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Theo Ysaye
Théophile Ysaÿe (March 2, 1865 – March 23, 1918) was a Belgian composer
and pianist, born in Verviers, Belgium. His brother was composer and
conductor Eugène Ysaÿe.
Life
Rather overshadowed throughout his life by the prestigious career of his
elder brother Eugène, Théo Ysaÿe began amateur studies in music at the
Liège Conservatory and, on Eugène's advice, furthered his education in
Berlin. In 1885, Ysaÿe returned to Paris, where he joined the Bande à
Franck but also supported the growth of a new aesthetic movement
represented by the impressionism of Claude Debussy. Ysaÿe helped promote
the work of the new school of French musicians, in Brussels. In 1894, he
and his brother found engagements with the Libre Esthétique in Brussels,
which offered the residents of the city the opportunity to experience a
generous range of displays in both music and the plastic arts. Ysaÿe
contributed his talents as a pianist and a répétiteur.
Although Ysaÿe was an excellent pianist, his fragile health did not
allow him to follow the hectic pace of his brother's career and he
instead became a professor at the Geneva Conservatory of Music.
In 1918, Théo Ysaÿe died in Nice, France, two days before Debussy. His
relatively vast oeuvre has not been published in its entirety, let alone
performed as such. He wrote symphonies, piano concertos, symphonic
poems, and chamber music, principally, as well as a requiem. While he
inherited initially the style of César Franck, his later work revealed a
clear influence of impressionism.
Selected works
Orchestral
Symphony No. 1, op. 14
Le Cygne (The Swan), op. 15
Les Abeilles (The Bees), op. 17
La Forêt et l'Oiseau (The Forest and the Bird), op. 18
Symphony No. 2, incomplete
Chamber
Variations for 2 pianos, op. 10
Piano Quintet, op. 5
Choral
Requiem (1906) |
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