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Frédéric Devreese

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Frédéric Devreese
Born(1929-06-02)2 June 1929
Amsterdam
Died28 September 2020(2020-09-28) (aged 91)
Brussels
Occupation(s)Composer, conductor
Years active1949–2020
SpouseAnnie De Clerck
Awards
Websitewww.fdevreese.be

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.

Career

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Born in Amsterdam, Devreese received his first musical training from his father, the composer-conductor Godfried Devreese [nl] (1893–1972).[2][3]

He studied composition with Marcel Poot and conducting with René Defossez [fr] 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.

Personal life

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Devreese was married to Annie De Clerck.[6] He died of cancer.[7]

Awards

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Devreese received the following prizes:

Honours

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He was knighted by Albert II of Belgium in 1996. His motto is Tenuto.

Works

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Stage

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  • Willem van Saefthinge, TV opera (1962–63), libretto by Jean Francis
  • Le Cavalier bizarre, opera (1976), libretto by Michel de Ghelderode

Orchestral

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  • 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

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  • 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

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  • Four Old Flemish Songs, mixed chorus (1966)
  • Ballade for Damien, children's chorus, harmonica, string orchestra (1988)

Piano

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  • 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)

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Discography

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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)

References

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  1. ^ VRT NWS (28 September 2020). "Frédéric Devreese (91) overleden, componist van veel filmmuziek". vrtnws.be. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  2. ^ "Godfried Devreese". naxos.com. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  3. ^ "Devreese Orchestral Works". Gramophone. November 1994. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Devreese Fréderic (1929)". Matrix New Music (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d "Frédéric Devreese, componist van veel filmmuziek, overleden". klara.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  6. ^ Interview with Ronny De Schepper. 2 June 2014. Retrieved on 16 November 2016.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Kockartz, Andreas (28 September 2020). "Der belgische Filmkomponist Frédéric Devreese (91) ist gestorben". vrt.be (in German). Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  8. ^ "Gand : Les vainqueurs du Prix G.Delerue". georges-delerue.com. 20 October 2007. Archived from the original on 19 November 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
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