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Frédéric Devreese (2 June 1929 – 28 September 2020)[1] was a Belgian 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 and The Cruel Embrace by Marion Hänsel.
Frédéric Devreese | |
|---|---|
| Born | 2 June 1929 |
| Died | 28 September 2020 (aged 91) |
| Occupation(s) | Composer, conductor |
| Years active | 1949–2020 |
| Spouse | Annie De Clerck |
| Awards | |
| Website | www |
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Born in Amsterdam, Devreese received his first musical training from his father, the composer-conductor Godfried Devreese (1893–1972).[2][3]
He studied composition with Marcel Poot and conducting with René Defossez in Brussels,[4] composition with Ildebrando Pizzetti at the Accademia Santa Cecilia in Rome from 1952 to 1955[4] and conducting with Hans Swarowsky at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna in 1955–56.[4]
Devreese composed music for piano, chamber music, orchestra, choir, opera and ballet, but became widely known initially for his film scores.[4] In addition, he wrote the imposed work for the Reine Elisabeth music competition in Brussels (1983, Concerto No. 4)[5] and the Adolphe Sax competition in Dinant (1998, Ostinati).
He served as conductor of the BRT Philharmonic Orchestra[5] and guest-conducted orchestras throughout the world.[4] For his recordings for Marco Polo's series Anthology of Flemish Music, he was nominated for the Cultural Ambassador of Flanders in 1996–97.
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Devreese was married to Annie De Clerck.[6] He died of cancer.[7]
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Devreese received the following prizes:
- Prijs Oostende Piano Competition (1949, for Concerto No. 1)[4]
- Prix Italia (1964, for Willem van Saefthingen, together with Mark Liebrecht)[5]
- Joseph Plateau Award (1990, for Het Sacrament)[5]
- Georges Delerue Award (1994, for La partie d'échecs)[8]
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- Knight of the Order of the Crown
- Knight of the Order of Leopold II
He was knighted by Albert II of Belgium in 1996. His motto is Tenuto.
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Stage
- Willem van Saefthinge, TV opera (1962–63), libretto by Jean Francis
- Le Cavalier bizarre, opera (1976), libretto by Michel de Ghelderode
Orchestral
- Concerto No. 1, piano, orchestra (1949)
- Concerto, violin, orchestra (1951)
- Concerto No. 2, piano, orchestra (1952)
- Symphony (1952)
- Concerto No. 3, piano, orchestra (1955)
- Mascarade Suite (1956)
- Deux Mouvements, string orchestra (1953–63)
- Evocation Suite (1966)
- Divertimenti, string orchestra (1970)
- Overture, large orchestra (1976)
- Concerto No. 4, piano, orchestra (1983)
- Pré (1983)
- Benvenuta Suite (1984)
- Gemini Suite, 2 orchestras (1986), version of work for 2 pianos
- L'Oeuvre au noir Suite (1988)
- Masque, brass band (1989)
- Valse Sacrée (1989)
- Thème et Danse (1989)
- Belle Suite, string orchestra (1991)
- Variations and Theme, string orchestra (1992)
- Valse Sacrée, string orchestra (1994)
- La partie d'échecs Suite, string orchestra (1995)
- Ostinati (concertino), alto saxophone, accordion, string orchestra (1998)
- Concertino, cello, bandoneón, string orchestra (1998)
- Concerto, cello, orchestra (1999)
Chamber music
- 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)
- 1965 – De man die zijn haar kort liet knippen (André Delvaux)
- 1966 – De Overkant (Herman Wuyts)
- 1968 – Un soir, un train (André Delvaux)[7]
- 1971 – Rendez-vous à Bray (André Delvaux)
- 1973 – Belle (André Delvaux)
- 1976 – Du bout des lèvres (Jean-Marie Degèsves)
- 1981 – Le filet américain (Robbe De Hert, Chris Verbiest)
- 1981 – De Witte Duif Véronique Steeno
- 1983 – Benvenuta (André Delvaux)[7]
- 1987 – The Cruel Embrace (Marion Hänsel)[7]
- 1988 – L'Œuvre au noir (André Delvaux)[7]
- 1989 – Het Sacrament (Hugo Claus)[7]
- 1990 – Il Maestro (Marion Hänsel)
- 1994 – La partie d'échecs (Yves Hanchar)
- 2001 – Pauline en Paulette (Lieven Debrauwer)[7]
- 2003 – Mein Name ist Bach (Dominique de Rivaz)
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- 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)
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