Lancen, Serge (Jean Mathieu)

Lancen, Serge (Jean Mathieu), French composer and pianist; b. Paris, Nov. 5, 1922. He received training in piano from Marguerite Long and Lazare-Lévy, and later was a composition student of Aubin, Büsser, and N. Gallon at the Paris Cons, (premier prix, 1949). In 1950 he won the Premier Grand Prix de Rome. In later years he was active with the World Assn. for Symphonic Band and Ensembles, serving on the committee of its French section (1985–91).

Works

dramatic:Les Prix, ballet (Bordeaux, March 13, 1954); La Mauvaise Conscience, chamber opera (1962; Paris, Jan. 4, 1964); radio scores. orch.: Piano Concerto (1947–51); Harmonica Concerto (1954); Concerto for Double Bass and Strings (1960); Concerto for Flute and Strings (1962); Instants for Strings, Piano, and Percussion (1963); Triptyque (1965); Fantasie créole for Piano and Orch. (1967); Concerto champêtre for Harp and Small Orch. (1968); Sinfonietta (1970); Concerto-rhapsodie for Piano and Orch. (1974); Concerto for Harp and Strings (1988). band:Manhattan Symphony (1962); Ouverture texane (1971); Symphonie de Paris (1973); Rhapsodie symphonique (1976); Symphonie de l’eau (1985); Concerto for Trombone and Band (1987); Symphonie ibérique (1988); Concerto for Horn and Band (1990). chamber: String Quartet (1959); Concert à 6 for 6 Clarinets (1962); Jeux pour musiciens for 13 or 14 Instruments (1981); Double Bass Sonata (1982); Concert for Violin, Double Bass, and Piano (1985). vocal:Narcisse, secular oratorio (1957); Poème aecuménique for 9 Soloists, Chorus, Children’s Chorus, Organ, and Orch. (1975); Missa solemnis (1986); Te Deum (1991).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire