Ron Adelaar: The Search for Inspiration

The Search for Inspiration has now become a recurring monthly feature in which we ask the current artist of the month about their sources of inspiration. The new year has just begun, and once again, we sit down with Ron Adelaar on a stormy Monday morning.
Adelaar’s oeuvre now consists of roughly 200 pieces, which makes me even more curious about his sources that seem to be inexhaustible. In half an hour, he passionately tells us about the various influences from which he draws inspiration for his music. From his late father—who laid the foundation for his musicality—to nature, which brings him peace. The perfect basis for a meaningful conversation.
“Great to speak with you again. A few weeks ago I asked you to think about topics that inspire you, in the broadest sense of the word. Inspiration that plays a role in your composition process. What was the first thing that came to mind?”

“The first thing I actually think about is my father. He passed away over thirty years ago, but he had a huge influence on me. You may already know a bit about this story, but he played the flute and encouraged me as a child to make music. I started with the accordion but quickly realized that music was a language in which I could express my feelings and find great joy. From the age of twelve to twenty-two, we played together in churches—he on the flute, me on the organ and later the piano. Those were my first real musical steps.”

“Was he also the one who motivated you to continue in music?”

“Absolutely. He was always incredibly complimentary and proud, just like my mother, by the way. They really enjoyed hearing me play at home. My father was a great driving force behind my musical development. Later, I switched to the piano and began playing as a pianist for a youth choir, something I still do today. When my father passed away, I missed him immensely—especially as I grew older.”

“I often think of him when I’m at the piano; sometimes he is an integral source of inspiration for my music. Earlier, I even wrote a piece for his birthday: Son Anniversaire, but also the piece Andante, which originated from a melody I wrote as a teenager and which he once transcribed by hand. That piece is now on Spotify and was my first work to be featured in an editorial.”

“Wait, let me show you,” says Ron as he pulls out a framed sheet of music. At the top, the title ‘Ronadante’ is displayed, a reference to Andante.

“My father was a great driving force behind my musical development.”

“That’s pretty special”, I say. “Your father literally left his mark on your music, didn’t he?”

“Yes, and that continues to be. For example, we named our music label Andante Piano as a tribute to him. I also created a second artist profile: Anthony Jacobus, a combination of his first Christian name (Anthonius) and our mutual name Jacobus. Funny enough, a Christmas song I released under that name, Away in a Manger, suddenly did really well on Spotify (read: #1 in Christmas Peaceful Piano with almost two million streams). I even went to the cemetery to play it at his grave. In moments like that, I talk to him and say: ‘Well, this one is for you, from you.’ Those are precious moments.”

“A beautiful answer. Do you often think of him when you compose?”

“Yes, he’s always in my mind. Sometimes, when I’m playing in the evening, it almost feels like he’s there. That’s the beauty of music: it connects you with people, even when they are no longer here.”

His father, a common thread running through Ron’s life and music. He adds,

“Ultimately, I draw inspiration from my entire family and the moments I share with them. With my wife, my children, and soon, I’ll be a grandfather!

Ron's father Ton Adelaar (1952)

“That sounds like your second source of inspiration if I may say so,” I tell him.

“Yes, that’s absolutely correct,” he continues. “But as my third source of inspiration, I choose nature. I walk a lot, even long distances. Walking puts me in a certain rhythm and helps clear my mind. For example, I walked the Marskramerpad, from Germany all the way to the North Sea at The Hague. When I arrived there, it was truly a magical moment. The moment I reached the Kurhaus in Scheveningen and saw the sea in front of me—it inspired me to compose Waves, a piece that really captures the rhythm of the waves.”

I tell him that I often hear the word ‘nature’ mentioned among contemporary composers as a source of inspiration. To me it seems rather difficult to put convert a long walk into a composition. I’m curious about Ron’s approach and how he translates those influences into music.

“It’s exactly as you say; it’s not possible to immediately write a great piece of music right after a walk. But those long walks, say 25 kilometers or more, bring a certain peace to my mind, where I lose all stimuli. When I get home, I can replay the film in my head and go over what I’ve seen, experienced, and smelled. Walking in nature puts me in a certain atmosphere that enhances my creative process.”

“Sounds a bit like the approach of an impressionist. En plein air! Is this part of your common routine?”

“No, not always, but often. Being in nature, walking in nature—it gives me a lot of input, also because I can recall those walks as if they were a film. It leads to a certain form of irrational creative drive.”

“The beauty is that you can try to find answers in different places”

“An interesting approach,” I tell him. “Besides family and nature, I’m curious about your last source of inspiration. Do you have a connection to other art forms such as film, literature, or something completely different?”

Ron says, “Actually, it’s something entirely different. As you know, I’ve played in church for many years, and I find the mystery of faith very inspiring. Not so much from a dogmatic standpoint, but rather the idea of connection and reflection. You can also hear that in many great composers like Bach and Mozart. Additionally, I am fascinated by the creative process itself. Where does talent come from? How does music emerge? These are questions I always ponder.”

Ron adds, “I have a bookshelf full of all kinds of books by people who have thought about life, what you experience, what you can do, about setbacks, about positive things. These are the life questions I am always very curious about—what others have to say about them, what others have written about them. And part of it also comes from my own search in life. The beauty is that you can try to find answers in different places.”

“Earlier, we spoke about an irrational approach to composing, but when you ask yourself these kinds of questions while composing, it seems to me to be a more rational approach?”

“Yes, that can also be true,” he replies. “Often, I still return to more reflective and impressionistic ideas when I think about certain themes or seek answers. But ultimately, emotion always takes over when it comes to composing a beautiful melody. After all, music must come from the heart.”

And so our conversation with Ron Adelaar concludes—a composer who succeeds in blending the past, present, and nature into his work. What lingers is the way he intertwines his father, his family, nature, and the mystery of life into a musical language that feels both intimate and universal. Ron’s stories are an ode to the power of inspiration, showing how our deepest connections guide us to the most beautiful creations.