Jef "Joseph" Maes (5 April 1905 in

Antwerp Antwerp (; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of Antwerp Province, and the third-largest city in Belgium by area at , after ...

– 30 June 1996 in Antwerp) was a Belgian

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and def ...

and violist. Encouraged by his friend,

André Cluytens Augustin Zulma Alphonse "André" Cluytens (, ; 26 March 19053 June 1967)Baeck E. ''André Cluytens: Itinéraire d’un chef d’orchestre.'' Editions Mardaga, Wavre, 2009. was a Belgian-born French conducting, conductor who was active in the conce ...

, he completed his study at the Flemish conservatory in

. He studied

viola The viola ( , () ) is a string instrument of the violin family, and is usually bowed when played. Violas are slightly larger than violins, and have a lower and deeper sound. Since the 18th century, it has been the middle or alto voice of the ...

with Napoleon Distelmans;

chamber music Chamber music is a form of classical music that is composed for a small group of Musical instrument, instruments—traditionally a group that could fit in a Great chamber, palace chamber or a large room. Most broadly, it includes any art music ...

with Albert van de Vijver; and

counterpoint In music theory, counterpoint is the relationship of two or more simultaneous musical lines (also called voices) that are harmonically dependent on each other, yet independent in rhythm and melodic contour. The term originates from the Latin ...

and fuge with Karel Candael. When he was 23 years old, he composed his first work, which was a romantic ''Meditation'' for violin and piano. After his studies, he was employed for two years as a violist in the opera orchestra in Antwerp; in 1926 he participated in an orchestra under the conductorship of Lodewijk de Vocht, ''Nieuwe Concerten''. In 1930 he was a soloist with the well-known ''Dierentuin'' concerts in Antwerp, directed by Flor Alpaerts. Afterwards he was a violist for about 10 years with the Casino Orchestra at Knokke Casino. In 1933 he lectured at the music academy in Boom, Antwerp; ten years later he was appointed director of the academy. From 1942 to 1955 he lectured in harmony teachings at the Royal Flämi Conservatory in Antwerp. He also lectured in chamber music from 1955 to 1970. Along with Gaston Ariën, J.A. Zwijsen and Steven Candael, Maes founded the Antwerpse Philharmonie (Antwerp Philharmonic Orchestra) in 1955, their first concert given on December 10, 1956. The orchestra is now known as the Royal Flemish Philharmonic or ''DeFilharmonie'', and is officially called Antwerp Symphony Orchestra. Beginning in 1961 he led the annual International Music Camp, organized through "youth and music" in Belgium during the summer holidays. He was also a musical mentor in

Turnhout Turnhout () is a Belgium, Belgian Municipalities in Belgium, municipality and city located in the Flemish Region, Flemish Provinces of Belgium, province of Antwerp (province), Antwerp. The municipality comprises only the city of Turnhout proper. ...

Selected works

;Opera * ''Marise'' (1946) * ''De antikwaar'', Television Opera (1959); libretto by Anton van Wilderode ;Ballet * ''Tu auras nom... Tristan'' (1964); after Joseph Bedier ;Orchestra * ''Drie rythmen in dansvorm'' (Three Rhythms in Dance Form) (1931) * ''Concertstück'' (Concert Piece) (1938) * ''Overtura buffa'' (1939) * ''Symfonie in G'' (Symphony No. 1) (1953) * ''Ouverture concertante'' (1961) * Symphony No. 2 in A major (1965) * ''Partita'' for string orchestra (1966) * ''Praeludium, Pantomime, Scherzo'' (1966) * ''De verloofden'' for chamber orchestra (1969) * ''Mei 1871'' for speaker and orchestra (1971) * Symphony No. 3 (1975) * ''Intrada'' (1980) ;Wind orchestra * ''Vijf volksdansen'' (Five Folk Dances) (1956) * ''Bel canto Ouverture'' (1967) * ''Suite'' (1977) * ''Feestouverture'' (Festival Overture) ;Concertante * ''Meditatie'' (Meditation) for violin and orchestra (1929) * ''Légende'' for violin and orchestra (1933) * ''Arabeske en scherzo'' (Arabesque and Scherzo) for flute and orchestra (1935) * Concerto for viola and orchestra (1937) * Concerto for viola and orchestra (1943) * ''Concertstuk'' (Concert Piece) for trombone and orchestra (1944) * Concerto o. 1for piano and orchestra (1948) * Concerto for violin and orchestra (1951) * Concerto for harpsichord and string orchestra (1955) * ''Burlesque'' for bassoon and orchestra (1957) * ''Dialoog'' (Dialogue) for violin and orchestra (1973) * Concerto No. 2 for piano and orchestra (1975) ;Chamber music * ''Meditatie'' (Meditation) for violin and piano (1927) * ''Andante rustique'' for viola and piano (1934) * ''Sonata in D'' for violin and piano (1934) * ''Sonatine'' for flute and viola (1934) * ''Arabeske en scherzo'' (Arabesque and Scherzo) for flute and piano (1935); also orchestrated * ''Intermezzo'' for viola and piano (1935) * ''Concertstuk'' for trombone (or tuba, or oboe, or bassoon) and piano (1944) * ''Burlesque'' for bassoon and piano (1957); also orchestrated * ''Concertstuk'' for trumpet and piano (1957) * ''Nocturne'' for guitar (1959) * ''Prélude et allegro'' for brass quintet (1959) * Duo for violin and piano (1962) * ''Etude No. 17'' for timpani and piano (1962) * Trio for violin, viola and percussion (1964) * ''Vier kontrasten'' (4 Contrasts) for 4 clarinets (1965) * ''Divertimento'' for viola or violin and piano (1966) * ''Impromptu'' for cello and piano (1966) * ''Studie'' (Etude) for double bass and piano (1966) * Quintet for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and piano (1968) * Suite for percussion and piano (1968) * String Quartet (1970) * ''Studie'' (Etude) for violin solo (1978) * ''Saxo-scope'' for 4 saxophones (1979) * ''Kamermuziek'' (Chamber Music) for flute, violin, guitar and cello (1981) * Trio for 2 flutes and cello (1985) * ''Sérénade fantasque'' for violin and piano ;Keyboard * ''Etude No. 2 in E'' for piano (1960) * ''Pavane'' for harpsichord (1965) * ''Studie'' for organ (1966) * ''Divertimento'' o. 1for piano (1970) * ''Divertimento No. 2'' for piano (1977) * ''Serenade voor Sylvia'' for piano (1981) ;Vocal * ''Drie gedichten'' (Three Poems) for vocal quartet (1927) * ''Wees blij'' for voice and orchestra (1936) * ''Wandellied'' for medium voice and piano (1947) * ''Rosa Mystica'' for soprano and piano or orchestra (1958) ;Choral * ''Vierstemmige mis'' for male chorus and organ or orchestra (1962) * ''Vier oude Volksliederen'' (Four Old Folk Songs) for mixed chorus and orchestra (1968) * ''Klaaglied om de verdwenen reigers'' for mixed chorus and piano (1971) * ''Zomer'' for mixed chorus a cappella (1973) ;Incidental music * ''Het raadsel'', Incidental music (1938); play by Jef Mennekens * ''Ezelsvel'', Incidental music (1942); play by Henri Ghéon * ''Momotaro'', Incidental music (1943); play by Edgar Den Haene based on ''

Momotarō is a Folk hero, popular hero of Japanese folklore. His name is often translated as ''Peach Boy'', but is directly translated as ''Peach + Tarō (given name), Tarō'', a common Japanese given name. ''Momotarō'' is also the title of various books, ...

'' from Japanese folklore * ''Tim en de Chinese klok'', Incidental music (1943); play by Martien De Beuck * ''Saidjah'', Incidental music (1946) * ''O ha, de negerjongen'', Incidental music (1952) * ''Lorre, de papegaai van de more keizer'', Incidental music (1953); play by Eugeen De Ridder * ''Witje'', Incidental music (1953); play by Alphonse Daudet * ''Wij spelen Indiaan'', Incidental music (1955); words by T. Brown and H. Finchnar * ''De boom die leerde spreken'', Incidental music (1958); words by Eugène Winters

External links

Jef Maes at CeBeDeM

Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel
now houses most works and manuscripts of Maes, after the bankruptcy of CeBeDeM in 2015. {{DEFAULTSORT:Maes, Jef 1905 births 1996 deaths Belgian classical composers Belgian male composers Belgian classical violists Musicians from Antwerp 20th-century Belgian classical musicians 20th-century Belgian composers 20th-century Belgian male musicians 20th-century violists Players of the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra