François Glorieux
A headshot of Glorieux facing forward in black and white
Glorieux, c. 2015
Born(1932-08-27)27 August 1932
Kortrijk, Belgium
Died22 September 2023(2023-09-22) (aged 91)
EducationRoyal Conservatory of Ghent
Occupations
  • Conductor
  • Composer
  • Pianist
  • Musicologist
  • Academic teacher
Awards
Websitewww.francoisglorieux.com

François Glorieux (27 August 1932 – 22 September 2023) was a Belgian pianist, conductor, composer, musicologist, and academic teacher who performed internationally. As a pianist, he received the Harriet Cohen International Music Award in 1967, toured in Germany and Austria with conductor André Cluytens, and later focused on improvisation. He conducted orchestras such as the BBC Radio Orchestra, bands such as Stan Kenton's, and four ensembles that he founded. As a composer, he wrote music for his groups, and arrangements for Michael Jackson, among others. He taught as director of the International Piano Master Class in Antwerp from 1972, and internationally, both as a guest at universities and in school concerts.

Life and career

Glorieux was born in Kortrijk on 27 August 1932.[1][2] He showed early talent for music, composing already in his youth. He began studies at the Royal Conservatory of Ghent at age 17, piano with Marcel Gazelle and composition with George Lonque.[3][2]

Glorieux led nearly 6000 recitals and concerts in around 60 countries. He toured Germany and Austria as a pianist with André Cluytens conducting.[2] Glorieux conducted the Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra, the Locke Brass Consort and BBC Radio Orchestra in the UK, the Stan Kenton band in the US,[3] the Kyiv Chamber Orchestra, and the Mainzer Kammerorchester, among others.[2] He collaborated with the Ballet of the 20th Century of Maurice Béjart, and also worked with the Royal Ballet of Flanders, Nederlands Dans Theater in The Hague, and the Dutch National Ballet in Amsterdam, inspired by choreographers Valery Panov, André Leclair, John Koning, Ava Corelli and Monette Loza.[2][4] He founded four different ensembles: Instrumentarium, Panoramic Trio, Brass and Percussion Orchestra, and Revivat Scaldis Chamber Orchestra.[2][3]

As a composer, Glorieux was inspired by Debussy and Ravel, jazz, blues and Latin-American rhythms. He improvised in free forms, with sometimes sudden shifts in dynamics, tempo and rhythm, with "wit, refinement and cosmopolitan sophistication".[5] He created symphonic arrangements at the request of Michael Jackson.[6] His discography includes 175 CDs and LPs.[7]

Glorieux was director of the International Piano Master Class in Antwerp from 1972.[2] He was honorary professor of chamber music at the Ghent Conservatory, honorary professor at the Kortrijk Conservatory,[2] and guest professor at Yale University.[2][5] He would give a number of school concerts in Belgium, Germany, the Americas and Japan.[2] His works were published by United Music & Media Publishers[5] and HAFABRA Music.[4]

Glorieux died on 22 September 2023, at age 91.[1][3][6]

Compositions

Compositions by Glorieux include:[4]

  • Concerto for euphonium and band
  • London Proms, overture
  • November, for trombone and band
  • Orgia
  • Régis Glorieux, march
  • Sketches, for trombone and band
  • Summer Meeting 77

Awards

References

  1. 1 2 Herzeele, Peter Van (24 September 2023). "Wereldberoemde Kortrijkse componist/pianist François Glorieux overleden op 91-jarige leeftijd". KW.be (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Glorieux, François (1932–1923)". matrix-new-music.be (in Dutch). 2023. Archived from the original on 30 March 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "One of Belgium's greatest composers François Glorieux dies at 91". The Brussels Times. 24 September 2023. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 "Glorieux, François". hafabramusic.com. 2023. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 Cottonaro, Andrew (2023). "Glorieux, François⅓". Daily Courier News. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Belgische componist François Glorieux overleden op 91-jarige leeftijd: "Michael Jackson was mijn grootste fan"". Het Laatste Nieuws (in Dutch). 23 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  7. ↑ "Francois François". cdandlp.com. 2023. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  8. ↑ Philippon, Charles (10 September 1990). "Un musicien aux talents multiple: François Glorieux nomme a Londres". Le Soir (in French). Retrieved 26 September 2023.
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