William Ostijn (July 13, 1913 in Kachtem – March 30, 1993 in Roeselare

Roeselare

Roeselare is a Belgian city and municipality in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Roeselare proper and the towns of Beveren, Oekene and Rumbeke....

) was a classical Belgian composer of the XXth century.

Biography

At the age of sixteen, Willy Ostijn studies at the [Institut Lemmens] of Malines the piano

Piano

The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...

 with Marinus de Jong and the organ

Organ (music)

The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...

 with Flor Peeters

Flor Peeters

Flor Peeters was a Flemish composer, organist and teacher.-Biography:Born and raised in the village of Tielen , he was the youngest child in a family of eleven...

. He gets a pedagogical diploma at the Royal Conservatory of Gand

Gand

Gand can refer to* Gand is a fictional planet within the Star Wars galaxy.* Gands are the human colonists of a planet in the novel The Great Explosion by Eric Frank Russell*Gand is the French name for Ghent, a city located in East Flanders, Belgium...

, and first prizes of 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,...

, piano, chamber music

Chamber music

Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...

 and composition. Willy Ostijn becomes the second organist of the St Rumoldus’ Cathedral of Malines. From 1938 until his retirement, he’s also a professor of musical education at the Royal Atheneum of Rœselare, a fonction that will not prevent him to give lectures at the Music Academy of Izegem

Izegem

Izegem is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Izegem proper and the towns of Emelgem and Kachtem. Emelgem was added to Izegem in 1965, Kachtem in 1977. Izegem itself lies on the southern banks of the Mandel, Emelgem and Kachtem on...

 from 1939 to 1949.

Before the Second World War, Ostijn had a reputation with the Trio Willy Ostijn which played the great Works of the repertory and Ostijn’s own compositions.
Between 1950 and 1960 his symphonic musics and concertant pieces, written in a romantic inspiration, have been performed by many orchestras in Belgium

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...

 and have been broadcast abroad. Conductors Paul Doull, Leonce Graz, Ernest Maes, Fernand Terby and Jozef Verhelst were the most active ones to publicize his works.

From 1960, the disinterest of the audience towards "light music

Light music

Light music is a generic term applied to a mainly British musical style of "light" orchestral music, which originated in the 19th century and had its heyday during the early to mid part of the 20th century, although arguably it lasts to the present day....

" and (neoclassical style) caused the decline of Willy Ostijn’s career. The reorganization of public broadcaster in Belgium in 1961 has meant that his works have been broadcast no more. Then, Ostijn devoted mainly to chamber music and choral music.

Far from seeking originality at all costs, Willy Ostijn gives to his audience a chance to have a good time with a man of taste. Ostijn said : “Both in terms of technique and of vision, I have always remained faithful to the romantic tradition that sees music as a spontaneous and logical development of lyrical themes through classical harmony and rich, varying orchestration”. Between 1945 and 1955 he specialized in brilliant works (rhapsody, overture, concert piece, symphonic poem), often descriptive : "Spaanse balletsuite" ("Spanish ballet suite"), "Beelden uit Broadway" ("Images from Broadway

Broadway theatre

Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...

"), "Marokkaanse Suite" ("Moroccan Suite"), "Ijslandvaarders" ("Icelandic seafarers"), "Beelden uit het Oosten" ("Images from the Orient"), or both "concertstück for piano and orchestra" and "concertstück for piano and strings".
His symphonic work is close to the Belgian Arthur Meulemans, the French Maurice Thiriet

Maurice Thiriet

Maurice Thiriet was a French composer of classical and film music.-Biography:Born in Meulan, Yvelines, he entered the Paris conservatory in 1925 to study counterpoint and fugue with Charles Koechlin and orchestration and arrangement under Alexis Roland-Manuel. He graduated in 1931...

, the English Haydn Wood

Haydn Wood

Haydn Wood was a 20th century English composer and a respected violinist.-Life:Haydn Wood was born in the Yorkshire town of Slaithwaite on 25 March 1882...

 and the American Ferde Grofé

Ferde Grofé

Ferde Grofé was a prominent American composer, arranger and pianist. During the 1920s and 1930s, he went by the name Ferdie Grofé.-Early life:...

.

Works (incomplete list)

In most cases, the works of Willy Ostijn are undated. The dates mentioned in the list of works are those of the radio creations. Willy Ostijn almost always composed his works long time before the dates of creations indicated here.

Symphonic Works

• "Drie Vlaamse dansen" ("Three Flemish Dances") (1942

• "Suite for orchestra No. 1" (1948)

• "Images from the Orient" ("Oriental Scenes") (1949)

• "Romantische Concertwals" ("Romantic Concert Waltz") (1950

• "Spanish Ballet Suite" (1950)

• "Suite for orchestra No. 2", in four movements (1950)

• "Images from Broadway" (1950)

• "Sentimental Rhapsody" (1950)

• "London Suite" (1951)

• "Moroccan Suite" (1951)

• "Rhapsody for orchestra", in three parts (1951)

• "Flandria Overture" (1952)

• "Blijdschap Overture" ("Gladness Doubt Overture") (1952)

• "Happy March" ("Concert March"), for band (1952)

• "Vlaamse Capriccio", for orchestra (1953 ; orig. for piano and orchestra, 1953)

• "Icelandic Seafarers" (1953)

• "Concert Overture" (1954)

• "Rural Scenes" (1954)

• "In Flander Fields", symphonic poem (1955)

• "Dramatic Overture" (1955)

• "Westland Overture" (1957)

• "Feest Overture" ("Festive Overture") (1958)

• "Concertstück for orchestra" (1958)

• "Mephisto Overture" (1959)

• "Berthold Overture" (1959)

• "Huldigingsmars" (1960)

• "Festival Overture" (1960)

• "Images from Zeebrugge", two pieces for orchestra (1960)

• "Twee Zeebeelden" ("Two pictures of the Sea") (1962)

• "Drie Zeebeelden" ("Three pictures of the Sea") (1963)

• "Capriccio Overture" (1965)

• "Zeeland Fantasy" (1979)

• "Two Impressions for orchestra" (1981)

Works for strings

• "Andante and Allegro for Strings" (1952)

• "Laeticia", for Strings (1954)

• "Divertimento for Strings (No. 1)", in four movements (1954) – It also exists two other Divertimentos for Strings

• "Concertstück for Strings (No. 1)" (1960) – It also exists three other Concertstücks for Strings

• "Arab Dance for Strings" (19??)

Concertante Works for piano

• "Vlaamse Rhapsody" ("Flemish Rhapsody") for piano and orchestra (1945)

• "Concert Ballade for piano and orchestra" (1951)

• "Nocturne for piano and Strings" in D major (1952)

• "Vlaamse Capriccio for piano and orchestra" (1953)

• "Concertstück for piano and Strings" in C minor (1959)

• "Concertstück for piano and orchestra" in D minor (1960)

• "Rhapsody for piano and Strings" in C major (1965)

• "Concerto for piano and orchestra" in D minor, in three movements (1976)

Concertante Works for other instruments

• "Romanza for violin and Strings" (1951)

• "Parade for Trumpet and orchestra" (1952)

• "Interludium for Horn and Strings" (1953)

• "Pastorale for Oboe and Strings" (1953)

• "Serenade for violin (or clarinet in B-flat) and Strings" (1954)

• "Canzonetta for Flute and Strings" (1958)

• "Interludium for Oboe and Strings" (1958)

• "Elegy for Oboe (or Soprano Saxophone, or Clarinet) and orchestra" (1964 ; transcription of the "Concertstück for piano and orchestra" in D minor, 1960)

• "Concerto for Horn and Strings", in three movements (1973)

• "Capriccio for Clarinet and Strings" (1975)

• "Concertstück for Alto Saxophone and orchestra" (1976)

• "Concerto for Trombone and orchestra", in three movements (1978)

• "Nocturne for cello and Strings" (19??)

Chamber Works

• "Interludium for saxophone quartet" (1939)

• "Images from the Orient" ("Oriental Scenes") (1949 ; orig. for orchestra), version for clarinet (or violin) and piano ; version for clarinet ensemble

• "Turkish March", for clarinet and piano (1950)

• "Rhapsody for saxophone choir", in two parts (1951)

• "Romanza for violin and piano" (1951 ; orig. for violin and Strings)

• "Fata Morgana", for clarinet, viola and piano (1952)

• "Trio « Twilight »", for clarinet, viola and piano (1952)

• "Parade for Trumpet and orchestra" (1952), version for clarinet and piano

• "Elegy for clarinet choir" (1952)

• "Nocturne for piano and clarinet ensemble" (1952 ; transcription of the "Nocturne for piano and Strings" in D major, 1952)

• "Elegy for viola and piano" (1954)

• "Intermezzo for two Clarinets" (1954)

• "Bolero", for clarinet and piano (1955)

• "Spanish Dance", for clarinet and piano (1955)

• "Rhapsody for clarinet ensemble" (or for flute ensemble), in two parts (1955)

• "Gladness Doubt Overture" (1955), version for clarinet quartet

• "Serenade for clarinet ensemble" (1956 ; transcription of the "Serenade for violin and Strings", 1954)

• "Elegy for two violins, viola and cello" (1956 ; orig. for viola and piano, 1954)

• "Interludium for Oboe and Strings" (1958), version for clarinet and piano

• "Interludium for Oboe and String quartet" (1958 ; orig. for oboe and Strings, 1958)

• "Divertimento for Strings (No. 1)", in four movements (1959), version for string quintet

• "Promenade for alto saxophone (or clarinet, or flute) and piano" (1960)

• "Pastorale for clarinet (or oboe, or trumpet) and piano" (1960)

• "Entrée héroïque", for clarinet ensemble (1960)

• "Intermezzo for two Horns and string quartet" (1960), version for two Flutes and piano

• "Valse noble" ("Edele Wals"), for clarinet, flute and piano (1962)

• "Canzone for clarinet and piano" (1964 ; transcription of the "Canzonetta for Flute and Strings", 1958)

• "Canzonetta for Soprano Saxophone and saxophone choir" (1965 ; transcription of the "Canzonetta for Flute and Strings", 1958)

• "Trio in B minor", for flute (or violin), viola and piano (1960)

• "Concertstück for Strings (No. 1)" (1960), version for string quintet

• "Ballade for violin and piano" (or organ) (1961)

• "Laeticia", for flute ensemble (1962 ; orig. for Strings, 1954)

• "Capriccio for violin (or flute, or clarinet), viola and piano" (1965)

• "De Winter is verganghen" ("The Winter is past"), for clarinet ensemble (1965)

• "Concertstück for oboe, clarinet, basson and horn" (1973)

• "Ballade for tenor saxophone and piano" (1975)

• "Foxtrot for clarinet ensemble" (1975)

• "Fantasia, for wind quintet" (Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Horn and Bassoon) (1975)

• "Czardas", for clarinet and piano (1978)

• "Impression for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet and Basson" (1981 ; transcription of one of the "Two Impressions for orchestra", 1981)

• "Romanza for viola and piano" (19??)

• "Aubade for flute and piano" (19??)

• "Ballade for basson (or cello) and piano" (19??)

• "String Quartet No. 1" (before 1953)

• "String Quartet No. 2" (before 1953)

• "String Quartet No. 3" (before 1953)

• "String Quartet No. 4" (before 1953)

• "String Quartet No. 5" (1953)

• "Quintet for Oboe and string quartet" (19??)

• "Giocoso for Six Saxophones" (19??)

• "Impromptu for clarinet and piano" (19??)

Piano Works

• "Miniature No. 1" (1935)

• "Miniature No. 2" (between 1935 and 1939)

• "Miniature No. 3" (1939)

• "Duinkerke" ("Dunkirk") (1950)

• "St. Winoksbergen" (1950)

• "Zuytcote" ("Zuydcoote") (1950)

• "Toccata No. 1" (1968)

• "Nocturne" (1968)

• "Ballade" (1970)

• "Toccata No. 2" (1979)

• "Rust Roest" (1979)

• "Capriccio" (19??)

• "Wiegelied" (19??)

• "Scherzetto" (19??)

Organ Works

• "Symphony for organ" (1939)

• "Intermezzo" (19??)

• "Pastorale" (19??)

• "Prelude" (19??)

• "Preludium" (same as "Prelude" ?) (19??)

• "Roosvensters" ("Rose Windows") (19??)

• "Toccata in a French Romantic style" (19??)

Choral Works

• "Het Meisje van Damme" ("The Girl from Damme"), operetta (1954)

• "Ave Verum", for Choir (1961)

• "Westland Fantasia" (1962)

• "Klokkeput saga", cantata for Choir and orchestra (1968)

• "Psalm 150" for Choir and orchestra (or for choir and organ) (1968)

• "Ave Maria", for Choir (1961 ; rev. 1969)

• "Westland Cantata", for Choir and orchestra (1974)

• "Missa in Re", for Choir and orchestra (or for Choir and organ) (1974) – It also exists two other Masses

• "Ter Waarheid", for baryton and orchestra (1975)

• "Terug naar de bron" ("Back to the Source"), cantata for Choir and orchestra (1978)

• "Hulde aan Polen", ode for Choir and brass quintet (19??)

• "Lied der vrijgezellen", for Tenor and orchestra (19??)

• "Lied van Enrico", for Baryton and orchestra (19??)

• "Vrouwen", for Baryton and orchestra (19??)

• "Kerstlied van de Zwerver" ("The Hobo’s Christmas Carol") (19??)

External links

"Willy Ostijn : 1913-1993", Short Biography by Peter Malisse, in the site New Music Centre

• http://www.matrix-new-music.be/en/composer/ostijn-willy-1913-1993