Aimee Wiele facts for kids
Aimee van de Wiele (born March 8, 1907, died November 2, 1991) was a talented musician from Belgium. She was known for playing keyboard instruments like the piano and harpsichord, and she also wrote music. Aimee was born in Brussels.
Contents
Aimee van de Wiele: A Musical Talent
Early Life and Studies
Aimee van de Wiele started her music journey at the Brussels Conservatory. There, she studied with E. Bosquet. She won many awards, including a special prize for piano called the Laure van Cutsem prize. She also earned awards for understanding music theory, creating harmonies, and writing her own music.
Later, Aimee moved to France to continue her studies at the Paris Conservatory. She learned to play the harpsichord from a very famous musician named Wanda Landowska. Aimee also studied music history and research, known as musicology, with Andre Pirro. After her teacher Wanda Landowska passed away in 1959, Aimee began teaching harpsichord at the Paris Conservatory herself. She taught many students who became well-known, like Elisabeth Chojnacka.
A Talented Performer
While Aimee wrote some music, like "Poem" for orchestra, she is mostly remembered for her amazing performances. She gave solo concerts playing the harpsichord. She also performed with orchestras in many countries, including Belgium, England, France, Italy, and the United States. For these performances, she played the harpsichord, piano, and organ.
Aimee was especially famous for how she played the music of Bach, particularly his "Goldberg Variations." She was also praised for her performances of music by Couperin. One of her most celebrated performances was of Poulenc's "Concerto Champetre." This piece was originally written for her teacher, Wanda Landowska. After Landowska's death, Aimee took over playing it and received great praise for her skill.
Judging and Recognition
In 1965, Aimee van de Wiele was asked to be a judge for the very first international harpsichord competition. This competition was part of the Musica Antiqua Festival in Bruges, Belgium. She was also a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), an organization that supports musicians and composers.
Her Recordings
You can find some of Aimee van de Wiele's recordings online. Her recorded albums (on LP and CD) include:
- Bach Goldberg Variations (Calliope)
- Concert Champêtre for harpsichord and orchestra by Francis Poulenc (EMI Classics)
- Le Livre D'Or Du Clavecin (MusicDisc)
- Les Fastes De La Grande Et Ancienne Menestrandise – Couperin (Nonesuch)
- Rameau Keyboard Works (Discophiles Français)
