Brenta, Gaston

Brenta, Gaston, Belgian composer; b. Brussels, June 10, 1902; d. there, May 30, 1969. He studied theory with Gilson; in 1925 he and 7 other pupils of Gilson formed the Belgian Groupe des Synthétistes, advocating a more modern approach to composition. From 1931 he was associated with the Belgian Radio; from 1953 to 1967 he was music director of the French Services there. His music follows the traditions of cosmopolitan Romanticism, with exotic undertones.

Works

DRAMATIC: Le Khâdi dupé, opera (Brussels, Dec. 16, 1929); 2 radio dramas: Aucassin et Nicolette (1934) and Heracles (1955); 3 ballets: Zo’har (1928); Florilège de Valses (1940); Candide (1955); Le Bal chez la Lorette (1954), which forms a part of Les Bals de Paris, a large ballet consisting of passages contributed by several Belgian composers. orch.:Variations sur un thème congolais (1926); Nocturne (1934); Arioso et Moto Perpetuo (1940); War Music (1946); Sym. (1946); In Memoriam Paul Gilson (1950); Farandole burlesque (1951); 2 piano concertos (1952, 1968); Concertino for Trumpet, Strings, and Timpani (1958); Saxiana, concertino for Saxophone, Strings, Timpani, and Piano (1962); Airs variés pour de belles écouteuses for Bassoon and Strings (1963); Pointes sèches de la Belle Époque for Piano and Strings (1964); Matinee d’été (1967). chamber: String Quartet (1939); Mélopée for Violin and Piano (1945); Le Soldat fanfaron, suite for Quintet (1952); Concertino for 5 Winds, Double Bass, Piano, and Percussion (1963); piano pieces.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire