Alpaerts, Flor

Alpaerts, Flor, Belgian composer, conductor, and music educator, father of Jef Alpaerts; b. Antwerp, Sept.12, 1876; d. there, Oct. 5, 1954. He studied composition with Benoit and Blockx and violin at the Royal Flemish Cons, in Antwerp. In 1903 he joined its staff, serving as its director from 1934 to 1941. He conducted the orch. at the Zoological Gardens (1919–51) and was director of the Royal Flemish Opera (1922–23) in Antwerp. His music is marked by an intense feeling for the modalities of Flemish folk songs. His 5-vol. treatise Muzieklezen en Zingen was for many years the official textbook in all Flemish music institutions.

Works

DRAMATIC: Opera: Shylock (Antwerp, Nov. 22, 1913). OTHER: Incidental music. ORCH.: 7 symphonic poems: Psyche (1900); Herleving (1903); Cyrus (1905); Pallieter (1921); Thijl Uilenspiegel (1927); Avondindruk (1928); Zomeridyll (1928); Poème symphonique for Flute and Orch. (1903); Karakterstuk for Trumpet and Strings (1904); Bosspeling (1904); Salomé danse (1907); Vlaamse Idylle (1920); Romanza for Violin and Small Orch. (1928); James Ensor Suite (1929); 2 suites for Small Orch. (1932); Humor (1936); Serenade for Cello and Orch. (1936); Small Suite for Strings (1947); Violin Concerto (1948); Capriccio (1953). CHAMBER: 2 Pieces for Piano Trio (1906); Avondmuziek for 8 Woodwinds (1915); 4 string quartets (1943, 1944, 1945, 1950); 3 petites pièces for Violin and Piano (1944); 4 Bagatelles for String Quartet (1953). VOCAL: Choral works and songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire