voor 31-toonsorgel: Contrasten3:292Collages voor 31-toonsorgel: Canons3:313Collages voor 31-toonsorgel: Clusters3:424Sonate 3 voor twee violen: Lento3:355Sonate 3 voor twee violen: Molto allegro - Doppio meno mosso - Tempo primo5:206Reeks van kleine klankstukken: Preludio1:077Reeks van kleine klankstukken: Siciliano4:348Reeks van kleine klankstukken: Perpetuum mobile1:269Étude ultrachromatique pour l'orgue tricesimoprimal, op. 424:1810Cherub's Chirrup11:4311Drag On... Claustrophobia23:112007 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 59:51
1Symphony no. 2: I. Allegro7:122Symphony no. 2: II. Adagio5:293Symphony no. 2: III. Allegro vivace6:004Symphony no. 7, "Louisville Symphony": I. Lento - Allegro appassionato8:295Symphony no. 7, "Louisville Symphony": II. Scherzo2:506Symphony no. 7, "Louisville Symphony": III. Adagio7:387Symphony no. 7, "Louisville Symphony": IV. Allegro vivace3:588Symphony no. 12, "Symphonic Sound Figures"18:152010 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 1:07:21
1Symphony no. 3: I. Allegro8:142Symphony no. 3: II. Scherzo4:453Symphony no. 3: III. Adagio7:204Symphony no. 3: IV. Allegro assai6:165Symphony no. 10: I. Allegro5:236Symphony no. 10: II. Presto2:257Symphony no. 10: III. Adagio5:508Symphony no. 10: IV. Allegro molto3:539Symphony no. 14: I. Lento4:5810Symphony no. 14: II. Allegro moderato10:1211Symphony no. 14: III. Grave8:052013 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks
A1Evolutions: OvertureA2Evolutions: AirA3Evolutions: RagtimeB1Evolutions: IntermezzoB2Evolutions: WaltzB3Evolutions: Finale2015 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 1:01:29
1Symphony no. 4: I. Lento - Allegro11:582Symphony no. 4: II. Scherzo. Presto7:113Symphony no. 4: III. Largo e mesto8:224Symphony no. 4: IV. Allegro8:115Symphony no. 5: I. Lento - Allegro8:406Symphony no. 5: II. Scherzo. Presto3:327Symphony no. 5: III. Largo8:028Symphony no. 5: IV. Presto5:332022 · studio album
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Tracklist · 25 tracks · 1:18:42
1Maria, schone vrouwe1:292Miroir de peine: Agonie au Jardin2:593Miroir de peine: Flagellation2:194Miroir de peine: Couronnement d’épines2:265Miroir de peine: Portement de croix3:226Miroir de peine: Crucifixion3:017Sonata da chiesa: Andante sostenuto0:588Sonata da chiesa: Variatie 10:579Sonata da chiesa: Variatie 2 – Andantino quasi allegretto0:3410Sonata da chiesa: Variatie 3 – Andante sostenuto0:4911Sonata da chiesa: Variatie 4 – Allegro marcato0:4512Sonata da chiesa: Variatie 5 – Lento2:1313Sonata da chiesa: Finale – Allegro4:3214Magna res est amor3:5715La Sainte Face6:2016Toccata3:4917Vrijheid3:0518Preludium en Fuga 2: Preludium3:5919Preludium en Fuga 2: Fuga2:1120Hymne3:2821Preludium en Fuga 4: Preludium2:1022Preludium en Fuga 4: Fuga3:2723Drie Geestelijke Liederen: Van Jesus de ware ruste4:3124Drie Geestelijke Liederen: Lied tot alle vermoeyde zielen6:3225Drie Geestelijke Liederen: Air8:492022 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 1:05:00
1Viola Concerto: I. Quasi lento11:512Viola Concerto: II. Adagio6:273Viola Concerto: III. Allegro molto5:304Pavane for Viola and String Orchestra5:255Concertino for Viola and Orchestra: I. Allegro energico3:376Concertino for Viola and Orchestra: II. Andante cantabile4:337Concertino for Viola and Orchestra: III. Lento quasi recitativo4:388Sonate for Viola and Piano: I. Allegro8:429Sonate for Viola and Piano: II. Largo6:0610Sonate for Viola and Piano: III. Vivace5:1311Arietta – Largo2:58
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Henk Badings head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 19 | 79.7th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 9 | 81.7th |
| Studio albums | 9 | 90th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 12 | 88.9th |
| Recording span (years) | 27 | 60th |
| Genres | 2 | 74th |
Awards & honours
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HenkBadings.jpgaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/90049375-3d5d-40c7-8ad3-49c6a6f71d52discography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/90049375-3d5d-40c7-8ad3-49c6a6f71d52core—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q712489genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q712489seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henk_Badingsbiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henk_Badings
Why this artist is in the database
- List of composers by name
Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: Unknown photographer · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q712489 · MusicBrainz: 90049375-3d5d-40c7-8ad3-49c6a6f71d52
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