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Celis, Frits (b. April 11, 1929, Antwerp). Belgian composer of orchestral, chamber, choral, and vocal works that have been performed throughout Europe; he is also active as a conductor.
Mr. Celis studied at conservatories in Antwerp and Brussels. He later studied conducting with Hermann Schmeidel in Salzburg from 1949–51 and with Wolfgang von der Nahmer in Cologne in 1953–54.
His awards as a conductor include First prizes in the conducting competitions of the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels and BRTV in Brussels (both 1954). As a composer, he has received the Trofee Fuga from the Association of Belgian Composers (1992).
As a conductor, he served as second director at the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie from 1954–59. He then served as second director at the Royal Flemish Opera in Antwerp in 1959–60 and as its chief conductor and music director from 1960–81. He has conducted at the Opera for Flanders in Antwerp and Ghent since 1981 and he has appeared with orchestras in Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Mexico, The Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain, and the USA.
Mr. Celis is also active in other positions. He served as principal harpist in the orchestra of the Royal Flemish Opera from 1946–52. He has written monographs on the Belgian composers August De Boeck and Edward Keurvels, along with much musical criticism.
He taught music theory as a professor at the Royal Flemish Music Conservatory in Antwerp from 1960–71 and taught transposition for wind instruments as a professor there from 1971–94.
The Centre Belge de Documentation Musicale (CeBeDeM) publishes his music.
CONTACT INFORMATION
E-mail address: fritscelis@skynet.be
Street address: Mr. Frits Celis, 'Les Aubépines', Cielle 31C, 6980 La Roche-en-Ardenne, Belgium
Telephone/fax: + 328 441 2425
E-mail address for consulting scores: music-centre@cebedem.be
COMPLETE LIST OF WORKS
ORCHESTRAL: Muziek voor strijkers, string orchestra, Op. 1, 1949–51 (also version as Musica a quattro mani, Op. 1b); Elegie, Op. 7, 1966; Drie symfonische bewegingen, Op. 8, 1969; Variazioni, small orchestra, Op. 11, 1974; Sinfonia I, Op. 14, 1979; Cantilena, Op. 16, 1980; Sinfonia II, percussion, orchestra, Op. 20, 1986; Sinfonia III, Op. 22, 1987; Miserere, small orchestra, Op. 25, 1988; Un nome... con variazioni, obbligato flute, small orchestra, Op. 26, 1989; Sinfonia IV, Op. 28, 1989–90; Concerto grosso, string quartet, string orchestra, Op. 31, 1990; Ode à Claude Debussy, small orchestra, Op. 36, 1991; Fantasia, string orchestra, Op. 45b, 1993 (version of chamber work); Contemplazioni, obbligato viola, organ ad libitum, string orchestra, Op. 56, 1996; Sinfonia concertante, alto saxophone, piano, string orchestra, Op. 59, 1996; Concerto, bassoon, string orchestra, Op. 38b, 1998 (version of Concertino, Op. 38)
CHAMBER MUSIC: Sonata No. 1, violin, piano, Op. 3, 1948–52; Trio, violin, viola/cello, piano, Op. 5, 1958; Sonata, cello, piano, Op. 6, 1962–63; Intrada e Toccata, oboe/clarinet, piano, Op. 9, 1972; Episodes, viola, harpsichord, Op. 10, 1973 (also version for viola, piano, Op. 10b, 1998); Notturno e Danza, 4 flutes (any 3 + alto flute), Op. 12, 1975; Trio, flute, harp, viola, Op. 13, 1977; Musica per undici, synthesizer, 10 percussion, Op. 19, 1984; Sonatina, oboe (+ English horn), clarinet (+ bass clarinet), bassoon, Op. 21, 1986; Incantations, clarinet ensemble, Op. 22b, 1987; A hypocritical funeral Music, French horn, 2 trumpets, trombone, tuba, Op. 23, 1987; Quartetto I, flute/clarinet, violin, viola, cello, Op. 24, 1987; Da uno a