Rudolf Escher

Rudolf George Escher (Amsterdam, 8 januari 1912 - De Koog, 17 maart 1980) was a Dutch composer and music theoretician. He was born in present-day Indonesia, where his father was employed as geologist. He received his first piano lessons from his father.
In 1922, the family returned to the Netherlands. In 1931, Escher started his study at the conservatory of Rotterdam, where he studied piano and cello. He studies composition from 1934 to 1937 with Willem Pijper. His first composition was a piano sonata, in 1935. Many early works were lost when the city of Rotterdam was bombed in 1940.

Escher's style emphasizes tonality, and it can be compared to that of Debussy and Ravel. It includes elements of Gregorian music, but also of Indonesian traditional music. His contribution to chamber music is especially important. In 1977, Escher received the Johan Wagenaar price for his entire ouvre.

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