Leeuw, Ton (actually, Antonius Wilhelmus Adrianus) de

Leeuw, Ton (actually, Antonius Wilhelmus Adrianus) de, prominent Dutch composer and teacher, brother of Reinbert de Leeuw; b. Rotterdam, Nov. 16, 1926. He received training in piano and theory with Toebosch in Breda, and in composition with Badings in Amsterdam (1947—49) and with Messiaen and Hartmann in Paris (1949–50); he studied ethnomu-sicology with Kunst in Amsterdam (1950–54) and made a study trip to India, Iran, Japan, and the Philippines (1961). After working as director of sound at the Dutch Radio in Hilversum (1954–59), he taught composition at the Amsterdam Cons, (from 1959), where he also was director. From 1962 to 1984 he likewise lectured at the Univ. of Amsterdam. He publ. the book Muziek van de Twintigste Eeuw (Music of the Twentieth Century; Utrecht, 1964; second ed., 1977). As a composer, he was honored with the Prix Italia (1956), the Prix des Jeunesses Musicales (1961), the Mathijs Vermeulen Prize (1982), and the Johan Wagenaar Prize (1983). In his varied output, Leeuw has ranged widely, utilizing both contemporary Western and non-Western means of expression. He developed a personal static style in which his modal writing became increasingly diatonic.

Works

dramatic: Opera: Alceste, television opera (Dutch TV, March 13, 1963); De droom (The Dream; 1963; Amsterdam, June 16, 1965); Antigone (1991). television p1ay:Litany of Our Time (1969-70; Dutch TV, Jan 1, 1971). ba11et:De Bijen (The Bees; 1964; Arnhem, Sept. 15, 1965); Krishna en Radha (1964). orch.: Concerto Grosso for Strings (1946); Treurmuziek, in memoriam Willem Pijper (1948); 3 syms. (Sym. for Strings and Percussion, 1950; Sym. for Strings, 1951; Sym. of Winds, 1964); Plutos- Suite (1952); 2 violin concertos (1953, 1961); Suite for Youth Orch. (1954); Mouvements rétrogrades (1957); Nritta, orch. dance (1961); Ombres (1961); Syntaxis II (1966); Spatial Music I for 32 to 48 Players (1966), III for Chamber Orch. in 4 Groups (1967), and IV: Homage to Igor Stravinsky for Chamber Orch. (1968); Music for Strings (1970); Gending, a Western homage to the musicians of the gamelan for Gamelan Orch. (1975); Alba, concerto da camera (1982; rev. 1986); Résonances (1985); Concerto for 2 Guitars and Chamber String Orch. (1988); Danses sacrées for Piano and Orch. (1990). chamber: Trio for Violin, Viola, and Cello (1948); Flute Sonata (1949); Violin Sonata (1951); Trio for Flute, Clarinet, and Piano (1952); 5 Sketches for Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Violin, Viola, and Cello (1952); Andante en vivace for Flute and Piano (1955); Violin Sonatina (1955); 2 string quartets (1958; with tape, 1964); Antiphonie for Wind Quintet and Electronics (1960); Schelp for Flute, Viola, and Guitar (1964); The 4 Seasons for Harp (1964); Night Music for Flute (1966); Music for Violin (1967); Music for Oboe (1969); Music for Organ and Chamber Ensemble (1970–71); Reversed Night for Flute (1971); Spatial Music II for Percussion (1971); Midare for Marimba (1972); Music for Trombone (1973–74); Canzone for 4 Horns, 3 Trumpets, and 3 Trombones (1973–74); Rime for Flute and Harp (1974); Mo- do for Amplified Clavichord or Harpsichord (1974); Mountains for Bass Clarinet and Tape (1977); Modal Music for Accordion (1978–79); Interlude for Guitar (1984); Apparances I for Cello (1987) and II for Clarinet Quartet (1987); Hommage à Henri for Clarinet and Piano (1989); Music for Double Bass (1989–91); Trio for Flute, Bass Clarinet, and Piano (1990); Fauxbourdon for Flute, Clarinet, Piano, Synthesizer, Marimba, Mandolin, Violin, and Viola (1991-92; rev. 1993); Saxophone Quartet (1993). piano:Scherzo (1948); Sonatina (1949); Sonata for 2 Pianos (1950); 4 Préludes (1950); Variations on a French Popular Song (1950); 5 études (1951); 4 Rhythmic Études (1952); 3 African Études (1954); Lydie Suite (1954); Zes dansen (1955); Men Go Their Ways (1964); Linkerhand en rechterhand (1976); Les Adieux (1988). vocal:Hiob (Job) for Soloists, Chorus, Orch., and Tape (1956); Brabant for Medium Voice and Orch. (1959); Psalm 118 for Chorus and 2 Trombones or Organ (1966); Haiku II for Soprano and Orch. (1968); Lamento Pads for Chorus and Instruments (1969); The Magic of Music for Chorus (1970); The Birth of Music I for Chorus (1975) and II for Voices, Speaker, and Tape (1978); And They Shall Reign Forever for Mezzo-soprano, Clarinet, Piano, and Percussion (1981); Car nos vignes sont de fleurs (Cantique des Cantigues) for Chorus (1981); Invocations for Chorus and Instruments (1983); Chimères for Men’s Voices (1984); Les chants de Kabir for Men’s Voices (1985); Transparence for Chorus, 3 Trumpets, and 3 Trombones (1986); Cinq hymnes for Chorus, 2 Percussion, and 2 Pianos (1988); A cette heure du jour for Chorus (1991–92). other:Electronic Suite for Tape (1958); Syntaxis I for Tape (1966); Chronos for 4 Sound Tracks (1980); Clair-Obscur for Electronics (1981–82).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire