Strens, Jules

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Strens, Jules

Belgian organist and composer; b. Ixelles, near Brussels, Dec. 5, 1892; d. there, March 19, 1971. He studied with Gilson. In 1925 was one of 8 founders of the Group des Synthétistes (all Gilson pupils), endeavoring to establish a modern style of composition within the formal categories of early music; was active mainly as an organist.

Works

dramatic: Opera: Le Chanteur de Naples (1937); La Tragédie d’Agamemnon (1941). ORCH.: Gil Blas, symphonic variations (1921); Les Elfes, symphonic poem (1923); Danse funambulesque (1925); Rapsodie tzigane (1927); Fantaise concertante for Piano and Orch. (1938); Symphonie Sylvestre for Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1939); Violin Concerto (1951); Concerto for Organ and Strings (1958). CHAMBER: Piano Trio (1920); 4 string quartets (1925, 1929, 1933, 1935); Cello Sonata (1926); String Sextet (1935); Wind Quintet (1943); Quartet for 4 Horns (1950); Suite for 4 Horns (1951); Viola Sonata (1954); Trio for Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon (1954); Piano Quartet (1955); also piano pieces; organ pieces. VOCAL: Songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire