Ernest van der Eyken
Encyclopedia
Ernest Jozef Leo van der Eyken (23 July 1913 in Antwerp – 6 February 2010 in Brussels
) was a Belgian
composer
, conductor
and violist
.
Van der Eyken received his first musical training at the age of five at the Music Academy in Sint-Truiden
. At the age of seven he joined the music theory class of Karel Candael at the Royal Music Conservatory in Antwerp. In 1930 he obtained his first degree under Jan Broeckx, and in 1931, a further deree in viola
studying with Napoleon Distelmans
. Further studies at the Antwerp Conservatory were chamber music with Albert van de Vijver, conducting
with Lodewijk De Vocht, harmony
with Emile-Constant Verres and Edward Verheyden. Van der Eyken also studied counterpoint
and fugue
with August de Boeck
, instrumentation
with Paul Gilson
, and during World War II
went to Salzburg, Austria to study conducting with Clemens Krauss
and Joseph Marx
at the International Conducting School.
In 1930 Van der Eyken made his debut as a violist with the Groot Symfonie-Orkest van de Wereldtentoonstelling 1930 (Grand Symphony Orchestra of the 1930 World Exposition) in Antwerp. Thereafter, he played in orchestras and chamber music ensembles of Antwerp: Orkest van de Koninklijke Vlaamse Opera (Orchestra of the Royal Flemish Opera), Nieuwe Concerten and Orkest van de Dierentuinconcerten. Between 1942 to 1944, he was assistant conductor of the Koninklijke Vlaamse Opera
(Royal Flemish Opera). From 1952 and 1970, he taught violin and chamber music at the Music Academy in Ekeren
.
He founded the Philharmonisch Kamerorkest (Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra) in Antwerp was also the conductor. In the 1960s he was music editor responsible for music programs of the Flemish Radio and Television Network
. Furthermore, he conducted the Jeugd en muziek-orkest (Youth and Music Orchestra) of Antwerp from 1963 to1976 and served as guest conductor of the Philharmonic of Antwerp
and the Orchestra of the Flemish Radio and Television Network. In 1977 he joined the Royal Academies for Science and the Arts of Belgium
.
Van der Eyken's œuvre consists of approximately 120 works, his style largely influenced by Flemish post-romanticism
and the first wave of modernism
of the 20th century.
Orchestral
Band
Concertante
Chamber music
Organ
Piano
Vocal
Choral
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
) was a Belgian
Belgians
Belgians are people originating from the Kingdom of Belgium, a federal state in Western Europe.-Etymology:Belgians are a relatively "new" people...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
and violist
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
.
Van der Eyken received his first musical training at the age of five at the Music Academy in Sint-Truiden
Sint-Truiden
Sint-Truiden is a city and municipality located in the province of Limburg, Flemish Region, Belgium, near the towns of Hasselt and Tongeren. The municipality includes the old communes of Aalst, Brustem, Duras, Engelmanshoven, Gelinden, Gorsem, Groot-Gelmen, Halmaal, Kerkom-bij-Sint-Truiden,...
. At the age of seven he joined the music theory class of Karel Candael at the Royal Music Conservatory in Antwerp. In 1930 he obtained his first degree under Jan Broeckx, and in 1931, a further deree in viola
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
studying with Napoleon Distelmans
Napoleon Distelmans
Napoleon Distelmans was a Flemish violist with the Antwerp Conservatory in the early 1900s.Distelmans's father was a shoemaker who dreamed of training his children to be musicians. Distelmans's mother died while giving birth to her sixth child, and the children's father raised them to play in a...
. Further studies at the Antwerp Conservatory were chamber music with Albert van de Vijver, conducting
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
with Lodewijk De Vocht, harmony
Harmony
In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...
with Emile-Constant Verres and Edward Verheyden. Van der Eyken also studied counterpoint
Counterpoint
In music, counterpoint is the relationship between two or more voices that are independent in contour and rhythm and are harmonically interdependent . It has been most commonly identified in classical music, developing strongly during the Renaissance and in much of the common practice period,...
and fugue
Fugue
In music, a fugue is a compositional technique in two or more voices, built on a subject that is introduced at the beginning in imitation and recurs frequently in the course of the composition....
with August de Boeck
August de Boeck
Julianus Marie August de Boeck was a Flemish composer, organist and music pedagogue....
, instrumentation
Instrumentation (music)
In music, instrumentation refers to the particular combination of musical instruments employed in a composition, and to the properties of those instruments individually...
with Paul Gilson
Paul Gilson
Paul Gilson was a Belgian musician and composer.-Biography:Gilson was born in Brussels. In 1866, his family moved to Ruisbroek in the Belgian province of Brabant. There he studied theory with the organist and choir director Auguste Cantillon, and began writing works for orchestra and choir...
, and during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
went to Salzburg, Austria to study conducting with Clemens Krauss
Clemens Krauss
Clemens Heinrich Krauss was an Austrian conductor and opera impresario, particularly associated with the music of Richard Strauss.-Biography:...
and Joseph Marx
Joseph Marx
Joseph Rupert Rudolf Marx was an Austrian composer, teacher and critic.-Life and career:Marx pursued studies in philosophy, art history, German studies, and music at Graz University, earning several degrees including a doctorate in 1909. He began composing seriously in 1908 and over the next four...
at the International Conducting School.
In 1930 Van der Eyken made his debut as a violist with the Groot Symfonie-Orkest van de Wereldtentoonstelling 1930 (Grand Symphony Orchestra of the 1930 World Exposition) in Antwerp. Thereafter, he played in orchestras and chamber music ensembles of Antwerp: Orkest van de Koninklijke Vlaamse Opera (Orchestra of the Royal Flemish Opera), Nieuwe Concerten and Orkest van de Dierentuinconcerten. Between 1942 to 1944, he was assistant conductor of the Koninklijke Vlaamse Opera
Vlaamse Opera
The Vlaamse Opera ' is an opera company in Belgium directed by Aviel Cahn which operates in two different opera houses in two Flemish cities, the Vlaamse Opera Antwerpen at Van Ertbornstraat 8 and the Vlaamse Opera Ghent at Schouwburgstraat 3...
(Royal Flemish Opera). From 1952 and 1970, he taught violin and chamber music at the Music Academy in Ekeren
Ekeren
Ekeren is a northern district of the municipality of Antwerp in the Flemish Region of Belgium. The suburb celebrated its 850th birthday in 2005; the name of the town was first mentioned in 1155, as "Hecerna"....
.
He founded the Philharmonisch Kamerorkest (Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra) in Antwerp was also the conductor. In the 1960s he was music editor responsible for music programs of the Flemish Radio and Television Network
Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroep
The Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie , or VRT, is a publicly-funded broadcaster of radio and television in Flanders ....
. Furthermore, he conducted the Jeugd en muziek-orkest (Youth and Music Orchestra) of Antwerp from 1963 to1976 and served as guest conductor of the Philharmonic of Antwerp
DeFilharmonie
deFilharmonie is a Belgian symphony orchestra, with its principal home base in Antwerp. Founded by Gaston Ariën, Jef Maes, J.A...
and the Orchestra of the Flemish Radio and Television Network. In 1977 he joined the Royal Academies for Science and the Arts of Belgium
The Royal Academies for Science and the Arts of Belgium
There are two Royal Academies for Science and the Arts in Belgium, corresponding to the two main languages of the country, Dutch and French . The Academies are located in the Palace of Academies in Brussels....
.
Van der Eyken's œuvre consists of approximately 120 works, his style largely influenced by Flemish post-romanticism
Post-romanticism
Post-romanticism or Postromanticism refers to a range of cultural products and attitudes emerging in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, after the period of Romanticism....
and the first wave of modernism
Modernism (music)
Modernism in music is characterized by a desire for or belief in progress and science, surrealism, anti-romanticism, political advocacy, general intellectualism, and/or a breaking with the past or common practice.- Defining musical modernism :...
of the 20th century.
Selected works
Stage- Elckerlic, Opera (1963–1966); libretto by Luc Vilsen
Orchestral
- Overtura buffa for chamber orchestra (1936)
- Poëma for string orchestra (1937)
- Refereynen ende Liedekens (Refrains and Songs) for string orchestra (1964)
- Salmodia accorata for chamber orchestra (1966)
- Symfonie voor strijkorkest (Symphony for String Orchestra) (1967)
- Symphony No. 2 (1975)
- Elegie voor Bieke (Elegy for Bieke) for string orchestra (1983)
Band
- Refereynen ende Liedekens (Refrains and Songs) (1968)
- Ricordanza (1975)
- Twee Goya's (Two Goyas) (1990)
Concertante
- Concerto for piano and orchestra (1994)
Chamber music
- Vier gedichten van Guido Gezelle for narrator and string quartet (1937)
- Twee melodieën (2 Melodies) for viola and piano (1942)
- String Quartet No. 1 (1943)
- Refereynen ende Liedekens (Refrains and Songs) for woodwind quintet (1968, 2002)
- String Quartet No. 2 (1975)
- Ballata for violin, or viola, or cello, or double bass and piano (1981)
- Legende for violin and piano (1982)
- Trio for flute, violin and viola (1989)
- Saxofoonkwartet for 4 saxophones (1993)
- Sonata for viola solo (1996)
- Klarinettenkwartet for 4 clarinets (1997)
- String Quartet No. 3 (1997)
- Concerto per otto strumenti a vento (Concerto for Eight Wind Instruments) for flute, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons and horn (1999)
Organ
- Fuga (2000)
Piano
- Sonatine voor Sofie (Sonatina for Sofie) (1983)
Vocal
- Three Negro spirituals for medium voice and piano (1945)
- Allerzielen for soprano and piano
- Avondliedeke for soprano and piano
- De tuin van Catherine for mezzo-soprano and piano
Choral
- Three Negro spirituals for mixed chorus and piano (1945)
- De kinderen van de Soetewey for 3-part chorus and chamber ensemble
Discography
- Music for String Orchestra by Ernest van der Eyken: In Flanders' Fields Vol. 18; Phaedra CD PH92018 (1999)
- Elegy for Bieke (1983)
- Refereynen ende Liedekens (Refrains and Lieder), Suite of old-Flemish Songs (1964)
- Poëma (1937)
- Symphony for Strings (1967)
- Ernest van der Eyken: In Flanders' Fields Vol. 47; Phaedra CD PH92047 (2006)
- String Quartet No. 2 (1975)
- Two Melodies for viola and piano (1942)
- Trio per flauto, violino e viola (1989)
- Sonatine voor Sofie (1983)
- Concerto per otto strumenti a fiato (1999)