Legley, Victor
Legley, Victor
Legley, Victor, outstanding Belgian composer; b. Hazebrouck, June 18, 1915; d. Ostend, Nov.28, 1994. He studied viola, chamber music, counterpoint, and fugue at the Brussels Cons, (from 1934), then took private lessons in composition with Absil (1941), subsequently winning the Belgian Second Prix de Rome (1943). He was a violist in the Belgian Radio Sym. Orch. (1936–48); then was a music producer for the Flemish dept. of the Belgian Radio, and later was made head of its serious music broadcasts on its 3rd program (1962). He taught at the Brussels Cons. (1949–80). He became a member of the Belgian Royal Academy (1965); was its president (1972); was chairman of the Société Belge des Auteurs, Compositeurs, et Editeurs (from 1981). In his works, Legley adheres to the pragmatic tenets of modern music, structurally diversified and unconstricted by inhibitions against dissonance. His Second Violin Concerto was a mandatory work of the 1967 Queen Elisabeth violin competition finals.
Works
dramatic: opera:La Farce des deux nus (Antwerp, Dec. 10, 1966). b a 1 1 e t:Le Bal des halles (1954). orch.: 6 syms. (1942, 1947, 1953, 1964, 1965, 1976); Concert à 13, chamber sym. (1944); Suite (1944); Music for a Greek Tragedy (1946); Symphonie miniature for Chamber Orch. (1946); 2 violin concertos: No. 1 (1947) and No. 2 (1966; Brussels, May 22, 1967); The Golden River, symphonic sketch (1948); Piano Concerto (1952); Serenade for Strings (1957); La Cathedale d’acier, symphonic sketch after a painting by Fernand Steven (1958); Overture to a Comedy by Goldoni (1958); 3 Pieces for Chamber Orch. (1960); Dyptiek (1964); Harp Concerto (1966); Paradise Regained (1967); Prelude for a Ballet (1969); 3 Movements for Brass and Percussion (1969); Espaces for Strings (1970); Viola Concerto (1971); Before Endeavors Fade for Strings (1977); Festival Overture for Sym. Orch. and Jazz Band (1978); Concertino for Oboe and Strings (1982); Cello Concerto (1984); Concert d’automne for Alto Saxophone and Orch. (1984); Concerto Grosso for Violin, Alto Saxophone, and Chamber Orch. (1985). chamber: 5 string quartets (1941; 1947; 1956; 1963; Esquisses, 1970); Quartet for 4 Flutes (1943); Violin Sonata (1943); Viola Sonata (1943); Sextet for Piano and Wind Quintet (1945); Cello Sonata (1945); Musique de midi, nonet (1948); Clarinet Sonata (1952); Trumpet Sonata (1953); Serenade for Flute, Violin, and Cello (1957); 5 Miniatures for 4 Saxophones (1958); Trio for Flute, Viola, and Guitar (1959); Wind Quintet (1961); 4 Pieces for Guitar (1964); Piano Quartet (1973); Piano Trio (1973); String Trio (1973); Parades I for 4 Clarinets (1977), II for 6 Saxophones (1978), and III for 4 Horns (1981); Duo for Violin and Cello (1983); Suite en re for Harpsichord (1986); 2 pieces for Accordion (1986). piano: 4 sonatas (1946–85); 4 Portraits (1954–55); Music for 2 Pianos (1966); 3 Marches (1968); Brindilles (1974). vocal:Zeng for Soprano and String Quartet or String Orch. (1965); songs.
Bibliography
R. Wangermée, V. L (Brussels, 1953).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire