Meulemans, Arthur
Meulemans, Arthur
Meulemans, Arthur, eminent Belgian composer; b. Aarschot, May 19, 1884; d. Brussels, June 29, 1966. He was a student of Tinel at the Lemmens Inst. in Mechelen (1900–1906), and then was a prof, there until 1914. In 1916 he founded the Limburg School for organ and song in Hasselt, serving as its director until 1930. He subsequently settled in Brussels, where he was a conductor with the Belgian Radio (1930–42). In 1954 he became president of the Royal Flemish Academy of Fine Arts. Meulemans composed a prodigious body of music, excelling especially as a composer of orch. works.
Works
dramatic: opera:Vikings (1919); Adriaen Brouwer (1926); Egmont (1944). orch.: 2 cello concertos (1920, 1944); 15 syms.: No. 1 (1931), No. 2 (1933), No. 3, Dennensymphonie (1933), No. 4 for Winds and Percussion (1934), No. 5, Danssymphonie, for Women’s Chorus and Orch. (1939), No. 6, Zeesymphonie, for Contralto, Chorus, and Orch. (1940), No. 7, Zwaneven (1942), No. 8, Herfstsymphonie, for Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1942), No. 9 (1943), No. 10, Psalmen-Symphonie, for 2 Narrators, Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1943), No. 11 (1946), No. 12 (1948), No. 13, Rembrandt-Symphonie (1950), No. 14 (1954), and No. 15 (1960); 2 horn concertos (1940, 1961); 3 piano concertos (1941, 1956, 1960); 3 violin concertos (1942, 1946, 1950); Viola Concerto (1942); Flute Concerto (1942); Oboe Concerto (1942); 2 organ concertos (both 1942); Trumpet Concerto (1943); 3 sinfoniettas (1952; 1959–60; 1960); 2 concertos for orch. (1953, 1956); Harp Concerto (1953); Timpani Concerto (1954); Harpsichord Concerto (1958); Concerto for 2 Pianos and Orch. (1959); Concerto grosso for Winds, Strings, Harp, and Percussion (1962); symphonic poems, suites, etc. chamber: 5 string quartets (1915, 1932, 1933, 1944, 1952); Piano Quartet (1915); 2 violin sonatas (1915, 1953); 3 wind quintets (1931, 1932, 1958); 2 woodwind trios (1933, 1960); 2 brass trios (1933, 1960); Piano Trio (1941); String Trio (1941); Saxophone Quartet (1953); Viola Sonata (1953); Cello Sonata (1953); Trumpet Sonata (1959); Woodwind Quartet (1962). keyboard: piano:3 sonatas (1916, 1917, 1951); Refleksen (1923); 3 sonatinas (1927, 1928, 1941); Préludes (1951); Atmosfer-iliën (1962). organ: Sonata (1915); 2 syms. (both 1949); 7 Pieces (1959); Pièce héroïque (1959). vocal: Oratorios; choral pieces; songs.
Bibliography
M. Boereboom, A. M. (Kortrijk, 1951); Aan Meester A. M. bij zijn tachtigs verjaardag (Antwerp, 1964).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire