De Vocht, Lodewijk
De Vocht, Lodewijk
De Vocht, Lodewijk, Belgian conductor, teacher, and composer; b. Antwerp, Sept. 21,1887; d. ’s Gravenzel, near Antwerp, March 27, 1977. He spent his entire career in Antwerp, where he was a student of Gilson and Mortelmans at the Royal Flemish Cons. He became a violinist in the orch. of the Societe des Concerts Nouveaux in 1903, serving as its conductor from 1921; he also was choirmaster at the Cathedral (1912–50) and founder-conductor of the Chorale Caecilia (1915–68). From 1921 to 1953 he taught at the Royal Flemish Cons., and also was conductor of its concerts (1935–53). De Vocht’s works were composed in a Romantic vein.
Works
ORCH 3 syms.; Violin Concerto (1944); Cello Concerto (1955); Recorder Concerto (1957); symphonic poems. CHAMBER : Wind Trio (1955); Suite champetre for Guitar (1971–73); 2 piano sonatas; organ preludes and fugues. VOCAL: Primavera for Soprano, Tenor, Chorus, and Orch. (1963–65); Scaldis aeterna, cantata (1966); choruses; songs.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire