System F, also known as the (Girard–Reynolds) polymorphic lambda calculus or the second-order lambda calculus, is a typed lambda calculus that differs from the simply typed lambda calculus by the introduction of a mechanism of universal quantification over types. System F thus formalizes the notion of parametric polymorphism in programming languages, and forms a theoretical basis for languages such as Haskell and ML. System F was discovered independently by logician Jean-Yves Girard and computer scientist John C. Reynolds.

Whereas simply typed lambda calculus has variables ranging over functions, and binders for them, System F additionally has variables ranging over types, and binders for them. As an example, the fact that the identity function can have any type of the form A→ A would be formalized in System F as the judgment

Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): \vdash \Lambda\alpha. \lambda x^\alpha.x: \forall\alpha.\alpha \to \alpha

where α is a type variable. The upper-case Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): \Lambda

is traditionally used to denote type-level functions, as opposed to the lower-case Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): \lambda
which is used for value-level functions.

As a term rewriting system, System F is strongly normalizing. Type inference in System F (without explicit type annotations) is undecidable however. Under the Curry–Howard isomorphism, System F corresponds to the fragment of second-order intuitionistic logic that uses only universal quantification. System F can be seen as part of the lambda cube, together with even more expressive typed lambda calculi, including those with dependent types.

Logic and predicates[link]

This section may be confusing or unclear to readers. In particular, the meaning of non-superscript "Boolean" in the following formulae is unclear, and it looks superfluous. Please help clarify the section; suggestions may be found on the talk page. (October 2011)

The Boolean type is defined as: Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): \scriptstyle\forall\alpha.\alpha \to \alpha \to \alpha , where Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): \scriptstyle\alpha

is a type variable.

This produces the following two definitions for the boolean values Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): \scriptstyle\mathbf{T}

and Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): \scriptstyle\mathbf{F}

Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): \mathbf{T} = \Lambda\alpha{.}\lambda x^{\alpha} \lambda y^\alpha{.}x

Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): \mathbf{F} = \Lambda\alpha{.}\lambda x^{\alpha} \lambda y^{\alpha}{.}y

Then, with these two Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): \scriptstyle\lambda -terms, we can define some logic operators:

Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): \mathrm{AND} = \lambda x^{\mathsf{Boolean}} \lambda y^{\mathsf{Boolean}}{.} x\, y\, \mathbf{F}

Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): \mathrm{OR} = \lambda x^{\mathsf{Boolean}} \lambda y^{\mathsf{Boolean}}{.} x\, \mathbf{T}\, y

Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): \mathrm{NOT} = \lambda x^{\mathsf{Boolean}}{.} x\, \mathbf{F}\, \mathbf{T}

There is no need for an IFTHENELSE function as one can just use raw Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): \scriptstyle\mathsf{Boolean} -typed terms as decision functions. However, if one is requested:

Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): \mathrm{IFTHENELSE} = \Lambda \alpha.\lambda x^{\mathsf{Boolean}}\lambda y^{\alpha}\lambda z^{\alpha}. x \alpha y z

will do. A predicate is a function which returns a Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): \scriptstyle\mathsf{Boolean} -typed value. The most fundamental predicate is ISZERO which returns Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): \scriptstyle\mathbf{T}

if and only if its argument is the Church numeral  0:

Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): \mathrm{ISZERO} = \lambda n^{\forall \alpha. (\alpha \rightarrow \alpha) \rightarrow \alpha \rightarrow \alpha}{.}n\, (\lambda x^\mathsf{Boolean}{.}\mathbf{F})\, \mathbf{T}

System F Structures[link]

System F allows recursive constructions to be embedded in a natural manner, related to that in Martin-Löf's type theory. Abstract structures (S) are created using constructors. These are functions typed as:

Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): K_1\rightarrow K_2\rightarrow\dots\rightarrow S

.

Recursivity is manifested when Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): S

itself appears within one of the types Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): K_i

. If you have Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): m

of these constructors, you can define the type of Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): S
as:

Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): \forall \alpha.(K_1^1[\alpha/S]\rightarrow\dots\rightarrow \alpha)\dots\rightarrow(K_1^m[\alpha/S]\rightarrow\dots\rightarrow \alpha)\rightarrow \alpha

For instance, the natural numbers can be defined as an inductive datatype Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): N

with constructors

Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): \mathit{zero} : \mathrm{N}

Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): \mathit{succ} : \mathrm{N} \rightarrow \mathrm{N}

The System F type corresponding to this structure is Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): \forall \alpha. \alpha \to (\alpha \to \alpha) \to \alpha . The terms of this type comprise a typed version of the Church numerals, the first few of which are:

0 := Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): \Lambda \alpha . \lambda x^\alpha . \lambda f^{\alpha\to\alpha} . x

1 := Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): \Lambda \alpha . \lambda x^\alpha . \lambda f^{\alpha\to\alpha} . f x

2 := Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): \Lambda \alpha . \lambda x^\alpha . \lambda f^{\alpha\to\alpha} . f (f x)

3 := Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): \Lambda \alpha . \lambda x^\alpha . \lambda f^{\alpha\to\alpha} . f (f (f x))

If we reverse the order of the curried arguments (i.e., Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): \forall \alpha. (\alpha \rightarrow \alpha) \rightarrow \alpha \rightarrow \alpha ), then the Church numeral for Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): n

is a function that takes a function f as argument and returns the Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): n

^th power of f. That is to say, a Church numeral is a higher-order function – it takes a single-argument function f, and returns another single-argument function.

Use in programming languages[link]

The version of System F used in this article is as an explicitly typed, or Church-style, calculus. The typing information contained in λ-terms makes type-checking straightforward. Joe Wells (1994) settled an "embarrassing open problem" by proving that type checking is undecidable for a Curry-style variant of System F, that is, one that lacks explicit typing annotations. ^[1][2]

Wells' result implies that type inference for System F is impossible. A restriction of System F known as "Hindley–Milner", or simply "HM", does have an easy type inference algorithm and is used for many strongly typed functional programming languages such as Haskell 98 and ML. Over time, as the restrictions of HM-style type systems have become apparent, languages have steadily moved to more expressive logics for their type systems. As of 2008, GHC, a Haskell compiler, goes beyond HM, and now uses System F extended with non-syntactic type equality, for example.

[edit] System F_ω

Although System F corresponds to the first axis of the Barendregt's lambda cube, system F_ω combines the first axis (polymorphism) with type operators (the second axis); it is a different, more complex system.

System F_ω can be defined inductively on a family of systems, where induction is based on the kinds permitted in each system:

• Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): F_n

permits kinds:

• • Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): \star

(the kind of types) and

• • Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): J\Rightarrow K

where Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): J\in F_{n-1}
and Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): K\in F_n
(the kind of functions from types to types, where the argument type is of a lower order)

In the limit, we can define system Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): F_\omega

to be

• Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): F_\omega = \underset{1 \leq i}{\bigcup} F_i

That is, F_ω is the system which allows functions from types to types where the argument (and result) may be of any order.

Note that although F_ω places no restrictions on the order of the arguments in these mappings, it does restrict the universe of the arguments for these mappings: they must be types rather than values. System F_ω does not permit mappings from values to types (Dependent types), though it does permit mappings from values to values (Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): \lambda

abstraction), mappings from types to values (Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): \Lambda
abstraction, sometimes written Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): \forall

) and mappings from types to types (Failed to parse (Missing texvc executable; please see math/README to configure.): \lambda

abstraction at the level of types)

See also[link]

• Existential types are the existentially quantified counterparts of universal types.
• System F_<: extends system F with subtyping, bringing it a lot closer to actual programming languages from the ML family.

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Girard, Jean-Yves (1971). "Une Extension de l'Interpretation de Gödel à l'Analyse, et son Application à l'Élimination des Coupures dans l'Analyse et la Théorie des Types". Proceedings of the Second Scandinavian Logic Symposium. Amsterdam. pp. 63–92. 
• Reynolds, John (1974). "Towards a Theory of Type Structure". Colloque sur la Programmation. Paris, France. pp. 408–425. ftp://ftp.cs.cmu.edu/user/jcr/theotypestr.pdf. Retrieved 6 Apr 2010. 
• Girard, Lafont and Taylor, Proofs and Types. Cambridge University Press, 1989, ISBN 0-521-37181-3.
• J. B. Wells. "Typability and type checking in the second-order lambda-calculus are equivalent and undecidable." In Proceedings of the 9th Annual IEEE Symposium on Logic in Computer Science (LICS), pages 176–185, 1994. [1]

Further reading[link]

• Pierce, Benjamin (2002). Types and Programming Languages. MIT Press. ISBN 0-262-16209-1. , Chapter 23: Universal Types, and Chapter 25: An ML Implementation of System F

External links[link]

• Summary of System F by Franck Binard.

A schematic representation of a closed system and its boundary

A system (from Latin systēma, in turn from Greek σύστημα systēma, "whole compounded of several parts or members, system", literary "composition"^[1]) is a set of interacting or interdependent components forming an integrated whole.

A system is a set of elements (often called 'components' ) and relationships which are different from relationships of the set or its elements to other elements or sets.

Fields that study the general properties of systems include systems theory, cybernetics, dynamical systems, thermodynamics and complex systems. They investigate the abstract properties of systems' matter and organization, looking for concepts and principles that are independent of domain, substance, type, or temporal scale.

Most systems share common characteristics, including:

• Systems have structure, defined by components/elements and their composition;
• Systems have behavior, which involves inputs, processing and outputs of material, energy, information, or data;
• Systems have interconnectivity: the various parts of a system have functional as well as structural relationships to each other.
• Systems may have some functions or groups of functions

The term system may also refer to a set of rules that governs structure and/or behavior.

History[link]

The word system in its meaning here, has a long history which can be traced back to Plato (Philebus), Aristotle (Politics) and Euclid (Elements). It had meant "total", "crowd" or "union" in even more ancient times, as it derives from the verb sunìstemi, uniting, putting together.

"System" means "something to look at". You must have a very high visual gradient to have systematization. In philosophy, before Descartes, there was no "system". Plato had no "system". Aristotle had no "system". (Marshall McLuhan in: McLuhan: Hot & Cool. Ed. by Gerald Emanuel Stearn. A Signet Book published by The New American Library, New York, 1967, p. 288).

In the 19th century the first to develop the concept of a "system" in the natural sciences was the French physicist Nicolas Léonard Sadi Carnot who studied thermodynamics. In 1824 he studied the system which he called the working substance, i.e. typically a body of water vapor, in steam engines, in regards to the system's ability to do work when heat is applied to it. The working substance could be put in contact with either a boiler, a cold reservoir (a stream of cold water), or a piston (to which the working body could do work by pushing on it). In 1850, the German physicist Rudolf Clausius generalized this picture to include the concept of the surroundings and began to use the term "working body" when referring to the system.

One of the pioneers of the general systems theory was the biologist Ludwig von Bertalanffy. In 1945 he introduced models, principles, and laws that apply to generalized systems or their subclasses, irrespective of their particular kind, the nature of their component elements, and the relation or 'forces' between them.^[2]

Significant development to the concept of a system was done by Norbert Wiener and Ross Ashby who pioneered the use of mathematics to study systems.^[3][4]

In the 1980s the term complex adaptive system was coined at the interdisciplinary Santa Fe Institute by John H. Holland, Murray Gell-Mann and others.

System concepts[link]

Environment and boundaries

Systems theory views the world as a complex system of interconnected parts. We scope a system by defining its boundary; this means choosing which entities are inside the system and which are outside - part of the environment. We then make simplified representations (models) of the system in order to understand it and to predict or impact its future behavior. These models may define the structure and/or the behavior of the system.

Natural and human-made systems

There are natural and human-made (designed) systems. Natural systems may not have an apparent objective but their outputs can be interpreted as purposes. Human-made systems are made with purposes that are achieved by the delivery of outputs. Their parts must be related; they must be “designed to work as a coherent entity” - else they would be two or more distinct systems.

Theoretical Framework

An open system exchanges matter and energy with its surroundings. Most systems are open systems; like a car, coffeemaker, or computer. A closed system exchanges energy, but not matter, with its environment; like Earth or the project Biosphere2 or 3. An isolated system exchanges neither matter nor energy with its environment. A theoretical example of such system is the Universe.

Process and transformation process

A system can also be viewed as a bounded transformation process, that is, a process or collection of processes that transforms inputs into outputs. Inputs are consumed; outputs are produced. The concept of input and output here is very broad. E.g., an output of a passenger ship is the movement of people from departure to destination.

Subsystem

A subsystem is a set of elements, which is a system itself, and a component of a larger system.

System Model

A system comprises multiple views. For the man-made systems it may be such views as planning, requirement (analysis), design, implementation, deployment, structure, behavior, input data, and output data views. A system model is required to describe and represent all these multiple views.

System Architecture

A system architecture, using one single integrated model for the description of multiple views such as planning, requirement (analysis), design, implementation, deployment, structure, behavior, input data, and output data views, is a kind of system model.

Elements of System[link]

Following are considered as the elements of a system in terms of Information systems: -

1. Inputs and Outputs
2. Processor
3. Control
4. Environment
5. Feedback
6. Boundaries and Interface

Types of systems[link]

Systems are classified in different ways:

1. Physical or Abstract systems
2. Open or Closed systems
3. 'Man-made' Information systems
4. Formal Information systems
5. Informal Information systems
6. Computer Based Information systems
7. Real Time System

Physical systems are tangible entities that may be static or dynamic in operation.

An open system has many interfaces with its environment. i.e. system that interacts freely with its environment, taking input and returning output. It permits interaction across its boundary; it receives inputs from and delivers outputs to the outside. A closed system does not interact with the environment; changes in the environment and adaptability are not issues for closed system.

Analysis of systems[link]

Evidently, there are many types of systems that can be analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. For example, with an analysis of urban systems dynamics, [A.W. Steiss] ^[5] defines five intersecting systems, including the physical subsystem and behavioral system. For sociological models influenced by systems theory, where Kenneth D. Bailey ^[6] defines systems in terms of conceptual, concrete and abstract systems; either isolated, closed, or open, Walter F. Buckley ^[7] defines social systems in sociology in terms of mechanical, organic, and process models. Bela H. Banathy ^[8] cautions that with any inquiry into a system that understanding the type of system is crucial and defines Natural and Designed systems.

In offering these more global definitions, the author maintains that it is important not to confuse one for the other. The theorist explains that natural systems include sub-atomic systems, living systems, the solar system, the galactic system and the Universe. Designed systems are our creations, our physical structures, hybrid systems which include natural and designed systems, and our conceptual knowledge. The human element of organization and activities are emphasized with their relevant abstract systems and representations. A key consideration in making distinctions among various types of systems is to determine how much freedom the system has to select purpose, goals, methods, tools, etc. and how widely is the freedom to select itself distributed (or concentrated) in the system.

George J. Klir ^[9] maintains that no "classification is complete and perfect for all purposes," and defines systems in terms of abstract, real, and conceptual physical systems, bounded and unbounded systems, discrete to continuous, pulse to hybrid systems, et cetera. The interaction between systems and their environments are categorized in terms of relatively closed, and open systems. It seems most unlikely that an absolutely closed system can exist or, if it did, that it could be known by us. Important distinctions have also been made between hard and soft systems.^[10] Hard systems are associated with areas such as systems engineering, operations research and quantitative systems analysis. Soft systems are commonly associated with concepts developed by Peter Checkland and Brian Wilson through Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) involving methods such as action research and emphasizing participatory designs. Where hard systems might be identified as more "scientific," the distinction between them is actually often hard to define.

Cultural system[link]

A cultural system may be defined as the interaction of different elements of culture. While a cultural system is quite different from a social system, sometimes both systems together are referred to as the sociocultural system. A major concern in the social sciences is the problem of order. One way that social order has been theorized is according to the degree of integration of cultural and social factors.

Economic system[link]

An economic system is a mechanism (social institution) which deals with the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services in a particular society. The economic system is composed of people, institutions and their relationships to resources, such as the convention of property. It addresses the problems of economics, like the allocation and scarcity of resources.

Application of the system concept[link]

Systems modeling is generally a basic principle in engineering and in social sciences. The system is the representation of the entities under concern. Hence inclusion to or exclusion from system context is dependent of the intention of the modeler.

No model of a system will include all features of the real system of concern, and no model of a system must include all entities belonging to a real system of concern.

Systems in information and computer science[link]

In computer science and information science, system is a software system which has components as its structure and observable Inter-process communications as its behavior. Again, an example will illustrate: There are systems of counting, as with Roman numerals, and various systems for filing papers, or catalogues, and various library systems, of which the Dewey Decimal System is an example. This still fits with the definition of components which are connected together (in this case in order to facilitate the flow of information).

System can also be used referring to a framework, be it software or hardware, designed to allow software programs to run, see platform.

Systems in engineering and physics[link]

In engineering and physics, a physical system is the portion of the universe that is being studied (of which a thermodynamic system is one major example). Engineering also has the concept of a system that refers to all of the parts and interactions between parts of a complex project. Systems engineering refers to the branch of engineering that studies how this type of system should be planned, designed, implemented, built, and maintained.

Systems in social and cognitive sciences and management research[link]

Social and cognitive sciences recognize systems in human person models and in human societies. They include human brain functions and human mental processes as well as normative ethics systems and social/cultural behavioral patterns.

In management science, operations research and organizational development (OD), human organizations are viewed as systems (conceptual systems) of interacting components such as subsystems or system aggregates, which are carriers of numerous complex business processes (organizational behaviors) and organizational structures. Organizational development theorist Peter Senge developed the notion of organizations as systems in his book The Fifth Discipline.

Systems thinking is a style of thinking/reasoning and problem solving. It starts from the recognition of system properties in a given problem. It can be a leadership competency. Some people can think globally while acting locally. Such people consider the potential consequences of their decisions on other parts of larger systems. This is also a basis of systemic coaching in psychology.

Organizational theorists such as Margaret Wheatley have also described the workings of organizational systems in new metaphoric contexts, such as quantum physics, chaos theory, and the self-organization of systems.

