Le Flem, Paul
Le Flem, Paul
Le Flem, Paul, French composer, choral conductor, music critic, and teacher; b. Lézardrieux, Côtes-du-Nord, March 18, 1881; d. Trégastel, Côtes-du-Nord, July 31, 1984. He settled in Paris and studied harmony with Lavignac atthe Cons. (1899) before completing his training with d’Indy and Roussel at the Schola Cantorum (1904); he also studied philosophy at the Sorbonne. Le Flem wrote perceptive music criticism for Comoedia (1921–36), and also served as prof, of counterpoint at the Schola Cantorum (1923–39). In 1924 he became chorus master at the Opéra-Comique, and from 1925 to 1939 he distinguished himself as director of the St. Gervais Choir. In 1951 he was awarded the Grand Prix Musical of Paris. From his earliest compositional efforts, Le Flem was influenced by his native Brittany.His later works also owe much to Debussy and d’lndy, and are skillfully written.
Works
dramatic:Endrymion et Sélémé, opera (Paris, 1903); Aucassin et Nicolette, chante-fable (1908; private perf., Paris, May 19, 1909); La folie de Lady Macbeth, ballet (1934); Le rossignol de St. Malo, opera (1938; Paris, May 5, 1942); Les paralytiques volent, radio score (1938); La clairière des fées, opera (1943); Magicienne de la mer, opera (1946; Paris, Oct. 29, 1954); Macbeth, radio score (1950); Côte de granit rose, film score (1954). orch.:En mer (1901); Scherzo (1906); 4 syms. (1907; 1956; 1967; 1977-78); Les voix de large (1911); Fantaisie for Piano and Orch. (1911); Pour les morts (1913); Le village (1942); Le ronde des fées (1943); Konzertstück for Violin and Orch. (1965). chamber:Rèverie grise for Cello and Piano (1899); Violin Sonata (1905); Piano Quintet (1909); Claire de lune sous bois for Flute, Harp, and Strings (1911); Danse désuète for Flute, Harp, and Strings (1911); Pièce for Horn (1955). p i a n o:Par landes(1907); Par greves (1907); Le vieux calvaire (1910); Le chant des genêts (1910); Avril (1912). vocal:Invocation for Voice and Orch. (1920); Le vin for Chorus and Wind Orch. (1924); Le fête de printemps for Women’s Chorus and Orch. (1937); La maudite for Voices and Orch. (1967; rev. 1971); choruses; songs.
Bibliography
G. Bernard-Krauss, Hundert Jahre französischer Musikgeschichte in Leben und Werk P. L.s (Frankfurt am Main and N.Y., 1993).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire