Hétu, Jacques (Joseph Robert)

Hétu, Jacques (Joseph Robert), Canadian composer and teacher; b. Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Aug. 8, 1938. He studied piano, harmony, and Gregorian chant at the Univ. of Ottawa (1955–56), then took courses in composition and counterpoint with Clermont Pépin, in harmony with Isabelle Delorme, and in fugue with Jean Papineau-Couture at the Montreal Cons. (1956-61; premier prix in composition, 1961). He also received instruction in composition from Foss at the Berkshire Music Center in Tanglewood, Mass, (summer, 1959), and completed his training in Paris with Dutilleux (composition diploma, 1963) at the École Normale deMusique and with Messiaen (analysis) at the Cons. (1962–63). He taught at Laval Univ. in Quebec (1963–77) and at the Univ. of Montreal (1972-73; 1978-79), then was a prof, at the Univ. of Quebec in Montreal (from 1979). In his music, he makes use of permissible modern devices, while hewing to Classical formal conventions.

Works

ORCH.: 3 syms.: No. 1 for Strings (1959), No. 2 (1961), and No. 3 (1971); Adagio etRondo for String Orch. or String Quartet (1960); Rondo for Cello and String Orch. (1965); Double Concerto for Violin, Piano, and Chamber Orch. (1967); L’Apocalypse (1967); Piano Concerto (1969); Passacaille (1970); Fantaisie for Piano and Orch. (1973); Antinomie (1977); Bassoon Concerto (1979); Mirages (1981); Symphonie concertante for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, and Strings (1986); Clarinet Concerto (1987); Trumpet Concerto (1987); Images de la Révolution for the bicentennial of the French Revolution (1988); Poème for Strings (1989); Flute Concerto (1991; Ottawa, Feb. 26, 1992). CHAMBER: Trio for Flute, Oboe, and Harpsichord (1960); 4 Pieces for Flute and Piano (1965); Wind Quintet (1967); Variations for Violin or Viola or Cello (1967); String Quartet (1972); Aria for Flute and Piano (1977); Incantation for Oboe and Piano (1978); Suite for Guitar (1986); Sérénade for Flute and String Quartet (1988); piano pieces; organ music. VOCAL: Les Clartés de la Nuit for Soprano and Piano (1972; also for Soprano and Orch., 1987); Les Djinns for Chorus, 6 Percussion, and Piano (1975); Les Abîmes du Rêve for Bass and Orch. (1982); Missa pro trecentesimo anno for Chorus and Orch. (1985); Les Illusions fanées for Chorus (1988).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire