Paul Gilson
Encyclopedia
Paul Gilson was a Belgian
musician and composer.
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. His first official training came from 1887-1889 under François-Auguste Gevaert
in composition and under Charles Duyck in harmony
and counterpoint
at the Brussels Conservatory, and in 1889, he was awarded the Belgian Prix de Rome
for a cantata
, Sinaï. In 1899 he became professor of composition at the Brussels Conservatory; he won the same post at Antwerp in 1904 but quit both after becoming inspector of music education in 1909, a post he would keep until 1930. While he was a very prolific composer, his output decreased after 1905, after which Gilson wrote increasingly about music, in theory, criticism, and composition.
In 1925, a group of Gilson's students who called themselves Les synthétistes (including René Bernier, Francis de Bourguignon, Théo de Joncker, Marcel Poot
, Maurice Schoemaker, Jules Strens and Robert Otlet) first formed, declaring allegiance to Gilson's ideas about music. Along with Poot and Schoemaker, he founded La revue Belge musicale in 1924; he was the chief editor until it folded in 1939. He also wrote pamphlets for Belgian radio.
Gilson was somewhat conservative in his musical outlook. Some of his work is indebted to Wagner
ian harmony, and his books on harmony and instrumentation also bear this out. Gilson corresponded regularly with Russia
n composers César Cui
and Mitrofan Belyayev
. He died in his native city of Brussels.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
musician and composer.
Biography
Gilson was born in Brussels. In 1866, his family moved to RuisbroekRuisbroek
Ruisbroek is a village in the municipality of Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. Previously a separate municipality, it became a deelgemeente of Sint-Pieters-Leeuw in 1977...
in the Belgian province of Brabant
Province of Brabant
Brabant was a province of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands from 1815 until 1830 and a province of Belgium from 1830 until 1995, when it was split into the Dutch-speaking Flemish Brabant, the French-speaking Walloon Brabant and the bilingual Brussels-Capital Region.-United Kingdom of the...
. There he studied theory with the organist and choir director Auguste Cantillon, and began writing works for orchestra and choir. His first official training came from 1887-1889 under François-Auguste Gevaert
François-Auguste Gevaert
François-Auguste Gevaert was a Belgian composer.His father was a baker, and he was intended for the same profession, but better counsels prevailed and he was permitted to study music. He was sent in 1841 to the Ghent Conservatory, where he studied under Edouard de Sommere and Martin-Joseph Mengal...
in composition and under Charles Duyck in 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...
and 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,...
at the Brussels Conservatory, and in 1889, he was awarded the Belgian Prix de Rome
Prix de Rome (Belgium)
The Belgian Prix de Rome is an award for young artists, created in 1832, following the example of the original French Prix de Rome. The Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp organised the prize until 1920, when the national government took over. The first prize is also sometimes called the Grand Prix...
for a cantata
Cantata
A cantata is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir....
, Sinaï. In 1899 he became professor of composition at the Brussels Conservatory; he won the same post at Antwerp in 1904 but quit both after becoming inspector of music education in 1909, a post he would keep until 1930. While he was a very prolific composer, his output decreased after 1905, after which Gilson wrote increasingly about music, in theory, criticism, and composition.
In 1925, a group of Gilson's students who called themselves Les synthétistes (including René Bernier, Francis de Bourguignon, Théo de Joncker, Marcel Poot
Marcel Poot
Marcel Poot was a Belgian composer, professor, and musician. His father, Jan Poot, was Director of the Vlaamse Schouwburg in Brussels....
, Maurice Schoemaker, Jules Strens and Robert Otlet) first formed, declaring allegiance to Gilson's ideas about music. Along with Poot and Schoemaker, he founded La revue Belge musicale in 1924; he was the chief editor until it folded in 1939. He also wrote pamphlets for Belgian radio.
Gilson was somewhat conservative in his musical outlook. Some of his work is indebted to Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
ian harmony, and his books on harmony and instrumentation also bear this out. Gilson corresponded regularly with Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n composers César Cui
César Cui
César Antonovich Cui was a Russian of French and Lithuanian descent. His profession was as an army officer and a teacher of fortifications; his avocational life has particular significance in the history of music, in that he was a composer and music critic; in this sideline he is known as a...
and Mitrofan Belyayev
Mitrofan Belyayev
Mitrofan Petrovich Belyayev was a Russian music publisher, outstanding philanthropist, and the owner of a large wood dealership enterprise in Russia. He was also the founder of the Belyayev circle, a society of musicians in Russia whose members included Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Alexander Glazunov...
. He died in his native city of Brussels.
For Orchestra
- 1890 Alla Marcia rhapsody for string orchestra
- 1890 Rhapsodie à la marcia
- 1892 La Mer 4 Symphonic sketches
- Lever de soleil
- Chants et Danses de Matelots
- Crépuscule
- Tempête
- 1892–1893 Melodies Ecossaises for string orchestra
- The Flowers Of The Forest
- Sweet May Morning
- Jig And Song
- 1900 Ouverture Symphonique Nr. 1
- Alvar
- 1903 Ouverture Symphonique Nr. 2
- 1904 Ouverture Symphonique No. 3
- 1929 Parafrazen op Vlaamse Volksliederen
- Sailors Dance
Works for wind orchestra
- 1902 Concerto pour Saxophone n°1
- 1903 Variation symphonique for Blechbläser
- 1892/1925 La Mer 4 Symphonic Sketches for wind orchestra transcribed by Arthur Prevost
- Lever de soleil
- Chants et Danses de Matelots
- Crépuscule
- Tempête
- 1930 Tornacum
- 1930 Grande Marche du Centenaire
- 1948 Moeder for speaker and fanfare-orchestra
- Binché
- Brabant - marche militaire
- Danse geurrière from the ballet La Captive
- Deuxième Rhapsodie
- Deuxième Valse Symphonique
- Encore un! allegro
- Epithalame
- Fantaisie
- Gavotte Monsignore
- Hommage à Weber
- Interlude Solennel
- L'Heureux Voyage
- Le Rétour au Pays: Prière avant le départ
- Marche commémorative
- Marche Cortège
- Marche Panégyrique
- Merxem - Allegro Militaire
- Montréal - Allegro de concert
- Ouverture »Eleusines«
- Patrouille Albanaise
- Poème Symphonique en Forme d'Ouverture
- Polka fataiseste
- Rhapsodie Laudative
- Rhapsodie Hawaîenne
- Richard III Ouverture
- Terugkeer naar het vaderland
- Triumph Marsch
- Variations
- Valse symphonique nr. 1
- Valse symphonique nr. 2
- Vestris - Danse mimique
- Quarantenaire – Marche Solennelle
Stage Works
- 1890 Le Démon Dramatic cantata on a text by Lermontov in 2 acts for soloists, choir and orchestra
- 1892 Francesca da Rimini Dramatic oratorio based on a text by DanteDante AlighieriDurante degli Alighieri, mononymously referred to as Dante , was an Italian poet, prose writer, literary theorist, moral philosopher, and political thinker. He is best known for the monumental epic poem La commedia, later named La divina commedia ...
for soloists, choir and orchestra - 1895 Gens de mer (Zeevolk) Lyric drama in 2 acts
- 1896–1900 La Captive Ballet in 2 acts
- 1903 Princesse rayon de soleil (Prinses Zonneschijn) légende féerique 4 acts
- 1910 Les Aventuriers (Rooversliefde) Musical drama in 1 act
- 1910–1921 Les Deux Bossus Ballett-Pantomime in 1 Act
- 1940 Elijah Music for a play by Cyriel VerschaeveCyriel VerschaeveCyriel Verschaeve was a noted Flemish-nationalist priest and writer who collaborated with the Nazis during the Second World War.-Biography:...
- Daphne Ballett
Other works
- 1889–1890 Six Mélodies
- 1902 Petite Suite Rustique for piano
- 1934 Le Mas d'Icare for a film by Carlo Queeckers for string orchestra
- 1934–1936 Romantische werkjes
- 1940 Aria di Timpani con 6 Variazioni
- Suite Nocturne for piano
- Six Chansons Ecossaises based on a text by Leconte de Lisle
Books and writings
- 1913 Le Tutti orchestral
- 1923 Traité de lecture musicale
- 1923 Traité d'harmonie (3 Bände)
- 1926 Traité de musique militaire
- Solfège - Cours complet de la lecture musical a 9 Volumes
- 1942 Notes de musique et souvenirs (memoirs)
- 1955 Arthur Meulemans: Paul Gilson (1865-1942)