Frédéric Devreese (2 June 1929 – 28 September 2020) was a
Belgian
Belgian may refer to:
* Something of, or related to, Belgium
* Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent
* Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as Dutch, French, and German
*Ancient Belgian language, an extinct languag ...
composer of mostly orchestral, chamber and piano works that have been performed throughout the world; he was also active as a conductor. Devreese is known for his film scores, including '' Benvenuta'' by
André Delvaux
André Albert Auguste Delvaux (; 21 March 1926 – 4 October 2002) was a Belgian film director. He co-founded the film school INSAS in 1962 and is regarded as the founder of the Belgian national cinema. Adapting works by writers such as Joha ...
Marion Hänsel
Marion Hänsel (née Ackermann; 12 February 1949 – 8 June 2020)Amsterdam
Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the capital and most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population of 907,976 within the city proper, 1,558,755 in the urban ar ...
, Devreese received his first musical training from his father, the composer-conductor (1893–1972).
He studied composition with Marcel Poot and conducting with in
Brussels
Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...
, composition with
Ildebrando Pizzetti
Ildebrando Pizzetti (20 September 1880 – 13 February 1968) was an Italian composer of classical music, musicologist, and music critic.
Biography
Pizzetti was born in Parma in 1880. He was part of the "Generation of 1880" along with Ottorino ...
Rome
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, established_date = 753 BC
, founder = King Romulus (legendary)
, image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg
, map_caption ...
from 1952 to 1955 and conducting with Hans Swarowsky at the
University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna
The University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (german: link=no, Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien, abbreviated MDW) is an Austrian university located in Vienna, established in 1817.
With a student body of over three thousa ...
in 1955–56.
Devreese composed music for piano, chamber music, orchestra, choir, opera and ballet, but became widely known initially for his film scores. In addition, he wrote the imposed work for the Reine Elisabeth music competition in Brussels (1983, ''Concerto No. 4'') and the Adolphe Sax competition in Dinant (1998, ''Ostinati'').
He served as conductor of the
BRT
BRT may refer to:
Transportation
* Block register territory, a method for dispatching trains
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Philharmonic Orchestra and guest-conducted orchestras throughout the world. For his recordings for Marco Polo's series ''Anthology of Flemish Music'', he was nominated for the Cultural Ambassador of Flanders in 1996–97.
Personal life
Devreese was married to Annie De Clerck.Interview with Ronny De Schepper 2 June 2014. Retrieved on 16 November 2016. He died of cancer.
Awards
Devreese received the following prizes:
* Prijs Oostende Piano Competition (1949, for ''Concerto No. 1'')
* Prix Italia (1964, for ''Willem van Saefthingen'', together with Mark Liebrecht)
*
Joseph Plateau Award
A Joseph Plateau Award was an accolade presented by the Flanders International Film Festival Ghent, first awarded in 1985. The awards were given in several categories to honor cinematic achievements in the film industry. They were restricted to ...
(1990, for ''Het Sacrament'')
* Georges Delerue Award (1994, for ''La partie d'échecs'')
Order of Leopold II
The Order of Leopold II is an order of Belgium and is named in honor of King Leopold II. The decoration was established on 24 August 1900 by Leopold II as Sovereign of the Congo Free State and was in 1908, upon Congo being handed over to Belgium ...
He was knighted by
Albert II of Belgium
, house = Belgium
, father = Leopold III of Belgium
, mother = Astrid of Sweden
, birth_date =
, birth_place = Stuyvenberg Castle, Laeken, Brussels, Belgium
, death_date =
, death_place =
, signature = Albert II of Belgium Signat ...
in 1996. His motto is ''Tenuto''.
Works
Stage
* ''Willem van Saefthinge'', TV opera (1962–63), libretto by Jean Francis
* ''Le Cavalier bizarre'', opera (1976), libretto by Michel de Ghelderode
* ''Complainte'', oboe, piano (1953)
* ''Divertimenti a due'', violin, cello (1968)
* ''Divertimenti'', string quartet (1970)
* ''Suite No. 1'', French horn, 2 trumpets, trombone, tuba (1970)
* ''4 Short Waltzes'', 4 recorders (1979)
* ''Suite No. 2'', French horn, 2 trumpets, trombone, tuba (1981)
* ''5 Divertimenti'', 4 saxophones (1985)
* ''Benvenuta'', violin, piano (1987)
* ''Valse Sa'', ensemble (1987)
* ''Sax Blues'', alto saxophone, piano (1989)
* ''Benvenuta'', violin, cello, piano (1990)
* ''Berceuse et Finale'', violin, piano (1991)
* ''Three Dances'', 10 winds (1991)
* ''Passage'', harmonica, jazz ensemble (1994)
* ''Divertimenti a due'', guitar, violin (1996)
* ''Suite'', alto saxophone, piano (1998)
* ''Récitativo et Allegro'', trumpet, piano (2000)
* ''Canti'', cello (or viola), piano (2000)
* ''Blues'', trumpet, piano (2001)
* ''Quartet'', violin, viola, cello, piano (2001)
* ''3 Pieces'', flute/alto saxophone, piano (2002)
* ''James Ensor Quartet (quartet no. 2''), 4 saxophones (2002)
* ''Passage à 5'', guitar (+ electric guitar), violin, double bass, piano, accordion (2002)
Choral
* ''Four Old Flemish Songs'', mixed chorus (1966)
* ''Ballade for Damien'', children's chorus, harmonica, string orchestra (1988)
Piano
* ''Mascarade'' (1953)
* ''Prélude'' (1972)
* ''Gemini Suite'', 2 pianos (1980), also version for 2 orchestras
* ''Black and White (9 Easy Pieces)'' (1984)
* ''Lullaby for Jesse'' (1992)
* ''Short Waltzes'' (1997)
* ''Mobile I'', piano 4 hands (2000)
* ''Soundtrack 1-3 (30 pieces)'' (1972–2001)
* ''9 Waltzes'' (2001)
Film scores (by director)
* 1965 – ''De Grafbewaker'' (
Harry Kümel
Harry Kümel (born 27 January 1940) is a Belgian film director.
His 1971 vampire feature '' Daughters of Darkness'' (''Les lèvres rouges''; Fr, "The Red Lips"), starring Delphine Seyrig became a cult hit in Europe and the United States. He ...
André Delvaux
André Albert Auguste Delvaux (; 21 March 1926 – 4 October 2002) was a Belgian film director. He co-founded the film school INSAS in 1962 and is regarded as the founder of the Belgian national cinema. Adapting works by writers such as Joha ...
Robbe De Hert
Robin François De Hert (20 September 1942 – 24 August 2020) was a Belgian film director.
De Hert won the André Cavens Award for Best Film in 2000, with his film '' Lijmen/Het Been''.
He died on 24 August 2020 at the age of 77 due to compli ...
Marion Hänsel
Marion Hänsel (née Ackermann; 12 February 1949 – 8 June 2020)
* 1988 – '' L'Œuvre au noir'' (André Delvaux)
* 1989 – ''Het Sacrament'' (
Hugo Claus
Hugo Maurice Julien Claus (; 5 April 1929 – 19 March 2008) was a leading Belgian literature, Belgian author who published under his own name as well as various pseudonyms. Claus' literary contributions spanned the genres of drama, the novel, a ...
)
* 1990 – ''Il Maestro'' (Marion Hänsel)
* 1994 – ''La partie d'échecs'' (Yves Hanchar)
* 2001 – ''Pauline en Paulette'' (Lieven Debrauwer)
* 2003 – ''Mein Name ist Bach'' (Dominique de Rivaz)
Discography
;As composer
* ''Concerto Nos. 2-4'' – Daniel Blumenthal, piano; Frédéric Devreese/BRT Filharmonisch Orkest (Marco Polo: 8.223505, 1993)
* ''Soundtrack 1-3'' – André De Groote, piano (Marco Polo: 8.223651, 1994)
* ''Benvenuta; Un soir, un train; l'Oeuvre au noir; Belle (suites)'' – Frédéric Devreese/BRT Filharmonisch Orkest (Marco Polo: 8.223681, 1994)
* ''Overture; Concerto No. 1; Gemini Suite (both versions); Valse Sacrée; Lullaby for Jesse; Black and White (9 Easy Pieces); Mascarade'' – Daniel Blumenthal, Robert Groslot, pianos; Walter Gillessen, Georges-Élie Octors, Fernand Terby, Frédéric Devreese/orchestras (Cyprès: 1619, 1999)
* ''Three Dances'' – I Solisti del Vento (Galaxy Studios/I Solisti del Vento: 99-01, 1999)
* ''Passage à 5'' – Soledad (Virgin Classics: VC 45625, 2003)
* ''L'Oeuvre au noir'' – Frédéric Devreese/Nationaal Orkest van België (Barclay: 835 901)
* ''Het Sacrament'' – Frédéric Devreese/BRT Filharmonisch Orkest (Indisc: 3654)
* ''La partie d'échecs'' – (Virgin: 8040029)
* ''Variations and Theme; Concerto (violin)'' – Henry Raudales, violin; Frédéric Devreese/orchestra; Dirk Brossé/Symfonisch Orkest van Vlaanderen (RG Productions: 87080)
* ''Masque'' – James Watson/Desford Colliery Caterpillar Band (De Haske: DHM 3.002.3)
* ''Suite No. 1'' – Beaux-Arts Brass Quintet (De Haske: DHR 5.005-3)
;As conductor (excluding his own music)
* ''Tombelène; Concerto No. 1 (violin); Concerto (cello) (Godfried Devreese)'' – Guido de Neve, violin; Viviane Spanoghe, cello; BRT Filharmonisch Orkest (Marco Polo: 8.223680, 1994)
* ''Symphony No. 1 in A minor, The Gothic; Poème Héroïque; In memoriam (Godfried Devreese)'' – Moscow Symphony Orchestra (Marco Polo: 8.223739, 1995)
* ''Symphony in G; Concerto (violin); Dahomeyan Rhapsody (August De Boeck)'' – Guido de Neve, violin; Frédéric Devreese, Gerard Oskamp/Koninklijk Filharmonisch Orkest van Vlaanderen (Marco Polo: 8.223740, 1995)
* ''Symphony No. 6; Pygmalion Suite; Symphonic Allegro; Vrolijke Ouverture (Marcel Poot)'' – Moscow Symphony Orchestra (Marco Polo: 8.223775, 1996)
* ''Plinius' Fontein; Symphony Nos. 2-3; Meinacht (Arthur Meulemans)'' – Moscow Symphony Orchestra (Marco Polo: 8.223776, 1996)
* ''Moto Perpetuo; Symphony Nos. 3, 5, 7 (Marcel Poot)'' – Moscow Symphony Orchestra (Marco Polo: 8.223805, 1996)
* ''La Mer; Mélodies Écossaises; Alvar; Symphonic Overture No. 3 (Paul Gilson)'' – Moscow Symphony Orchestra (Marco Polo: 8.223809, 1996)
* ''Concerto Nos. 1-2 (piano) (Arthur De Greef)'' – André De Groote, piano; Moscow Symphony Orchestra (Marco Polo: 8.223810, 1996)
* ''Symphony No. 1; Mater Dolorosa Suite; Rossiniazata (Daniël Sternefeld)'' – Moscow Symphony Orchestra (Marco Polo: 8.223813, 1996)
* ''Concerto (flute); Le roi des aulnes; Concerto (piano) (Peter Benoit)'' – Gaby Pas-Van Riet, flute; Luc Devos, piano; Koninklijk Filharmonisch Orkest van Vlaanderen (Marco Polo: 8.223827, 1996)