Systems applied to strategic thinking[link]

In 1988, military strategist, John A. Warden III introduced his Five Ring System model in his book, The Air Campaign contending that any complex system could be broken down into five concentric rings. Each ring—Leadership, Processes, Infrastructure, Population and Action Units—could be used to isolate key elements of any system that needed change. The model was used effectively by Air Force planners in the First Gulf War.^[11][12][13] In the late 1990s, Warden applied this five ring model to business strategy.^[14]

See also[link]

Examples of systems List of systems (WikiProject) physical system conceptual system Complex system Formal system Information system Meta-system Solar System Systems in human anatomy Market

Theories about systems Chaos theory Cybernetics Systems ecology Systems engineering Systems psychology Systems theory Thermodynamic systems Control theory

Systems science portal Related topics Glossary of systems theory Complexity theory and organizations Black box System of systems (engineering) Systems art

References[link]

Further reading[link]

• Alexander Backlund (2000). "The definition of system". In: Kybernetes Vol. 29 nr. 4, pp. 444–451.
• Kenneth D. Bailey (1994). Sociology and the New Systems Theory: Toward a Theoretical Synthesis. New York: State of New York Press.
• Bela H. Banathy (1997). "A Taste of Systemics", ISSS The Primer Project.
• Walter F. Buckley (1967). Sociology and Modern Systems Theory, New Jersey: Englewood Cliffs.
• Peter Checkland (1997). Systems Thinking, Systems Practice. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
• Robert L. Flood (1999). Rethinking the Fifth Discipline: Learning within the unknowable. London: Routledge.
• George J. Klir (1969). Approach to General Systems Theory, 1969.
• Brian Wilson (1980). Systems: Concepts, methodologies and Applications, John Wiley
• Brian Wilson (2001). Soft Systems Methodology—Conceptual model building and its contribution, J.H.Wiley.
• Beynon-Davies P. (2009). Business Information + Systems. Palgrave, Basingstoke. ISBN 978-0-230-20368-6

External links[link]

Look up system in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: System

• Definitions of Systems and Models by Michael Pidwirny, 1999-2007.
• Definitionen von "System" (1572-2002) by Roland Müller, 2001-2007 (most in German).
• Theory and Practical Exercises of System Dynamics by Juan Martin (also in Spanish)

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (September 2011)

Ferry Corsten
Ferry Corsten live in Toronto, Canada
Background information
Birth name	Ferry Corsten
Also known as	Ferr, System F, Moonman (more)
Born	(1973-12-04) 4 December 1973 (age 38)
Origin	Rotterdam, Netherlands
Genres	Trance
Occupations	DJ, Producer, Remixer
Years active	1989–present
Labels	Flashover
Associated acts	Gouryella, Vimana (more)
Website	www.ferrycorsten.com

Ferry Corsten, also known under the alias System F, (born 4 December 1973) is a Dutch producer of trance music, in addition to being a DJ and remixer. He also hosts his own weekly radio show, Corsten's Countdown. He routinely plays at events all over the world with crowds in excess of tens of thousands. In 2009 Ferry Corsten ranked #7 on DJ Magazine's annual Top 100 DJ Poll, dropping to #9 and #18 in subsequent years.^[1]

Life and career[link]

Before 1999: Early years[link]

Ferry Corsten was born in Rotterdam, Netherlands. He has produced and remixed under many aliases since the release of his first record at the age of sixteen,^[2] but he officially started to work as a musician when he was 17 years old. As a teenager he saved money to buy his first keyboard by washing cars, and selling mix tapes to kids in his neighbourhood. He later began to perform live performances with a friend and won his first award "De Grote Prijs van Nederland" at Holland in 1989.^[2] He eventually released a record with a couple of friends when he was just sixteen years old and later began releasing self-made productions while he grew up in Rotterdam in the 1990s, producing underground hardcore gabber tracks, later expanding into club-house and trance music. His first single to reach a chart position was "Don't Be Afraid" under the alias Moonman, which was only the start for becoming a composer as well. In 1997 Corsten and his partner Robert Smit established a dance label named Tsunami with the Dutch based dance company Purple Eye Entertainment b.v., this junction made the creation of another label possible; Polar State.^[3] Ferry Corsten was studying to become an Electrical Engineer, so he went to the Technical Training School and after that Higher Technical Education.^[4]

1999–2004: Rise to fame[link]

In February 1999 Corsten's second solo project, System F, was released on the Tsunami imprint along with the album Out of the Blue, including the same-named melodic tune that became a hit on dance floors all over the world, achieving a top twenty position in the United Kingdom single chart. The follow-up single was "Cry", produced together with Robert Smit which reached the UK Top 20.^[3]

His growing popularity in the late 1990s led to cooperation with many famous trance DJs and musicians like DJ Tiësto (Gouryella, Vimana), Vincent de Moor (Veracocha), and Robert Smit (Starparty). The track "Gouryella" by the act Gouryella was released in May, the single entered the UK Singles Top 75 at number fifteen and achieved various hit positions throughout the world. The next single was entitled "Walhalla" which entered the UK single chart at number twenty-seven. In 1999 Ferry was elected as producer of the year at the Ericsson Muzik Award in London.^[2] In September 2000 the third Gouryella single entitled "Tenshi" was released. In 2000, Corsten also remixed William Orbit's "Adagio for Strings" as well as "New Year's Day" for U2. His remix of Barber's "Adagio For Strings" was awarded at the Dancestar 2000 awards. The Ministry of Sound dance compilation series entitled Trance Nation became one of the best selling dance compilations in the UK and was awarded the platinum status.^[3] In 2000 in his home country Corsten got awarded the Silver Harp award for his numerous outstanding contributions made to Dutch dance music.^{[citation needed]}

In 2001 Ferry Performed and Produced the Dance Valley Anthem, the largest selling theme of Dance Valley and the largest event of The Netherlands (80.000 visitors)

In 2002 Ferry contributed to remix projects of tracks by Japanese superstar Ayumi Hamasaki. He went on to compose and arrange her heavily trance-based song "Connected," which was released in 2003, along with remixes, as a single in Germany which has sold 4 million copies, making this one of Ferry's most successful songs.^[2]

Ferry Corsten is the electronic dance music artist with the highest amount of dance singles in the UK charts^{[citation needed]}. He^[when?] has 10 gold singles, between those his 1999 remix of "Madagascar", "Out of the Blue" as his alias System F, both "Gouryella" and "Walhalla" in 2000, "Cry" and the "Dance Valley Theme" in 2001 with "Exhale" which is his latest as System F with Armin van Buuren; and his 2003–2004 singles "Punk" and "Rock Your Body Rock".^{[citation needed]}

In 2003 he launched his first album as Ferry Corsten, Right of Way, in Heineken Musical Hall with 4,500 clubbers at his eight-hour set.^[5] The music video of the song was nominated in the TMF Dutch MTV Awards in Netherlands. The album spawned three singles, "Punk" (UK #29), "Rock Your Body, Rock" (UK #11), and "It's Time" (UK #51). "Rock your body Rock" was voted biggest hit by BG Magazine in The Netherlands and reaches the top 10 in the UK.

In 2004, he produced and performed the single "Everything Goes" for the TMF Dutch Awards.

2005–2007: L.E.F.[link]

In 2005, Corsten founded his own record label, titled Flashover Recordings and released his 2nd artist album L.E.F., And he released his concept L.E.F. worldwide. In this year he was number 5 in the DJ MAG Top 100.

His track "Fire" was nominated in the best trance video category for the^[6] 2006 Trance Awards.In the DJ MAG Top 100 he was number 6 this year.

In 2006 Ferry Corsten performed at a concert in El Salvador in September and he did his Road to Voodoo Bus Tour: 20 states, 27 cities in 5 weeks.

The single "Junk" with vocals by Guru (Gangstarr) – top 20 charts Holland was released in 2006.

On 4 July 2007, Corsten debuted his new weekly radio show titled "Corsten's Countdown" which counts down a list of the highest voted trance tracks.

In 2007 Ferry released the single "Beautiful" – top 40 charts in Holland, and the single "The Race" (Brain Box) – top 20 charts in Holland. Also a New mix compilation Passport United States of America is released.

In 2007 was the successful 1st edition of Full on Ferry Concert Ahoy' Stadium Rotterdam (cap:12.000) and he produced the 1st official anthem for Bavaria City Racing in 2007 (F1 demonstration in the center of Rotterdam with more than 500.000 spectators. Official opening of the event by Ferry Corsten and the prime minister of The Netherlands, Jan Peter Balkenende).

He was dubbed the King of Crossover in an August 2007 interview on UK clubbing website HarderFaster.net, reflecting his recent L.E.F. (Loud Electronic Ferocious) style, which some^[who?] hail as a new direction in dance music. Corsten describes it as "everything from electro house, trance and techno".

2008–2009: Twice In A Blue Moon[link]

Ferry Corsten's third album, Twice In A Blue Moon, which made its debut at the 2nd edition of the Full On Ferry event at Ahoy in Rotterdam, was released on 1 November 2008. The first single from the album, Radio Crash, has been played by Tiësto, Armin van Buuren, Paul van Dyk, Above & Beyond and many other DJ's globally. The track has been a huge hit in clubs across the world and gave Ferry a good start in promoting his new album.^{[citation needed]} He also released the single "Into The Dark" ft. Howard Jones (March 2008).

In 2008, Ferry Corsten was the first DJ ever to be named Ambassador of Freedom by Dutch Liberation Day Comity.

2009–present: Twice In A Blue Moon (Remix Edition), Once Upon A Night Vol. 1 & 2 and WKND[link]

Ferry's album, Twice In A Blue Moon, consists of remixes of the previous album (Twice In A Blue Moon). It includes remixes by Rafael Frost, Lange, Ummet Ozcan, Markus Schulz and many more. The countries he visited during Twice In A Blue Moon: The Experience have included; Australia, the United States, Romania, Brazil, and Lebanon with debut show on May 29 in Mallaca, Malaysia.

This year also was the third edition Full on Ferry – The Masquerade in association with UDC on October 17, 2009, at Ahoy' Rotterdam.

In 2009 Ferry Corsten released two singles: "We Belong" from the album Twice in A Blue Moon (Date of release: May 25, 2009) and "Made of Love" from the album Twice In A Blue Moon – top 40 Ducht charts / Radio 538 Dance Smash / No.2 in UK Club Charts (Date of release: Valentine's Day 2009). And he released his DVD; Ferry Corsten – Backstage. Corsten reveals his concept Once Upon a Night, a mix compilation that immediately hit number 1 on iTunes in the US right after its release, and the supporting world tour.

Ferry's interactive radioshow Corsten's Countdown is available in more than 30 countries.

The DJ application Cue Play DJ set up a promotional partnership around Corsten's countdown 150st edition. Cue Play DJ is a mobile digital DJ application for the iPhone, with tracks from the Flashover label.

In 2010 Ferry Corsten has mixed the BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix and the album FC System F – Champions came out in February.

Ferry released Once Upon A Night in 2010. The album came out on March 30 and he started his tour: Once Upon A Night: The Experience.

After the release of Vol.1 Ferry released Once Upon A Night Vol.2 on October 1 and his world tour started on September 17. He's one of the best DJ in the world referring to the DJ Mag Top 100.

Ferry hosted a New Year's Eve event at the O2 Academy Brixton, London in 2011/2012 in which he delivered the midnight set and went on to perform back to back with other successful Trance DJ's/producers - Judge Jules, Sied Van Riel, Marcel Woods to name a few.

Pseudonyms[link]

Aliases[link]

A Jolly Good Fellow, Albion, Bypass, Cyber F, Eon, Exiter, Ferr, Firmly Underground, Free Inside, Kinky Toys, Lunalife, Moonman, Pulp Victim, Pulse, Raya Shaku, Riptide, Sidewalk, Sidewinder, Skywalker, System F, Tellurians, The Nutter.

Collaborations[link]

Discodroids (with Peter Nijborn), Gouryella (with Tiësto), Veracocha (with Vincent de Moor), Vimana (with Tiësto), FB (with Benny Benassi)

Discography[link]

Studio albums

Tours[link]

• Play Station Tour (2003)
• Right of Way World Album tour (2004)
• Heineken Tour (2004)
• Passport Compilation World Tour (2005)
• LEF World Album Tour (2006)
• Tour (2007)
• Tour (2008)
• Twice In A Blue Moon World Tour (2009)
• Once Upon A Night World Tour (2010)

Recognitions[link]

Selected remixes[link]

• Apoptygma Berzerk – Kathy's Song
• Armand Van Helden – Witch Doktor (Free Inside Remix)
• Art of Trance – Madagascar
• Ayumi Hamasaki – A Song for XX
• Ayumi Hamasaki – Kanariya
• Ayumi Hamasaki – WHATEVER
• Bobina – Invisible Touch (Ferry Corsten's Touch)
• BT - Force Of Gravity (Ferry Corsten Remix)
• BT – Suddenly (Ferry Corsten's Fix)
• Corderoy – Sweetest Dreams (Ferry Corsten Remix)
• Cosmic Gate – The Truth (Ferry Corsten Remix)
• Duran Duran – Reach Up For The Sunrise (Ferry Corsten Remix)
• Elles de Graaf – Show You My World
• Embrace – Embrace
• Every Little Thing – For The Moment
• Faithless feat. Boy George – Why Go (Ferry Corsten Remix)
• Faithless feat. Dido – Feelin Good (Ferry Corsten Fix)
• Gatecrasher Sheffield – mix compilation (Mixed by Ferry Corsten)
• Girl Next Door – Jōnetsu no Daishō
• Kai Tracid – Conscious (Ferry Corsten Remix)
• Kamaya Painters – Endless Wave (Albion Remix)
• The Killers – Human
• Klubbheads – Klubbhopping (A Jolly Good)
• Laidback Luke feat. Johanthan Mendelson – Till Tonight (Ferry Corsten)
• Marco Borsato – De Bestemming (Ferry Corsten Remix)
• Markus Schulz – Do You Dream (Ferry Corsten Remix)
• Matt Darey presents Mash Up – Liberation (Ferry Corsten Remix)
• Mind One – Hurt Of Intention (Ferry Corsten Fix)
• Moby – In My Heart
• Moby – Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad
• Nelly Furtado – Do It (Ferry Corsten Remix)
• Novastar – Because The Remix
• Oceanlab – Clear Blue Water
• Public Enemy – Bring the Noise
• Rafaël Frost – Red
• Ramin Djawadi – Prison Break Theme (Ferry Corsten Breakout Remix)
• Rank 1 – Awakening (Ferry Corsten Remix)
• Shiny Toy Guns – Le Disko (Ferry Corsten Remix)
• Solarstone-Late Summer Fields(Ferry Corsten Remix)
• Tiësto – Kaleidoscope (Ferry Corsten Remix)
• Tony Walker – Field of Joy
• U2 – New Year's Day
• William Orbit – Barber's Adagio for Strings
• William Orbit – Ravel's Pavane Pour Une Infante Défunte (Ferry Corsten Remix)
• William Orbit feat. Ferry Corsten – Clavier (Ferry Fix)
• Yoji Biomehanika – Theme From Bangin' Globe (System F Remix)

See also[link]

• Flashover Recordings
• Gouryella
• Veracocha

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ferry Corsten

• Official website
• Artist Site at Ultra Records
• (French) Interview Ferry Corsten - Actualites Electroniques
• (English) Interview Ferry Corsten - Actualites Electroniques
• Full On Ferry - Official Website
• (English) Full On Ferry - London NYE 2011/2012 Official Website
• http://deepmix.info Music with Ferry Corsten

Armin van Buuren
Van Buuren performing on Queensday in Amsterdam, 2011
Background information
Birth name	Armin van Buuren
Also known as	Gaia, AVB
Born	(1976-12-25) 25 December 1976 (age 35) Leiden, South Holland, Netherlands[1]
Origin	Koudekerk aan den Rijn, South Holland, Netherlands
Genres	Trance Progressive Trance Uplifting Trance Neo-trance
Occupations	Remixer, Producer, DJ, Composer, Musician, Pianist, Songwriter
Instruments	Synthesizer, drum machine, equalizer, personal computer
Years active	1995–present
Labels	Armada Music (2003–present), Vandit (Co-Joined), Ministry of Sound Australia
Associated acts	Alibi, Dark Matter, Electrix, Lilmotion, Major League, Monsieur Basculant, Red & White, Technology, Triple A, Wodka Wasters, Nadia Ali,[2] Christian Burns,[2] Ferry Corsten,[2] Adam Young,[2] BT,[2] Sophie Ellis-Bextor,[2] Guy Chambers[2]
Website	arminvanbuuren.com

Armin van Buuren (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɑr.mɪn vɑn ˈby.rə(n)]), OON (born 25 December 1976 in Leiden, Netherlands)^[1] is a Dutch trance producer and DJ. Between 2007 and 2010, he was voted number one in DJ Magazine's annual top 100 list of the most popular DJs.^[1] In the 2011 list, he ranked in second place. Since 2001, Van Buuren has hosted a weekly radio show called A State of Trance, which claims to have around 15 million weekly listeners in 26 countries,^[3] which would make it one of the most listened-to radio shows in the world. His 2008 studio album, Imagine, entered the Dutch album chart at #1, a first for a dance music artist in Dutch music history.^[4]

Personal life[link]

Armin van Buuren was born in Leiden, Netherlands on 25 December 1976,^[1] but grew up in Koudekerk aan den Rijn. Van Buuren started making music when he was 14.^{[citation needed]} He was inspired by French electronic music composer, Jean Michel Jarre, and wished to become a great electronic music composer like Jarre.^{[citation needed]}

He finished high school at the Stedelijk Gymnasium Leiden in 1995, and left for college to study law at Leiden University. While studying law, Van Buuren's interest for making music blossomed, and he began working as a DJ in a local club called Nexus. As his musical career began to take off, he put his law degree on hold, although he did return to finish law school in 2003.

On 18 September 2009, Van Buuren married Erika van Thiel in Wassenaar, Netherlands. They met during a vacation on Crete, and had been together for nine years prior to the marriage.^[5][6]

On 12 January 2011, Van Buuren announced the pregnancy of his wife Erika on Twitter.^[7] He hoped the baby, due that summer, would be his "best production ever."^[7] Their daughter, Fenna, was born on 24 July 2011.^[8]

Career[link]

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2012)

1995–1999: Early career and success[link]

In 1995, Van Buuren had his first major success with a track called "Blue Fear", which was released under the Cyber Records label; he was 19 years old at the time. This track, which was produced in the "Euro Trance" mold, made it onto the UK Chart. Another successful track, "Communication" was released under the same label, and became popular in Ibiza, Spain in the summer of 1999. After being signed to AM PM Records, this track entered the UK Chart at No. 18 in 2000.

Armin van Buuren at Lizard Lounge, Dallas, Texas, 9 August 2008

Van Buuren began his DJ career at club Nexus in Leiden, where he learned to play long DJ sets, which were regularly six to seven hours per set.^[9] During school holidays he played more than four times a week. In 1999, he met Dave Lewis who introduced him as a DJ in England and the United States.^[9] His career accelerated, entering the DJ magazine Top-100 in November 2001 at Number 27.^[9] He has played in more than 25 different countries and can often be found on the main stage at big summer festivals. Van Buuren played a record-breaking twelve and a half hour set for Dancetheater in The Hague (the Netherlands).^[10][11] In the United Kingdom he performs regularly at Passion (resident 2002), Godskitchen, Gatecrasher, Slinky, Ministry of Sound, Peach and Golden.

In the beginning of 1999, Van Buuren started his label Armind together with United Recordings. The first release, Gig – "One," was well received. The second release "Touch Me," under the name Rising Star was signed to Ministry of Sound in the UK, before the record was released.

By the time of his third release, Gimmick – "Free" was signed to R&S Records, Van Buuren had managed to make his label popular very quickly. Under the surname Gaia he released "4 Elements" on Captivating Sounds, a sub-label of Warner Brothers. Teaming up with Tiësto, two new projects were born: Major League – "Wonder Where You Are?" was released on Black Hole Recordings and Alibi – "Eternity" was released on Armind. "Eternity" received club and chart success and was signed to Paul van Dyk's imprint Vandit Records. Another major collaboration followed this. Together with Ferry Corsten, Van Buuren recorded a riff-classic titled "Exhale" for the System F. album. Released as a single, this track reached gold status in less than a month.

[edit] 2000–2004: A State of Trance and 76

In 2000, Van Buuren started his own Armin van Buuren compilation series. He managed to find a balance between progressive house,and vocal trance music styles. His first compilation album, A State of Trance (not to be confused with his weekly A State of Trance radio shows), sold more than 10,000 copies and contains Van Buuren's well known remix of Moogwai, "Viola." His second album, Basic Instinct featured a new track: "Perpetuous Dreamer" – "The Sound of Goodbye." This track entered the Dutch charts in June 2001 at number 26. Later in the year, the track hit No. 1 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. The third album, In Motion was released 6 August 2001. This album contained the real trance sound and was very popular in the United States. A fourth album, Transparence, followed in 2002. In 2003, he worked with such artists such as DJ Seth Alan Fannin throughout a global tour on Dance Revolution in Europe, selling out to crowds of 20,000 people in Armin's home country of the Netherlands.

In March 2001, Van Buuren started his own radio show on ID&T Radio (traditionally broadcast in Dutch and later English since ASOT 183). In this weekly two-hour show, entitled A State of Trance, he plays the latest popular trance music tracks. His show and the artists he features are popularized by publishing the artists and track titles on his website. This radio-show/website combination has proven popular internationally. When ID&T Radio changed genres in 2004, Van Buuren left and took A State of Trance with him. The show then moved to Fresh FM, a Dutch radio station. It is now a weekly feature on SLAM!FM, another Dutch radio station, DI.FM, an online radio station, and on XM Satellite Radio, channel 80 in the United States and Canada. A complete list of stations that broadcast A State of Trance can be found at the ASOT section of Armin's website. Also in 2004, Van Buuren remixed the 24 theme song into a trance hit. In June 2005, the 200th episode was celebrated in Amsterdam and subsequently aired on radio. The 250th (eight hour) anniversary episode was celebrated in Club Asta in The Hague, Netherlands, featuring Van Buuren, Jonas Steur, M.I.K.E., John Askew, Rank 1 and Menno de Jong.^{[citation needed]}

In 2002, he had a residency at Glow in Washington D.C.,^[9] and he has played all across North America in San Francisco, Vancouver, Houston, Toronto, Boston, Calgary, Charlotte, Chicago, Montreal, Detroit, Edmonton, Atlanta, Austin, Denver, New York City, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Seattle and at The Necto (nightclub). He has also regularly appeared at Amnesia on the island of Ibiza, Balearic Islands, Spain. In October that year, Van Buuren was voted Number 5 in the DJ Magazine 100 top DJ's. The following year, he jumped up to the No. 3 spot, and held 3rd place for the next three years. His work left him at the No. 2 spot, just below Paul van Dyk in the 2006 polls, and, in 2007, Armin reached #1, heading the 2007 DJ Mag Top 100. He was voted No. 1 again in 2008, 2009 and again in 2010.^{[citation needed]}

In June 2003, Van Buuren released his debut studio album, 76, a 76-minute album divided into 13 tracks.^[12]

Armin Van Buuren performing at Avalon, Boston, Massachusetts 2007

[edit] 2005–present: Shivers, Imagine and Mirage

On 8 August 2005, Van Buuren released his second studio album, Shivers. On the album Van Buuren worked with artists such as Pakistani-American singer Nadia Ali, English singer Justine Suissa and American trance duo Gabriel & Dresden.

On 11 November 2006, he had a live performance called Armin Only in Ahoy Rotterdam for the second time (after 12 November 2005) with a nine hour solo set, where he performed to over 11,000 fans.

In the summer of 2007, Van Buuren recorded and released a live set at Amnesia, Ibiza. Universal Religion Chapter 3, Live from Amnesia at Ibiza was released on 28 September 2007 as a mix compilation on Armada Records and in the US as "Universal Religion 2008" on Ultra Records on 4 December 2007.

On 17 April 2008, Van Buuren released his third studio album, Imagine. It features collaboration with singers such as Sharon den Adel of Within Temptation and Jacqueline Govaert of Krezip. The album debuted at number one on the Dutch Albums Chart. Since the release of Imagine, Van Buuren has been working with Benno de Goeij and DJ-RA of Rank 1 on solo productions and remixes.^{[citation needed]}

19 April 2008 saw the 3rd edition of Armin Only, this time in the Jaarbeurs in Utrecht, Netherlands. The event was attended by 16,000 fans and (partly) broadcast live on Dutch National TV. During the second half of 2008, Van Buuren took this show abroad, with visits to Australia, Romania, Poland, Belgium, and a special New Years Eve 2008 show at Together As One in Los Angeles, U.S.

On 29 September 2008, Armin won the DJ Award for "Best Trance DJ" at Ibiza along with other nominees, that of Tiësto, Ferry Corsten and Paul van Dyk.

On 12 January 2008, Van Buuren was given the "Buma Cultuur Pop Award," the most prestigious Dutch music award.

In 2009, Foreign Media Games announced the production of In The Mix: Featuring Armin van Buuren, a music game being produced in collaboration with Cloud 9 Music and Van Buuren's Armada Music label. The title is scheduled to be released sometime in 2010 exclusively for the Wii console.^[13]

He has collaborated with his brother, guitarist Eller van Buuren, in such venues as Together As One in Los Angeles, U.S., on New Year's Eve 2009, as well as on Armin's 2008 album Imagine.

On 3 March 2010, Van Buuren was awarded with the prestigious Golden Harp, for his musical work and contribution to Dutch music, by the music collecting society BUMA/STEMRA at the 2010 Buma Harpen Gala in Hilversum, the Netherlands.^[14][15]

On 23 June 2010, it was announced that Van Buuren's fourth studio album, Mirage was due to be released on 10 September.^[16] The first single "Full Focus", was released through iTunes Store on 24 June at midnight.^[17] The song peaked at number sixty in the Netherlands. One of the confirmed tracks from the album is a collaboration with English singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor called Not Giving Up On Love, which was released as a single from Bextor's fourth studio album, Make a Scene.^[18][19] Armin also wrote a song for English singer Seal, but due to the release of his greatest hits album, Hits, the collaboration never came together.^[20]

On 12 September 2010, Van Buuren launched "A State of Sundays", a new weekly 24-hour radio show aired on Sirius XM Radio ^[21]

On 20 October 2010, Van Buuren won the award for Most Popular International DJ presented by The Golden Gnomes.^[22]

On 27 October 2010, Van Buuren was announced, for the 4th year running, as the number 1 DJ, and thus prolonging his title as 'Most Popular DJ in the World'.^[23]

The 2010 edition of Armin Only: Mirage kicked off on 13 November 2010, in Utrecht, Netherlands, with more shows coming in Saint-Petersburg, Kiev, Buenos Aires, Melbourne, Beirut, Poznań, Moscow and Bratislava .^[24]

On 27 November 2010, Van Buuren made his third appearance in Shanghai, China.

On 2 February 2012, Van Buuren mentioned a new studio album in the works on episode #546 of his radio show, "A State Of Trance".

A State of Trance 500 (ASOT 500)[link]

To mark the 10 year anniversary and 500th episode of his weekly radio show A State of Trance, Van Buuren performed at five shows across five continents over five consecutive weeks along with various artists.

The first show was held on 19 March 2011 in Johannesburg, South Africa at the MTN Expo Center. In addition to Armin, Blake Jarrell, Protoculture, Lange, Leon Bolier, and Jorn van Deynhoven were performers. Super8 & Tab were to be part of the South African show, however a flight cancellation caused them to be absent for the event. The event was attended by over 20,000 people.

Miami's show was performed at the Ultra Music Festival on 27 March, and part of the show were Marcus Schossow, Alex M.O.R.P.H., Cosmic Gate, Gareth Emery, Ferry Corsten, ATB, and Sander van Doorn.

Argentina held the third celebration of ASOT 500 in club G.E.B.A Buenos Aires, with Heatbeat, Jochen Miller, Dash Berlin, Markus Schulz, John O'Callaghan and W & W. It was the only of the five ASOT 500 celebrations that was held outdoors. Van Buuren recorded a live video with his cell phone and uploaded it to Twitter while playing his live set.

ASOT 500 was celebrated in the Netherlands in Den Bosch. Accompanied by more than 30 DJs from countries all over the world, the event was attended by over 30,000 people. DJs present included Markus Schulz, Gareth Emery, Above & Beyond, Paul Oakenfold and Sean Tyas. The event was radio broadcast live to over 30 countries.^{[25][dated info]}

The final show was held in Sydney, Australia on 16 April at Acer Arena in Olympic Park. It was a sold out event weeks before the night. Artists present included Shogun, tyDi, Menno de Jong, Aly & Fila, and Alex M.O.R.P.H. Van Buuren played for three hours.

A State of Trance 550 (ASOT 550)[link]

In March 2012, Van Buuren performed in six shows across three continents as part of ASOT 550. He began his tour on March 1 in London, continued on to Moscow on March 7, and to Kiev, Ukraine on March 10. Then, he traveled to the United States to host his show at the Beyond Wonderland festival in Southern California. A week later on March 25, he closed out Ultra Music Festival 2012 for the 5th edition. This was followed by the final show in the Brabanthallen of Den Bosch, the Netherlands.

A State of Trance sponsored a tent at the Electric Daisy Carnival at Met Life stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on May 19, 2012, which by all accounts could be considered an unofficial extension of ASOT 550. ^[26]

Discography[link]

• 76 (2003)
• Shivers (2005)
• Imagine (2008)
• Mirage (2010)

Year Mixes[link]

Van Buuren is well known for his annual "Year Mix" which incorporates clips and custom mashups from the year's most popular trance tracks. Each year-mix consists of about 85 individual releases, edited into a two hour mix which is released on double CD as well as aired on his weekly radio show at the end of each year. According to Van Buuren, each year-mix takes several months to make, including thousands of digital audio edits and hundreds of audio plugins.

References[link]