Baervoets, Raymond

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Baervoets, Raymond

Baervoets, Raymond, Belgian composer; b. Brussels, Nov. 6, 1930; d. Rome, Aug. 19, 1989. He studied with Absil, Bourguignon, and Barbier at the Brussels Cons., and then with Defossez at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome (1961–62). His music followed along classical lines, with contents evolving in an ultra-chromatic coloristic idiom with occasional use of quarter tones.

Works

DRAMATIC: Ballet: Métamorphose (1963); La Chasse fantastique (Antwerp, Sept. 28, 1968). ORCH.: Mouvement symphonique (1955); Elégie et Passacaille (1956); Concerto for Guitar and Chamber Orch. (1958); Violin Concerto (1961); Composizione (1962); Notturno for Chamber Orch. (1971); Immagini for Chamber Orch. (1976); Memoria (1975–76); Piano Concerto (1981); Douze épisodes pour “La Métamorphose” de Kafka (1986). CHAMBER: Impromptu for Trombone and Piano (1958); Étude for String Quartet (1961); Musica Notturna for Harpsichord, Violin, Cello, and Flute (1969); Quartet for Flute, Clarinet, Violin, and Piano (1974); piano pieces. OTHER: Vocal works, including Les Dents de la terre for Narrator, Soloists, Chorus, and 2 Orchs. (1968).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire