Frédéric Devreese facts for kids

Frédéric Devreese (born June 2, 1929 – died September 28, 2020) was a famous Belgian composer and conductor. He wrote many pieces for orchestras, small groups of instruments (chamber music), and pianos. His music was played all over the world.

Frédéric Devreese was especially well-known for creating music for movies, called film scores. Some of his most famous film scores were for the movies Benvenuta and The Cruel Embrace.

Frédéric Devreese's Musical Journey

Frédéric Devreese was born in Amsterdam. He started learning music from a very young age, taught by his father, Godfried Devreese, who was also a composer and conductor.

Early Music Education

Frédéric continued his studies in music at important schools. He learned how to compose music with Marcel Poot and how to conduct an orchestra with René Defossez in Brussels. He also studied in Rome and Vienna, learning from other great musicians like Ildebrando Pizzetti and Hans Swarowsky.

Creating Music for Different Ensembles

Devreese wrote many different kinds of music. He composed for:

• Pianos
• Chamber groups (small groups of instruments)
• Large orchestras
• Choirs (groups of singers)
• Operas (musical plays)
• Ballets (dances with music)

He became very famous for his film scores. He also wrote special pieces for important music competitions, like the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels and the Adolphe Sax competition in Dinant.

Conducting Orchestras

Besides composing, Frédéric Devreese was also a talented conductor. He led the BRT Philharmonic Orchestra and was invited to conduct many other orchestras around the world. His recordings of Flemish music even earned him a nomination for Cultural Ambassador of Flanders in 1996–97. This showed how much he helped share Belgian culture through music.

Frédéric Devreese's Personal Life

Frédéric Devreese was married to Annie De Clerck. He passed away in 2020 after battling cancer.

Awards and Special Recognitions

Frédéric Devreese received several important awards and honours for his amazing work in music. These awards showed how much his talent was appreciated.

Music Competition Prizes

He won prizes for his compositions, including:

• The Prijs Oostende Piano Competition in 1949 for his Concerto No. 1.
• The Prix Italia in 1964 for his TV opera Willem van Saefthingen.
• The Joseph Plateau Award in 1990 for his film score for Het Sacrament.
• The Georges Delerue Award in 1994 for his music in La partie d'échecs.

Honours and Knighthood

Frédéric Devreese was also given special honours by the Belgian government:

• He was made a Knight of the Order of the Crown.
• He was made a Knight of the Order of Leopold II.

In 1996, King Albert II of Belgium officially made him a knight. His personal motto was Tenuto, which in music means to hold a note for its full value, showing his dedication and precision.

Frédéric Devreese's Compositions

Frédéric Devreese created a wide range of musical works throughout his career.

Music for the Stage

He wrote music for plays and operas:

• Willem van Saefthinge (1962–63): A TV opera.
• Le Cavalier bizarre (1976): An opera.

Orchestral Music

He composed many pieces for full orchestras, including several concertos (pieces for a solo instrument with an orchestra) and symphonies:

• Concerto No. 1 (1949) for piano and orchestra.
• Symphony (1952).
• Concerto No. 4 (1983) for piano and orchestra.
• Benvenuta Suite (1984): Music from his famous film score, arranged for orchestra.

Chamber and Choral Music

Devreese also wrote for smaller groups of instruments (chamber music) and for choirs:

• Divertimenti (1970) for string quartet.
• Benvenuta (1987) for violin and piano.
• Four Old Flemish Songs (1966) for mixed chorus.
• Ballade for Damien (1988) for children's chorus.

Piano Music

He composed many pieces for the piano, including:

• Mascarade (1953).
• Gemini Suite (1980) for two pianos.
• Black and White (9 Easy Pieces) (1984).

Film Scores

Frédéric Devreese is especially remembered for his film scores. He wrote music for many movies, helping to set the mood and tell the story. Some of his notable film scores include:

• De man die zijn haar kort liet knippen (1965)
• Un soir, un train (1968)
• Rendez-vous à Bray (1971)
• Benvenuta (1983)
• The Cruel Embrace (1987)
• L'Œuvre au noir (1988)
• Pauline en Paulette (2001)

See also

In Spanish: Frédéric Devreese para niños