August de Boeck

Julianus Marie August De Boeck (May 9, 1865 in Merchtem, Belgium – October 9, 1937 in Merchtem) was a Flemish composer, organist and music pedagogue. He was the son of organist and director Florentinus (Flor) De Boeck (1826-1892)

Career edit

From 1880 he studied organ at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels under Alphonse Mailly, whose assistant he became until 1902. In 1889 he met the young Paul Gilson who became a close friend and, despite being the same age, his teacher for orchestration. Gilson encouraged De Boeck's composition work.

He became an organist at various churches in Belgian villages (1892-1894 in Merchtem, 1894-1920 in Elsene). His academic career continued in 1907 as professor of harmony at the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp (1909–1920) and the Brussels Conservatory, and as director of the Conservatory of Mechelen (1921–1930). His students included Maria Scheepers. In 1930 August De Boeck retired to his birthplace, Merchtem.

As with Gilson, De Boeck's style was influenced by the Russian Five, and especially Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. Along with Gilson, he introduced impressionist composition in Belgium. He wrote about 400 compositions including vocal work, operas, religious pieces and instrumental compositions.

Honours edit

1934 : Commander in the Order of Leopold.^[1]
Member of the Royal Academy of Science, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium

Works edit

Orchestral works edit

1893 Rhapsodie Dahoméenne
1895 Symphony in G
1923 Fantasy on two Flemish folk tunes
1926 Fantasy for oboe and orchestra
1929 Concerto for violin and orchestra
1929 Concerto for Hans piano and orchestra (with Maria Scheepers)^[2]
1931 Nocturne
1932 Concerto for piano and orchestra
1936 Cantilène for cello and chamber orchestra
1937 In schuur
Cinderella, symphonic poem
Elegy for string orchestra
Gavotte for string orchestra

Sacred works edit

Three Masses, for three voices and organ
17 Spiritual Songs
1898 Trois Pièces, for organ

1. Prélude

2. Andante

3. Allegretto

Allegro con fuoco, for organ
Marche Nuptiale, for organ

Secular vocal works edit

Songs: 54 on Flemish texts; 45 on French texts; 57 children's songs
- Deux nouvelles Stances, for mezzo and piano
- Enfantines, four songs for mezzo and piano
- J'avais un coeur, for baritone and orchestra
- In het woud, for soprano and orchestra (after a text of G. J. P. van Straaten)
- L'église paysanne, for baritone and orchestra
- Mignonne for baritone and orchestra
- Pour tes dents de nacre, for mezzo and orchestra
- Six songs after poems of Jeanne Cuisinier, for mezzo and piano
- Soirée de Septembre, for baritone and orchestra
- Stances à Marylyse, six songs for mezzo and orchestra
- Two songs after poems of Charles van Lerberghe, for mezzo and piano
12 Cantatas
- Gloria Flori for chorus and orchestra
38 Motets

Operas and stage works edit

1901 Théroigne de Méricourt, Singspiel in two acts - libretto: Léonce du Catillon
1903 Winternachtsdroom, Singspiel in one act - libretto: Léonce du Catillon
1906 De Rijndwergen, musical fairy tale in three acts - libretto: Pol de Mont
1909 Reinaert de Vos, opera, in three acts - libretto: Raf Verhulst
1918 Papa Poliet, operette - libretto: Jan Vanderlee
1921 La Route d'Emeraude, lyric opera in four acts - libretto: Max Hautier naar het gelijknamig roman van Eugène Demolder
1929 Totole, operette - libretto: A. V. Lions

Ballets edit

1895 Cendrillon
1896 La Phalène

Incidental music edit

1894 La Chevalière d’Eon (G. Eekhoud)
1909 Jesus de Nazarener (R. Verhulst)

Chamber music edit

50 Compositions for piano
- Nocturne, for piano solo
19 Works for piano and solo instrument
- Sonata, for cello and piano (1894)
- Cantilene, for cello and piano
- Fantasia in G minor for viola and piano (1916)
- Fantasie, for trombone and piano (1931)