Darcy, Robert
Darcy, Robert
Darcy, Robert , French-born Belgian cellist and composer; b. Paris, Nov. 10, 1910; d. Schaerbeek, near Brussels, June 6, 1967. He obtained the Premier Prix in cello at the Lyons Cons. (1928); studied composition with Francis Bousquet and Paul Vidal. He played the cello in orchs. in Paris and Brussels. Mobilized in 1939, he was taken prisoner of war in June 1940; while in captivity, he organized a prisoners’ orch.; after his release he returned to Belgium, becoming a naturalized citizen in 1949. His style is rooted in neo-Classicism, with an admixture of atonal elements.
Works
ORCH Scherzo (1923); Rêverie (1931); 7 Sketches for Small Orch. (1933); Suite for Wind Orch. (1935); Suite for Strings (1936); Concerto for 4 Cellos and Wind Orch. (1936); Piece for 2 Cellos and Orch. (1937); Fantasie for Cello and Orch. (1937); 3 Marines (1939); Concerto for 4 Saxophones and Orch. (1939); Danses mosanes (1943); Trumpet Concerto (1948); Piano Concerto (1951); Sym. (1953); Concerto for Orchestra (1965). CHAMBER : 3 quartets for 4 Cellos (1935–37); 3 string quartets (1936–50); Caprice for Wind Quintet (1936); Sextet for Winds (1937); 6 Pieces for 4 Cellos (1937); Trio for Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon (1938); Quartet for 4 Saxophones (1938); Bassoon Sonata (1948); Piece for Wind Quintet (1962). VOCAL: Songs.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire