Late Romantic music from Belgium

[Roy Bland]

Feldbusch? Violin Concerto

[Roy Bland]

it probably goes without saying that it should be rediscovered and performed

[Roy Bland]

An analysis of belgian music in radio during WW2
https://www.journalbelgianhistory.be/en/system/files/article_pdf/BTNG_Eric_Derom_2023_1-2.pdf
and post war
https://matrix-new-music.be/wp-content/uploads/Flemish_Symphonic_Music_since_1950_0-2.pdf

[Symphonic Addict]

Every now and then I'm encouraged to hear August De Boeck's Symphony in G major to remind myself how glowing it is. It's got all the elements to delight the listener: impeccable orchestration, beautiful melodies, rousing and colourful passages, tender lyricism, etc. Not many Belgian symphonies are known to the general public and this should be. Immensely enjoyable. There are other two recordings of it, but this is my favorite:

[kyjo]

Every now and then I'm encouraged to hear August De Boeck's Symphony in G major to remind myself how glowing it is. It's got all the elements to delight the listener: impeccable orchestration, beautiful melodies, rousing and colourful passages, tender lyricism, etc. Not many Belgian symphonies are known to the general public and this should be. Immensely enjoyable. There are other two recordings of it, but this is my favorite:

Thanks for reminding me about this work, Cesar - it's been quite a while since I've heard it (or maybe I haven't heard it at all)! I see the other two recordings of the symphony on Spotify, but not the one pictured in your post. My most recent encounter with De Boeck's music was through this disc (part of Etcetera's fine Flemish Connection series):



The main work on the disc is his Violin Concerto, which maybe isn't a forgotten masterpiece but is certainly an enjoyable late-romantic romp with more than a few "quirky" touches. Most of the other shorter orchestral works on the disc are quite light in spirit, often quite humorous, and colorfully orchestrated. With one exception - the late (1931) and rather extraordinary Nocturne, which is certainly the most harmonically advanced work on the disc and is quite striking in its fin-de-siècle, brooding quality.

[Symphonic Addict]

Thanks for reminding me about this work, Cesar - it's been quite a while since I've heard it (or maybe I haven't heard it at all)! I see the other two recordings of the symphony on Spotify, but not the one pictured in your post. My most recent encounter with De Boeck's music was through this disc (part of Etcetera's fine Flemish Connection series):



The main work on the disc is his Violin Concerto, which maybe isn't a forgotten masterpiece but is certainly an enjoyable late-romantic romp with more than a few "quirky" touches. Most of the other shorter orchestral works on the disc are quite light in spirit, often quite humorous, and colorfully orchestrated. With one exception - the late (1931) and rather extraordinary Nocturne, which is certainly the most harmonically advanced work on the disc and is quite striking in its fin-de-siècle, brooding quality.

Boeck's glittering symphony is very recommendable. A charming, memorable, late-Romantic work. I just took a look at Spotify and the recording I posted does appear there.

Yes, the Violin Concerto is passable in general terms, and that Nocturne is gorgeous indeed, lavishly orchestrated and quite evocative (there is a passage that strongly reminded me of Debussy).

Since one recommendation ends up in others, this is another recording I heartily recommend:



I think that recording is the most gorgeous Boeck disc to date. The three works on it are stupendous, including the short and sophisticated prelude to Théroigne de Méricourt. The Piano Concerto is much better than the one for violin, it's got a little of the elegance and fluency one finds in Saint-Saëns's music. However, the suite of the opera Francesca is the main course here. It's an ardent, a decidedly late-Romantic suite, full of passion and glorious orchestration. Something to wallow in! I wish there was a complete recording of that opera.

[pjme]

Feldbusch? Violin Concerto

https://ericfeldbuschfondation.org/nl/biography/

ERIC FELDBUSCH PRIVATE FOUNDATION Created on 15th December 2010 by Jean Paul Feldbusch, the son of Eric Feldbusch (1922-2007).
The special purpose aimed by the Eric Feldbusch Private Foundation consist in providing information, promote and protect the work inherited from Eric Feldbusch, cellist virtuoso, conductor and composer as well as his musical heritage, and in a more general way  promote the musical art.

Not a huge amount of information on Feldbusch. 

[pjme]

it probably goes without saying that it should be rediscovered and performed

Jacques Stehman (8 July 1912– 20 May 1975) was a Belgian author, critic, pianist and composer. One of his most popular works is Symphonie de poche, composed in 1950. That year he published L'histoire de la musique en Belgique. In 1964 he published his L'histoire de la musique Europeenne des origines a nos jours. He taught practical harmony and music history at the Brussels Conservatory. He also wrote musical criticism for Le soir.^{[color=var(--color-progressive,#36c)][1][/url][/font][/size][/color]}

I remember Stehman as a very cultured, sophisticated "voice" on RTB classical radio, where he was often a guest.

The Gramophone - Volume 33 - Page 180 1955 M.M. STEHMAN. Symphonic de Poche. Chant funebre. Orchestre National de Belgique conducted by Eduard van Remoortel. London International W91082 (10 in., 27s. 3id.). Jacques Stehman is a Brussels composer, born in 1912, who studied his composition with Jean Absil. The sleeve note tells us that his music " shows a preference for the traditional tempered with a pleasantly discreet modernism " and, to judge from the music on this record, that is perfectly true.

[pjme]