Delden, Lex van

Delden, Lex van , Dutch composer and writer on music; b. Amsterdam, Sept. 10, 1919; d. there, July 1, 1988. He studied medicine at the Univ. of Amsterdam and was autodidact in composition. He contributed articles to various Dutch and foreign publications, and also served as music ed. of the newspaper Het Parool (from 1947); he likewise was president of the Soc. of Dutch Composers. He was a prolific composer who wrote in a basically tonal style.

Works

ORCH 8 syms.: No. 1, De stroom, Mei 1940 (The Torrent; May 1940) for Soprano, Chorus, 8 Instruments, and Percussion (1952; for Orch., 1954), No. 2, Sinfonia giocosa (1953), No. 3, Facetten (Facets; 1955), No. 4 (1957), No. 5 (1959), No. 6 (1963), No. 7, Sinfonia concertante, for 11 Winds (1964), and No. 8 for Strings (1964); Harp Concerto (1951–52); Trumpet Concerto (1956); Concerto for 2 Oboes and Orch. (1959); Piano Concerto (1960); Concerto for 2 String Orchs. (1961); Flute Concerto (1965); Concerto for Violin, Viola, Double Bass, and Orch. (1965); Concerto for 2 Soprano Saxophones and Orch. (1967); Musica sinfonica (1967); Concerto for Percussion, Celesta, and Strings (1968); Concerto for Electronic Organ and Orch. (1973); Concerto for Violin, 15 Winds, and Percussion (1978); Musica di catasto for Strings (1981; also for String Quintet). CHAMBER : Trio for Piano, Violin, and Viola (1944); Piano Sonata (1949); Kleine Suite for 12 Harps (1951; in collaboration with M. Flothius); 3 string quartets (1954, 1965, 1979); Quartet for Flute, Violin, Viola, and Cello (1957); Sonata for Solo Cello (1958); Violin Sonata (1964); Fantasia for Harp and 8 Winds (1965); 2 trios for Violin, Cello, and Piano (1969, 1988); Sestetto for String Sextet (1971); Nonetto per Amsterdam for Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, 2 Violins, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, and Piano (1975); Quintetto for Brass Quintet (1981); Tomba for 4 Saxophones (1985). VOCAL: O r a t o r i o s : De Vogel Vrijheid (The Bird of Freedom; 1955); Anthropolis (1962); Icarus (1963). O t h e r : Choral pieces; songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire