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]

[Roy Bland]

On Gaston Brenta
https://www.persee.fr/doc/barb_0378-0716_1969_num_51_1_63525

[pjme]

A rarity from the RTBF archives.

[Roasted Swan]

Almost accidently found a disc by Sylvain Dupuis in my collection - well worth hearing this composer;

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvain_Dupuis

[kyjo]

Almost accidently found a disc by Sylvain Dupuis in my collection - well worth hearing this composer;

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvain_Dupuis

Just curious, which disc are you referring to?

[pjme]

Could it be this one?



Possibly this is the only cd with works of Dupuis. He was -apparently a respected and -literaly- imposing figure.



Only in French - but an interesting read on Dupuis, written by fellow composer René Barbier:

https://www.persee.fr/doc/barb_0378-0716_1972_num_54_1_52623

Barbier remenbers Dupuis as a large, tall and very strict man. The musicians of the Monnaie orchestra had to prepare Gounods Faust for 4 consecutive hours..even if they claimed to know the score by heart....
Dupuis corresponded with Richard Strauss, César Franck, d'Indy and conducted works by Mahler, Debussy, Chausson, Pierné...

On YT I found this ( 6 mins. fragment of ? ) an oboe concertino by Sylvain Dupuis, orchestrated by Line Adam.

[pjme]

And Sylvain should not be confused with Albert...

[Roasted Swan]

Could it be this one?



Possibly this is the only cd with works of Dupuis. He was -apparently a respected and -literaly- imposing figure.



Only in French - but an interesting read on Dupuis, written by fellow composer René Barbier:

https://www.persee.fr/doc/barb_0378-0716_1972_num_54_1_52623

Barbier remenbers Dupuis as a large, tall and very strict man. The musicians of the Monnaie orchestra had to prepare Gounods Faust for 4 consecutive hours..even if they claimed to know the score by heart....
Dupuis corresponded with Richard Strauss, César Franck, d'Indy and conducted works by Mahler, Debussy, Chausson, Pierné...

On YT I found this ( 6 mins. fragment of ? ) an oboe concertino by Sylvain Dupuis, orchestrated by Line Adam.

Yes indeed that is the recording I have - which was hidden away in the 50 disc survey of recordings by the Liege Orchestra - a good disc in an excllent box.

[pjme]

Richard Strauss, Respighi... or Flor Alpaerts:

https://www.svm.be/componisten/alpaerts-flor?language=en

[Symphonic Addict]

I miss the word "complete" on this recording. Due for release on November 1st:

[Roasted Swan]

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:

Likewise - thankyou for the nudge.  I have this disc and will dig it out soon!

[pjme]

Last saturday in Tilburg /Concertzaal, Orventus large harmony orchestra and Open fanfare orchestra- overview of ca. 150 years of works written for winds and percussion.
I was intrigued as composers Paul Gilson, Marcel Poot, Jan van der Roost, Henk Badings and Louis Andriessen were programmed.
It was good to see and hear that these ensembles performed some difficult works on a very high level.
All works performed - written between 1885 and 2022 - were new to me and were more or less interesting in varying degrees.

Gustave De Roeck's symphonic poem "Epaminondas" (1956/57) for fanfare orchestra  was the most (boringly) conservative and least interesting composition, Henk Badings' 1984 Figures sonores (for harmony orchestra) surprised and impressed by its symphonic scope and intricate use of percussion.
Henk van Lijnschoten's Overture 2000, Marcel Poot's 1923 Dionysos (more a Brussels café than mount Olympus), Philip Sparke's The sunken village, Bart Picqeur's Danzas del infierno and even Louis Andriessens Monuments of the Netherlands I found less convincing...
Jan van der Roost's Knocking at heaven's gate (for fanfare orchestra) was the most ambitious score as it not only included important parts for harp and vibraphone, but also "Fernorchester" effects".
Both ensembles performed Paul Gilson's "La prière - avant le départ" a short, sugarsweet, hymnlike lollypop that had the audience in rapt attention.
An enjoyable evening, the concert hall wasn't sold out, but it was great to see a lot of young people and experience great  atmosphere.

"Le Retour au Pays (Tableau maritime, Grande Fantaisie Descriptive) (1885) is a programmatic fantasy in eight connected short parts. It tells the story of Scottish emigrants who return to their homeland by boat, encounter the obligatory storm at sea , but are eventually able to disembark safely in their homeland.
In the first part (the prayer), the Scottish emigrants call upon heaven and place their trust in God who will bring their ship safely back to their homeland. The departure is a vivid dance-like movement. A short lento transition in heavy brass leads to a Scottish idyll in which two children exchange soft words (solos for cornet and trombone). The ship quickly pierces the waves and soon the beloved Scottish mountains will appear. The storm provides the necessary tension with its violent rhythm and chromatic lines. A heavy thunderstorm makes the travellers face death, but the storm calms down. In the fifth movement we hear the calm sea (a quiet waltz) and the Scottish beaches coming into view. In a Scottish dance passengers fraternize with the sailors in a cheerful round dance. The prayer is resumed,  everyone goes ashore singing happily."
Apparently the complete score can be found on  this cd: https://www.njfo.nl/cds/paul-gilson