Lodewijk Mortelmans


miniatuur
Lodewijk Mortelmans was a Belgian composer and conductor of Flemish ancestry. Sometimes called de Vlaamse Brahms, Mortelmans composed in a number of forms, including piano music and orchestral works, but he was most celebrated in his day for his art songs. Beginning in 1899, he often set the poetry of the priest Guido Gezelle. His opera De Kinderen der Zee was first produced in 1920 at the Vlaamse Opera.

Biography

Family

Mortelmans was from a family of six surviving children born to Isabella and Karel Mortelmans. His father was a printer, and his elder brother Frans a painter. He was married twice. With Gabriella Mortelmans he had seven children, two of which died with her in 1917. Mortelmans composed In Memoriam in her honour. His second wife was the pianist and teacher Gabrielle Radoux.

Career

Mortelmans studied music at the Royal Flemish Conservatory in Antwerp, where his teachers included Peter Benoit, Joseph Tilborghs, and Jan Blockx, as well as Arthur De Greef and Hubert Ferdinand Kufferath. In 1893, he was a winner of the Belgian Prix de Rome with his cantata Lady Macbeth. Both Mortelmans and his brother were members of the arts group De Scalden. Mortelmans was also affiliated with the arts groups Studie and De Kapel, and the arts journal Van Nu en Straks.
From 1901, Mortelmans taught counterpoint and fugue at the Royal Flemish Conservatory, and became its director on 6 September 1924. He retired from the post in 1933. His students included Lodewijk De Vocht, Marinus De Jong and Flor Peeters.
In 1903, with financial support from the patron François Franck, Mortelmans founded the Maatschappij der Nieuwe Concerten in Antwerp, which attracted notable guest conductors and artists such as Gustav Mahler, Siegfried Wagner, Hans Richter, Richard Strauss, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Pablo de Sarasate, Jacques Thibaud, Pablo Casals, and Fritz Kreisler. Mortelmans was also a founder of the organisation NAVEA, which is now SABAM. He also helped to found the Eugène Ysaÿe Violin Competition, which later became the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition.

Selected compositions

;OperaDe Kinderen der Zee ; libretto by Raphaël Verhulst
;OrchestraBoertige optocht Lyrisch Gedicht, Symphonic Poem for chamber orchestra or string orchestra with harp Helios, Symphonic Poem Lente-Idylle, Symphonic Poem Mythe der Lente, Symphonic Poem Homerische Symphonie Hulde aan Peter Benoit De kinderen der zee Twee Landelijke Stukjes Bruiloftsmarsch Herdenking Idyllische Naklank for chamber orchestra Morgenstemming, Symphonic Poem Treurdicht Avondlied for chamber orchestra ; also for pianoKindersuite Jubelmarsch ; also for bandEvangelisch diptiek Mei, Symphonic Poem
;BandJubelmarsch ; also for orchestra
;ConcertanteLyrische Pastorale for horn and chamber orchestra Romanza for violin and orchestra ; original for violin and pianoGewijde Zang for violin and string orchestra ; also for violin and piano or organ
;Chamber musicEenzame Herder for woodwind quintet or septet ; also for pianoRomanza for violin and piano ; also for violin and orchestraGewijde Zang for violin and piano or organ ; also for violin and string orchestra
;PianoPrimula veris Minuet varié 3 ElegiesMarche Nuptiale Lyrical PiecesImpromptu Melancholia Memories Opwelling Pastorale in D major Wals Eenzame Herder ; also for woodwind quintetStemmingsbeeld Het wielewaalt en leeuwerkt Drie kleine elegiën Gemoedelijkheid Avondlied ; also for chamber orchestraHumoresk Kindersuite Impromptu Stemmingsstukje Mazurka Saïdjah's Lied Miniaturen voor Klavier – deel I Kinderwalsje Miniaturen voor Klavier – deel II Miniaturen voor Klavier – deel III Zevenentwintig oud-vlaamsche Volksliederen
;ChoralAve Verum for mixed chorus a cappella Blijdschap for female chorus and piano or orchestra Caecilia for mixed chorus a cappella De bloemen en de sterren for girls' chorus and orchestra De Merode cantate for mixed chorus, children's chorus and orchestra De Vlaamsche tale for chorus and orchestra Geeft mij eens dien dag for mixed chorus a cappella Gekwetst ben ik van binnen for male chorus a cappella Heer, mijn hert is boos en schuldig for mixed chorus a cappella Hendrik Conscience herdacht for mixed chorus and orchestraHet was een Maghet for mixed chorus a cappellaHoger als mijn oogen dragen for mixed chorus a cappella Houdt U fier for unison chorus and orchestra ; also for voice and pianoIn Jesus' Name for mixed chorus a cappellaJagerskoor for male voicesJesu, wijs en wondermachtig for mixed chorus a cappella Jong Vlaanderen for children's chorus and orchestra Kindje, wat ben je toch zacht for girls' chorus and orchestra Klaar bloed en louter wonden for mixed chorus a cappella Koekoek for mixed chorus a cappella ; also for soprano and piano or orchestraLicht zij uw geest for male chorus a cappella Lofzang aan het vaderland for children's chorus and piano or orchestra Niet gedenken for mixed chorus a cappella Salve Regina for mixed chorus and orchestra Twee Coninckskinderen for male chorus a cappella Wierook for mixed chorus and piano

Selected songs

  • "Meisje met Uw Rozenmondje"
  • "L'Ennemi"
  • "'t Is de Mandel"
  • "'t Avondt"
  • "'t Groeit een blomken”
  • "'t Pardoent"
  • "'k Hoore tuitend hoornen"
  • "O mocht ik"
  • "Hoe lentig"
  • "Meidag"