Louis Andriessen, the estimable Dutch composer who has forged a distinctive musical voice from the neo-Classicism of Stravinsky, the modernism of Messiaen and Webern and the minimalist rhythms of Steve Reich.

"I hear people say about my pieces, "Oh, typical Andriessen" and I never know what they're referring to. I'm aware that people worry about style, but I don't. I think developing a style is a boring thing to do." (Andriessen, interview with Joshua Kosman, Chronicle Music Critic. March 3, 2011)

Andriessen's music is thus anti-Germanic and anti-Romantic, and marks a departure from post war European serialism and its offshoots. He has also played a role in providing alternatives to traditional performance practice techniques, often specifying forceful, rhythmic articulations, and amplified, non-vibrato, singing.