Music from Belgium

[joachim]

Merci beaucoup Joachim.

Are there other composers you particularly like?

To stay with the post romantics of Belgium, besides Biarent, I like Peter Benoit, Joseph Jongen (and his brother Léon Jongen), Marcel Poot, a little Marcel Quinet.

Nevertheless, I still prefer the "real" romantics (Vieuxtemps or Beriot for example, and Fetis), and also the Classics like Van Maldere, Loeillet, Croes...

[Roy Bland]

It seems interesting

http://www.cadenza-cd.com/txt/OPL50.pdf

[pjme]

Indeed - more than just interesting .





This very big box assembles many cds that have been issued before. alas - OOP.

Unusual is, I think, the inclusion of the ballet 'Ulenspiegel" by Willem Kersters, which was available for a short time as an LP.



I bought most of the cds I wanted (Jongen, Souris, Tournemire...) many years ago.

[pjme]

I do like Kersters music - dramatic, intense,sad.... Not much is available.

Symphony nr 2

" In the 1960s, after a thorough study of the dodecaphonic system, he switched to a serial style, incorporating his theory of tritone relationships. His First and Second Symphonies (1963 and 1964), the Plechtige Ouverture (Solemn Overture) (1963) and Concertmuziek (1964) were the results of this new approach. The four-movement First Symphony is based on four series (one per movement). The Adagio can be seen as a broadly spun-out slow introduction; the two main themes of the Allegro molto are clearly identifiable and a climax is reached on the name BACH; the Adagio is, in terms of form, inspired by an ornamented chorale; the Finale is based on a simple rondo form.

In the second half of the 1960s, Kersters developed the "tonality of the twelve-tone scale", meaning that the tonal and the atonal principle were interwoven. The first application of this system was the Third Symphony (1967). Anything usable, both from the past and from contemporary musical language, was organically integrated into this new idiom. In a work such as Three Preludes (1971) there is hardly a trace left of traditional thematic development. The percussion is given an ever more important role, functioning as a colour element, in such works as Capriccio (1972), or it is used as an independent instrumental group, as in Anaglyphos (1969), with its surprising and absorbing sound combinations."

https://matrix-new-music.be/en/publications/flemish-composers-database/kersters-willem/

[Roy Bland]

Perhaps useful
https://www.operanostalgia.be/

[Roy Bland]

https://www.kunsten.be/en/now-in-the-arts/essay-toonaangevende-vrouwen-componistes-in-vlaanderen/

[Roy Bland]

Marsick sounded good in Youtube. I will look for the recording.

You may buy it here
https://www.musiwall.uliege.be/product/armand-marsick/

[Roy Bland]

[Roy Bland]

On belgian music
https://creationmusicale.be/fr/actualites

[Roy Bland]

[Roy Bland]

Perhaps also this

[Roy Bland]

he isn't late romantic but quite conservative

http://www.robertjanssens.be/411393570.html

[Roy Bland]

[Roy Bland]

[Roy Bland]

[Roy Bland]

Absil IMHO isn't late romantic however

[Roy Bland]

[Symphonic Addict]

The two works by Jongen interest me. However, I found the Piano Concerto on another disc:

[pjme]

Another forgotten composer, another old recording....

This 1950 work has its moments (the ending of the first movement) and - of course - the entrance of the organ in the last movement ... stylistically its a real hotchpot: a little bit of Saint Saens, a pinch of Hindemith, Franck, ...snippets of Janacek or Chostakovich and a little snuff of Bartok...
yet, I think this would go down well in a large concerthall 

The sentimental paintings are far too sweet for this "heavy" music.
I'd opt for some Permeke:

[pjme]

While preparing the evening meal, doing some household chores and looking at the grey, windswept skies, I listen to old recordings of Belgian music. Some of them I've known all my life (thanks to the library), some have been "rescued" from long forgotten radio broadcasts (I used to write to the BRT archive).
Anyway, Flor Peeters is mainly known as an organist and still enjoys some attention.
Here is his pianoconcerto in two versions: piano/orchestra and piano/organ. Rather fun!

Eugène Traeys piano should have had a decent tuning....and the recording is drab...Still, there are some snappy rythms, catchy tunes and a dreamy arioso...

Mats Jansons piano sounds good the recording is excellent. The two other movements are also on YT.

Peeters massive, impressive (ca 40 mins.) concerto for organ and large orchestra was recorded for KLARA.
https://youtu.be/ho2pnslHMZA?si=k0C8HGcdhhSOhiKP