Ponse, Luctor

Ponse, Luctor , Swiss-born Dutch pianist, teacher, and composer; b. Geneva, Oct. 11, 1914; d. Amsterdam, Feb. 17, 1998. He studied at the Valenciennes Cons. (Prix d’Excellence for theory and solfège, 1930, and piano, 1932) and the Geneva Cons. (Prix de Virtuosité for piano, 1933). In 1936 he settled in the Netherlands. He made tours of his adopted country and abroad, and also taught piano at several conservatories. In 1964 he became a member of the Inst. for Sonology at the Univ. of Utrecht. He also founded the electronic music studio at the Groningen Cons. In 1953 and 1956 he was awarded composition prizes at the Concours Reine Elisabeth in Belgium. In some of his works from 1966 he employed electronics.

Works

DRAMATIC: Ballet : Feestgericht (1957). ORCH.: Divertissement for Strings (1946); Piano Concerto (1951–55); 3 sinfoniettas (1952, 1959, 1961); 3 syms. (1953; 1957; 1981–85); Concerto for 2 Pianos and Orch. (1961–62); Concerto da camera for Oboe and Strings (1962); 2 violin concertos (1963, 1965); Concerto for Piano, Orch., and Tape (1967; rev. 1980); Harp Concerto (1986); Suite for Piano and Orch. (1987); 5 études for Piano and Orch. (1991); Caractères for Piano and Orch. (1993); Triptyque III for Wind Orch. (1994). CHAMBER : Trio for Flute, Clarinet, and Piano (1940–41); 2 string quartets (1941, 1947); 2 cello sonatas (1943, 1950); 2 Pieces for Wind Quintet (1943); Duo for Violin and Cello (1946); Violin Sonata (1948); Quintet for Flute, Oboe, Violin, Viola, and Cello (1956); 2 Caprices for Flute and Piano (1956); Sextet for Flute, Oboe, Violin, Viola, Cello, and Harpsichord (1958); Variations for Flute and Harpsichord (1962); Euterpe Suite for 11 Instruments (1964); Musique concertante for Viola, Double Bass, Piano, Percussion, and Electronics (1977); Sonata for Clarinet and Tape (1981); Suite for Piano and Percussion (1982); Toccata for Harpsichord (1985); Chromatismen for Chamber Ensemble (1997); piano pieces.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire