Schoemaker, Maurice

Schoemaker, Maurice, Belgian composer; b. Anderlecht, near Brussels, Dec. 27, 1890; d. Brussels, Aug. 24, 1964. He studied harmony with Théo Ysaÿe, counterpoint with Michel Brusselmans, fugue with Martin Lunssens, and composition and orchestration with Paul Gilson. He was one of 8 Gilson pupils to form, in 1925, the Groupe des Synthétistes, whose aim was to promote modern music. He held administrative posts in various Belgian musical organizations.

Works

DRAMATIC : Opera : Swane (1933); Arc-en-ciel (1937); De Toverviool (1954). Radio Plays : Sire Halewijn (1935); Médée la magicienne (1936); Philoctetes (1942). Ballet : Breughel-Suite (1928); Pan (1937). ORCH .: Le Facétieux Voyage (1914); Récit, Aria et Final for Violin and Orch. (1920); Pan, prelude (1921); Few d’artifice for Wind Orch. (1922); 2 fantasques (1924); Sinfonia da camera (1929); Légende de Sire Halewijn, symphonie poem (1930); Rapsodie flamande (1931); Variations on a Popular Song (1937); Sinfonia breve (1938); Pièce concertante for Trombone and Orch. (1939); Variazioni for Horn and Orch. (1941); Mouvement symphoniaue (1942); Scenes espagnoles (1943); 2 danses flamandes (1944); Sym. (1946); Bassoon Concerto (1947); Ouverture romane (1947); Marillac l’Epée, dramatic prologue (1949). CHAMBER : Piano Trio (1934); Piano Sonata (1934); Sonata for Solo Cello (1940); Suite champêtre for Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon (1940); String Quartet (1945); Variations miniatures for String Trio (1949); Morceau de concert for Trombone and Piano (1949); Tombeau de Chopin for 2 Pianos (1949); Sonata du souvenir for Cello and Piano (1953); La Cage des oiseaux for 4 Clarinets (1961).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire