File:Modern composers of Europe - being an account of the most recent musical progress in the various European nations, with some notes on their history, and critical and biographical sketches of the (14585046948).jpg

Identifier: moderncomposerso00elso (find matches)
Title: Modern composers of Europe : being an account of the most recent musical progress in the various European nations, with some notes on their history, and critical and biographical sketches of the contemporary musical leaders in each country
Year: 1905 (1900s)
Authors: Elson, Arthur, 1873-1940
Subjects: Composers
Publisher: Boston : L.C. Page
Contributing Library: Harold B. Lee Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brigham Young University

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tration, the variety of combinations, and themarvellous invention shown in the harmonic pro-gressions all stamp the work as a masterpiece. Guillaume Lekeu was a composer whose earlydeath cut short a career of great promise. He wasborn at Heusy, in Verviers, January 20, 1870, andhis first musical studies were pursued in the localmusic-school. At the age of twelve he went withhis parents to Poitiers, continuing his education atthe Lyceum. Four years later he went to Paris,where he came under the elevating influence ofCesar Franck. His earnest work with that master,in harmony, form, and composition, soon beganto bear fruit, and in 1891 his cantata Andromede took second prize in the Belgian national compe-tition. This mild success was received with great en-thusiasm in his native town, where he was calledupon to lead a performance of the work. For thethree remaining years of his life he was steadilybusy at composition. His fantasie on popularAngevin airs was also accorded a representation
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GUILLAUME LEKEU. THE NETHERLANDS 191 in his birthplace. Among his other works aretwo fitudes Symphoniques, one entitled ChantTriomphale, and the other divided into the twoparts, Faust and Hamlet. There is also anattractive Poeme for violin and orchestra, andan exquisite adagio for violin, cello, and strings.Lekeu wrote incidental music to parts of DeMussets Barberine and Hugos Les Bur-graves/ but no1 actual opera. His greatest vocalwork is the Chant Lyrique, for chorus and or-chestra, but some of his songs are remarkable fortheir elevated melodic style. In the lesser instru-mental forms there is an Epithalame for quin-tette of strings, three trombones, and organ; severalsmaller chamber works; a wonderfully effectiveviolin sonata; a number of piano pieces; and anunfinished piano quartette, of which the secondmovement was completed by DTndy. Lekeus prose writings, like his music, reveal adeep gloom, a pervading spirit of melancholy. Thelofty sadness of his work seems at times a perfectp

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