Wim Mertens

Wim Mertens (Neerpelt, 14 May 1953) is a Flemish composer, pianist, countertenor, guitarist and musicologist. His music has a strong melodic foundation and is often minimalist in nature. Many of Mertens's pieces have been used for theatrical productions, films and documentaries.

Mertens grew up in Belgian-Limburgish Linde-Peer. He studied Social and Political Sciences at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, and musicology at the university of Gent. Mertens also studied music theory and piano at the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel and the Koninklijk Conservatorium Gent.
In 1978 he became a producer for Radio2 (Radio Brabant) and produced concerts by among others the minimalist composers Philip Glass and Steve Reich.
In 1979 he was the producer of the only concert that Vangelis gave in Belgium.
In 1980 Mertens published a book on minimal music titled De Amerikaanse repetitieve muziek.

Since 1980 he has composed various musical pieces in different forms and formats: from short and simple songs to long, complex pieces; from solo piano pieces to grand ensembles. Mertens's musical style is also referred to as minimal music, ambient or experimental music. His music evolves continuously, but retains its melodic foundation.