Souris, André

Souris, André, prominent Belgian conductor, musicologist, and composer; b. Marchienne-au-Pont, Hainaut, July 10, 1899; d. Paris, Feb. 12, 1970. He studied at the Brussels Cons. (1911–18) with Lunssens (harmony) and Closson (music history), and privately with Gilson (composition). In 1925 he began teaching at the Royal Cons. in Brussels; in 1927 he won the Prix Rubens, and traveled to Italy, France, and Austria; conducted the Belgian Radio Orch. (1937–46); from 1949 to 1964 he was a prof. of harmony at the Royal Cons. in Brussels. He was the founder of the quarterly music review Polyphonie (1947–54). He collaborated with R. Vannes on the Dictionnaire des musiciens (compositeurs) (Brussels, 1947); also ed. works by various composers. His compositions reflect the influence of the French avant-garde of the period between the 2 World Wars; in a few of his later works, he adopted serialism.

Works

DRAMATIC: Theater music; radio and film scores. ORCH.: Soliloque for Strings and Percussion (1923); Scherzo (1923); Musique (Collage) (1928); Rêverie (1931); Danceries de la Renaissance (1932); Canzone (1932); Hommage à Babeuf for Wind Orch. (1934); Fanfare et scherzo for Winds and Percussion (1937); Burlesque (1938); Symphonies (1939); Suite de danceries No. 2 for Wind Orch. (1943); Danses mosanes (1943); 4 Fantasies for Strings (1960); Ouverture pour une arlequinade (1962). chamber: Fantasque for 4 Instruments (1916); Fugue for String Quartet (1917); 2 petits poèmes for Violin and Piano (1917); Hymne à l’automne for Violin and Piano (1919); Bagatelle for Violin and Piano (1923); Berceuse for Violin and Piano (1924); Choral, marche et galop for 2 Trumpets and 2 Trombones (1925); Burlesque for Trumpet and Piano (1931); Fatrasie for Violin and Piano (1934); Rengaines for Woodwind Quintet (1937); Suite de danceries No. 3 for 2 Trumpets, Horn, and Trombone (1944); Concert flamand for Woodwind Quartet (1965); 3 pièces anciennes for Violin and Viola (1969). Piano: Improvisation (1917); Sonatine (1920); Echos de Spa (1934). VOCAL: 3 poèmes japonais for Soprano and String Quartet (1916); Avertissement for 3 or 5 Narrators and Percussion (1926); Quelques airs de Clarisse Juran-ville for Alto and 8 Instruments or Piano Quintet (1928); Alleluia for Voice and 9 Instruments (1928); Pastorales wallonnes for Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass, and Orch. (1942); Comptines pour enfants sinistres for Soprano, Mezzo-soprano, Violin, Clarinet, and Piano (1942); 8 chansons enfantines for Voice and Orch. (1943); La légende de St. Nicolas for Voice, Celesta, and Orch. (1943); Le marchand d’images, rustic cantata for 2 Speakers, Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass, Chorus, and Orch., after popular Walloon songs (1944–65); L’autre voix for Soprano, Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Cello, and Piano (1948); 5 laude for Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass, and Chorus (1961); Motet for 6 Solo Voices and Orch. (1961); Triptyque pour un violon for Speaker, Mezzo-soprano, 2 Altos, 2 Baritones, Bass, Organ, and Percussion (1963); choruses; solo songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire