Joseph Jongen (1873-1953)

Started by schnittkease, July 09, 2017, 03:22:23 PM

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schnittkease

No thread for (arguably) the best Belgian composer since Franck?



Joseph Jongen almost entirely owes his fame to releases of "his extravagantly scored and generously melodic Symphonie Concertante for organ and orchestra (1926). Little do most suspect that Jongen was a prolific and able composer in many genres, particularly but not exclusively in the field of organ music.

At age 7, Jongen entered the Liège Conservatory; it wasn't until he was 19 that he joined a locally important organ class, but within four years he was winning the highest honors for his playing. Simultaneously, he was making a name for himself as a composer; a string quartet of his won first prize in the 1894 Royal Academy of Belgium competition, and his cantata Comala brought him the Prix de Rome in 1897.

During the 1890s Jongen served as organist at churches in Liège, but at the turn of the century he also found time to embark on a four-year tour of Europe. During this period he took composition lessons from Richard Strauss, and met Gabriel Fauré and Vincent d'Indy, becoming thoroughly familiar with the Schola Cantorum's educational setup in Paris.

Jongen settled in Brussels in 1905, teaching at the Scola Musicae, the Belgian equivalent of the Schola Cantorum, while commuting to the Liège Conservatory. The Great War drove Jongen and his family to the safety of England, where he formed the Belgian (Piano) Quartet. The end of hostilities allowed Jongen to return to Belgium, where he began teaching at the Brussels Conservatory and in 1925 became its director. He simultaneously directed two concert series in Brussels and tutored Princess Marie-José in harmony. After his retirement in 1939 he devoted himself to composing and designing an organ for Belgian Radio.

Jongen's musical style is difficult to classify. It is richly romantic, though Jongen drew inspiration as much from such early figures as Mendelssohn and Chopin as from such later stalwarts as Wagner and Franck. He was a superb colorist, especially in his chamber music, showing more than a little influence of Debussy's Impressionism. Ultimately, despite the late, mild influence of Stravinsky, he seemed most aligned with the aesthetics of Fauré, although Jongen was fonder than his predecessor of the grand gesture. His works, in addition to the Symphonie Concertante, include several large organ compositions, most notably the Sonata Eroica, as well as a great deal of chamber music, concertos, and songs."


I recently picked up a Pavane disk of Jongen's string quartets (Vol. II). The 3rd String Quartet, op. 67, is clearly a masterpiece. Wonderfully melodic, yet not overly anachronic. He clearly learned a lot from impressionism but managed to sound original and engaging nevertheless. Even the filler pieces are great - this CD already has an important place in my collection.


pjme

#1
These are fairly recent recordings:










Scion7

#2
1880 - enrolled at the Liège Conservatoire
1892 - studied under Danneels
1894 - won first prize for the String Quartet Op.3
1896 - gilt medal with highest honours
various organ posts, until 1898 when he was on a tour of Europe for four years, meeting Strauss and Bruch, and discovered the music of Brahms
1900 - visited Munich and wrote the Violin Concerto
travelled to Paris (and met Faure and d'Indy) and to Rome (and met Schmitt)
1905 - resident of Brussels, various teaching posts
1909 - married
1911 - professorship at Liège Conservatoire
1914 - escaped to England when World War I broke out
1920 - returned to Brussels to more teaching posts and much composing
1939 - retired, but continued to compose and was appointed to various posts
              most online biographies don't cover the years of WW2,
              but a biography from 20 years ago covers that time:



1946-1953 - continued composing until circa 1950,  died in 1953

a respectable output:

  Chamber music
======================================

4 or more insts:
String qts: Op.2, 1893
Op.3, 1894
Op.50, 1916
Op.67, 1921
Op.95, 1931
Sonata, violin, Op.22 no.2, 1901
piano Qt, Op.23, 1901–2
Epithalame, 3 violins, organ, Op.32, 1907, rev. as Epithalame et scherzo, 3 violin,piano, Op.49, 1916
2 sérénades, string qt, Op.61, 1918
Rhapsodie, piano, wind quintet, Op.70, 1922
Concert à cinq, violin,viola, cello, flute, harp, Op.71, 1923
2 pièces, 4 cello, Op.89 no.1, 1929
2 esquisses, string qt, Op.97, 1932–3
2 pièces, wind quintet, Op.98, 1933
Prélude et chaconne, string qt, Op.101, 1934
Elégie et deux paraphrases sur des noëls wallons, 4 fl, Op.114, 1940–1
Saxophone Qt, Op.122, 1942
Conc., wind quintet, Op.124, 1942
2–3 insts:
piano Trio, Op.10, 1897
Adagio, Op.22 no.1, violin, viola, 1900–1
Heure calme, Op.23c, violin, piano, 1902
Sonata no.1, Op.27, violin, piano, 1903
piano Trio, Op.30, 1906–7
Sonata no.2, Op.34, violin, piano, 1909
Sonata, Op.39, cello, piano, 1911–12
Concertino, Op.41, trumpet, piano, 1913
2 pieces, Op.51, cello, piano, 1916
Danse lente, flute, harp, Op.56  1918
2 aquarelles, Op.59, violin, piano, 1917
Aria et moto perpetuo, Op.68, cello, piano, 1921
Hymne, Op.76, harmonium, piano, 1924
Sonata, Op.77, flute, piano, 1924
2 pièces en trio, flute, harp, cello, Op.80, 1925
Habañera, Op.86, cello, piano, 1928
Humoresque, cello, organ, Op.92, 1930
2 pièces en trio, Op.95, violin,cello, piano, 1931
Introduction et danse, Op.102, viola, piano, 1935
Prélude, habañera et allegro, Op.106, db, piano, 1937
Sonate-Duo, violin, viola, Op.109, 1938
Concertino, viola, piano, Op.111, 1940
Recitativo et airs de ballet, Op.115, clarinet, piano, 1941
Aria et polonaise, Op.128, trombone, piano, 1944
Concertino, Op.132, clarinet, piano, 1947
String Trio, Op.135, 1948
Violin Sonata, Op.22 no.2, 1901

   Orchestral
=======================================

With solo inst: Piano concerto, Op.1, 1892
Fantasia, Op.12, violin,orch, 1898
Marche-cortège, organ, orch, Op.13, 1898
Premier poème, cello, orch, Op.16, 1899
Cello concerto, Op.18, 1899–1900
violin concerto, Op.17, 1900
Adagio symphonique, Op.20, violin,orch, 1901
Méditation, Op.21, eng horn, chbr orch, 1901
Valse, cello, orch, 1908
Deuxième poème, Op.46, cello, orch, 1914
Suite, viola, orch, Op.48, 1915
Poème héroïque, Op.62, violin,orch, 1919
Fantaisie rhapsodique, Op.74, cello, chbr orch, 1924
Allegro appassionato, viola, chbr orch, Op.79, 1925
Symphonie concertante, organ, orch, Op.81, 1926–7
Pièce symphonique, Op.84, pf, orch, 1928
Alléluia, Op.112, org, orch, 1940
Piano concerto, Op.127, 1943
Harp concerto, Op.129, 1944
Other: Marche solennelle, Op.4, 1894
Sym, Op.15, 1898–9
Pastorale, chbr orch, 1901
Fantaisie sur deux noëls populaires wallons, Op.24, 1902
Lalla-Roukh, tableau symphonique, Op.28, 1904
Prélude et danse, Op.31, 1907
Impressions d'Ardennes, Op.44, 1913
Tableaux pittoresques, chbr orch, Op.56, 1917
Prélude élégiaque et scherzo, Op.66, 1920
Passacaille et gigue, Op.90, 1930
Triosième suite dans le style ancien, Op.93, 1930
Triptyque, Op.103, 1937
Ouverture fanfare, ww, Op.110, 1939
Ouverture de fête, Op.117, 1941
In memoriam, Op.133, chbr orch, 1947
Ballade, Op.136, 1949
3 mouvements symphoniques, Op.137, 1951

    Organ
===================================

20 préludes et versets, c.1890
Elégie, 1891
Elévation, 1891
Pièce pour grand orgue, 1892
5 pièces, Op.5, 1893–6
Fugue dans le style de J.S. Bach, 1897
Pastorale, 1906
Cantilène, 1908
4 pièces, Op.37, 1910–11
2 pièces, Op.38 nos.1–2, 1911
Prélude funèbre, 1914, rev. as Prélude élégiaque, Op.47 no.1, 1951
Pensée d'automne, Op.47 no.2, 1915
Chant de May, Menuet-scherzo, Op.53, 1917
Sonata eroïca, Op.94, 1930
Toccata, Op.104, 1935
Petite pièce, Petit prélude, 1936–7
Scherzetto, Prière, Op.108, 1938
Improvisation-pastorale, 1941
Prélude et fugue, Op.121, 1941–3
Gaudeamus, 1944

       Piano
=========================================

Sérénade, Op.19, 1900
Sarabande dans le style ancien, Op.23a, 1902
Clair de lune, Soleil à midi, Op.33, 1908
2 rondes wallonnes, Op.40, 1912
En forme de valse, Op.43, 1913
Crépuscule au lac Ogwen (N. Wales), Op.52, 1916
Sarabande triste, Op.58, 1918
Suite en forme de sonate, Op.60, 1918
3 études de concert, Op.65, 1920 and 1928
13 préludes, Op.69, 1922
Mazurka, Napolitania, Op.76, 1924
Petite suite, Op.75, 1924
Pensée élégiaque, Op.82, 1926
Impromptu, Op.87, 1928
Sonatine, Op.88, 1929
Toccata, Jeux de nymphe, Op.91, 1929
10 pièces, Op.96, 1932
Impromptu, Op.99, 1933
Ballade, Op.105, 1936
3 danses faciles, 1936
24 petite préludes dans tous les tons, Op.116, 1940–1
Ballade, Op.119, 1941
Bourrée dans le style ancien, Op.123, 1942
Impromptu, Mazurka, Op.126 no.2, 1943
Piano 4 hands: Pages intimes, Op.55, 1918
Jeux d'enfants, Op.120, 1941
Intermezzo-Piccolo, 1950

Also a ballet and an unfinished opera.

direct link for the file above:  https://s1.postimg.org/3gkxav3kjz/Jongen_during_WW2.jpg
When, a few months before his death, Rachmaninov lamented that he no longer had the "strength and fire" to compose, friends reminded him of the Symphonic Dances, so charged with fire and strength. "Yes," he admitted. "I don't know how that happened. That was probably my last flicker."

Mirror Image

I'm surprised there wasn't already a thread for this composer? Anyway....I've liked what I've heard so far, which doesn't amount to much. These recordings:



I'll have to dip a bit into my collection to see what else I own, but I believe this is about it.

kyjo

Quote from: Mirror Image on October 31, 2017, 06:35:41 PM


That's an absolutely spectacular recording! The finale of the Symphonie Concertante is one of the most thrilling movements I know.

I must confess I don't know much else of Jongen's music, a situation which I must rectify soon. I've heard part of his Cello Sonata which sounded very nice.
"Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music" - Sergei Rachmaninoff

Mirror Image

Quote from: kyjo on October 31, 2017, 07:13:31 PM
That's an absolutely spectacular recording! The finale of the Symphonie Concertante is one of the most thrilling movements I know.

I must confess I don't know much else of Jongen's music, a situation which I must rectify soon. I've heard part of his Cello Sonata which sounded very nice.

Yeah, I've owned this recording years and it is, indeed, a good one. For whatever reason, I haven't been interested enough in Jongen to do any further exploring than the afore mentioned recordings. I should rectify that soon.

kyjo

Quote from: schnittkease on October 31, 2017, 07:31:34 PM
Read the OP for my Jongen chamber music recommendation.  (I still stand by those words.)

Thanks for the recommendation :)
"Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music" - Sergei Rachmaninoff

André

Personally I consider Eugène Ysaÿe a composer just as interesting as Jongen (not more, but not less) and infinitely more influential - but that adds nothing to his talent or genius as a composer. Franck, Lekeu, Jongen, Chausson, Saint-Saens and Debussy among others dedicated works to Ysaÿe - the violin sonata in Jongen's case: it will be found in a fascinating 4cd set of violin sonatas dedicated to Ysaÿe.

That being said, if I may be forgiven for plugging yet again the Liège 50 big box, some very interesting Jongen works are to be found within: Passacaille et gigue for orchestra, the harp concerto, an orchestral suite 'In the Old Style', the Prix de Rome cantata 'Comala',  2 versions of the Symphonie concertante and an orchestral reworking of his Clair de lune.

The Musique en Wallonie disc (Pages intimes) is a beauty, and should be heard. I'm curious about the other discs presented in this thread. Thanks for that !

snyprrr

Quote from: schnittkease on October 31, 2017, 07:31:34 PM
Read the OP for my Jongen chamber music recommendation.  (I still stand by those words.)
[/quot


well, SQ3 is $80 on Amazon, lol, and not on YT...

All I have is (what some may call a lame performance of) the Concert a'cinq (Atlanta Sinfonietta/Koch), and yea, it seemeth slightly old timey to me... I might prefer koechlin here?

I did then listen now to the Two Pieces for flute, harp, and cello, and this was mouch more to my liking, but the Flute Sonata's 1st didn't do much for me, and the String Trio was ok but not my cup of tea, and the Duo for violin and cello was also not for me. Currently listening to the finale of the Symphonie Concertante, which is alsonot for me.



I keep hearing this great stuff about SQ3 and stuff,... I always want to hear the THIRD SQ after Debussy and Ravel (and it's not the Faure per se).



wanttolikeJongen, not finding THE works of the most Impressionisticthat I need...




sorry, my typing on this new computer is atrocious, I don't quite know what is happening as my text pops up anywhere on the page and such...

snyprrr

I didn't see that much variety in the 26 Page Discography :(

snyprrr


snyprrr

Quote from: schnittkease on November 05, 2017, 09:16:10 AM
It's 12.40EUR from Pavane's website:
https://www.laboiteamusique.eu/jongen-joseph-string-quartets-gong-quartet-p-8637.html?osCsid=p4vejdc01mj5rponep26j2bnh1

...And here's YouTube (from the Various Artists - Topic" channel):

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-j3Ci4l-1k
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzpZlfqyKnY (my personal favorite Jongen movement)
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qF6GfkIPq4M
4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1228_WSklHQ

btw... there's always Schmitt's String Quartet if Jongen's isn't "the third".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzTBrH19VsY&t=25se


The Symphonie Concertante (not to your liking) and Sonata Eroica are considered his masterpieces.

I'm listening to the Scherzo now,... lol, too pleasant!! No, it's very delicate and yet lush. I've been a'scouring the French landscape looking for "something"... I think as far as this here goes, I'd prefer Koechlin's SQs...

BUT, as for the Schmitt, which I was attempting to come to grips with a few weeks ago, that Schmitt would be the "3rd" if we were counting it as FAURE- ROGER-DUCASSE No.2- SCHMITT in G... Loewenguth Central...

Faure in Eminor
Roger-Ducasse No.2 in DMajor
Schmitt in GMajor

I don't know if any of Ropartz's 5 belong here...


As far as the "3rd" for Debussy/Ravel... mostly on record it has been the Dutilleux, which I approve of. Otherwise, either Koechlin or one of Milhaud's would probably be more appropriate?


I AM HAVING DIFFICULTY FINDING JONGEN... exciting...mm....embarrassed... I'm just hearing a younger Pierne/Schmitt??...




This Scherzo is so pleasant and non-offending... had you toldme it was Saint-Saens I might be more impressed



I'm trying here!!!!!! :laugh:

Then again, I'm currently finding Francaix'sPiano Music chirpy fun... ::)...

snyprrr


SurprisedByBeauty

Love Jongen. Checking into that thread.

SymphonicAddict

Yesterday I had the huge pleasure to find an ultra-wonderful piece of his: Concert à cinq for flute, string trio and harp. The level of beauty of this work is ineffable, this is such a gem! If you like Ravel's Introduction et Allegro or Cras' Quintette, then this is for you and don't miss it! This French combination of instruments is simply quite effective, much more subtle and intimate. Jongen displays his mastery to make the instruments speak in a very poetic and evocative way. I'm not afraid to say that this is one of the greatest works in the genre. LOVELY and ENCHANTING stuff!!

This is the CD where I found it:


SergeCpp

There is a strangeness in simple things.

schnittkease


kyjo

Quote from: SymphonicAddict on December 23, 2018, 10:16:08 AM
Yesterday I had the huge pleasure to find an ultra-wonderful piece of his: Concert à cinq for flute, string trio and harp. The level of beauty of this work is ineffable, this is such a gem! If you like Ravel's Introduction et Allegro or Cras' Quintette, then this is for you and don't miss it! This French combination of instruments is simply quite effective, much more subtle and intimate. Jongen displays his mastery to make the instruments speak in a very poetic and evocative way. I'm not afraid to say that this is one of the greatest works in the genre. LOVELY and ENCHANTING stuff!!

This is the CD where I found it:



I discovered the Concert à cinq recently and am in complete agreement with you, Cesar. What utterly wondrous, enchanting, spellbinding music indeed! I'd say it's worthy to stand alongside the greatest "impressionist" chamber works. Some of Jongen's works can sound a bit like watered down Debussy or Ravel, but certainly not this one! And it receives a superb performance in the above recording, to boot.
"Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music" - Sergei Rachmaninoff

Symphonic Addict

Quote from: kyjo on May 24, 2020, 03:24:16 PM
I discovered the Concert à cinq recently and am in complete agreement with you, Cesar. What utterly wondrous, enchanting, spellbinding music indeed! I'd say it's worthy to stand alongside the greatest "impressionist" chamber works. Some of Jongen's works can sound a bit like watered down Debussy or Ravel, but certainly not this one! And it receives a superb performance in the above recording, to boot.

Glad to read your impressions! A fantastic piece without a doubt.
Part of the tragedy of the Palestinians is that they have essentially no international support for a good reason: they've no wealth, they've no power, so they've no rights.

Noam Chomsky

relm1

I am sorry to be late to the party but today for the first time I listened to Jongen's Symphonie Concertante (Eduardo Mata/DSO) and absolutely loved it.  Very French too.  It sort of made me wonder what if Ravel had written an Organ Concerto.  Fantastic and very accessible work.