cinque, bass clarinet, string quartet, Op. 27, 1989 (also version for flute [+ alto flute], oboe [+ English horn], clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, 1989); Hymne (aan August De Boeck van Merchtem), harp, Op. 29, 1990; Introduzione e Scherzo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 French horns, 2 bassoons, Op. 30, 1990; Divertimento, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, Op. 32, 1990; Due Inventioni, clarinet/trumpet, string quartet, double bass, Op. 33, 1991; Sonata, bass clarinet, percussion, Op. 34, 1991; Duo concertante, alto flute, guitar, Op. 35, 1991; Capriccio, French horn, trumpet, trombone, Op. 37, 1992; Concertino, bassoon, violin, viola, cello, Op. 38, 1992 (also version as Concerto, bassoon, string orchestra, Op. 38b); Rapsodia, clarinet/trumpet, piano, Op. 39, 1992; Octuor, 2 oboes (2nd + English horn), 2 clarinets (2nd + bass clarinet), 2 French horns, 2 bassoons, Op. 40, 1992; Quartetto d'archi, string quartet, Op. 41, 1992
CHAMBER MUSIC: Chimes, flute, piano, Op. 42, 1993; n' fluiten-echtpaar..., 2 flutes (1st + piccolo, 2nd + alto flute), Op. 43, 1993; Notturno, flute/oboe, harp, Op. 44, 1993; Fantasia, flute, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, Op. 45, 1993 (also versions for string orchestra, Op. 45b; 3 clarinets, bass clarinet, Op. 45c, 1994; 4 saxophones, Op. 45d, 1997); Musica quasi eroica, French horn, 2 trumpets, trombone, tuba, Op. 47, 1993; Il canto della piccina sirena, string quartet, Op. 48, 1994; Sonata No. 2, violin, piano, Op. 49, 1994; Elegie voor Willy, 4 bassoons, Op. 50, 1994 (also version for 4 violas, Op. 50b, 1999); Preludio, Scherzo e Finale, flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, double bass, piano, Op. 51, 1994; Spilliaert-Triptiek, violin, piano, Op. 55, 1995; Quintetto, oboe (+ English horn)/clarinet, string quartet, Op. 57, 1996; Kareol, alto oboe, piano, Op. 61, 1997 (also version for alto saxophone, piano, Op. 61b, 1997); Barcarolle, bassoon, piano, Op. 60 No. 2, 1998; Septuor, 2 clarinets, string quartet, double bass, Op. 62, 1998; Visioni, viola, piano, Op. 64, 1998–99; Cinque Canzoni, 3 bassoons, 2 trumpets, Op. 65, 1999 (also version for French horn, 2 trumpets, trombone, tuba, Op. 65b, 1999); Odissea I, flute, cello, piano, Op. 66, 1999; Odissea II, clarinet, violin, accordion, Op. 67, 1999; Invocazioni, violin, viola, cello, piano, Op. 68, 2000; Élégie pour un faon, alto flute, string quartet, Op. 69, 2001; Odissea III, 2 flutes, percussion, Op. 70, 2001; Sonata, cello, Op. 71, 2001–02
CHORAL: Drie Koorstudies (texts by Felix Timmermans, Guido Gezelle), mixed chorus, 1949; Herfst (cantata, text by Bernhard Verhoeven), children's chorus, piano/orchestra, 1953; Ballade (text by Gaston Durnez), any 3 equal voices, 1968; Let us be happy I (text by Alice Toen), any 3 equal voices, Op. 46 No. 1, 1993; Let us be happy II (text by Alice Toen), any 3 equal voices, Op. 46 No. 2, 1993; Three Little Men (text by Alice Toen), any 3 equal voices, Op. 46 No. 3, 1993; Dit voetjen en dat voetje (text by Guido Gezelle), children's chorus, piano, Op. 54 No. 1, 1995; Kukkuu, Kukkuu, Kaukana Kukkuu (text from a Finnish folksong), mixed chorus, Op. 63 No. 1, 1998; Slaapt, Slaapt, Kindtje Slaapt (text by Guido Gezelle), children's chorus, piano, Op. 54 No. 2, 1998; Rijmelarijtje (text by Alice Toen), children's chorus, Op. 46 No. 4, 2000 (may be performed as Letterphantasy [translated by the composer], 2002); Mon ami (text by Ludo Ghoos), any 4 equal voices, Op. 46 No. 5, 2001; Three Shakespeare Poems, female chorus, mixed chorus, male chorus, Op. 72, 2002
VOCAL: De geestelijke bruiloft (song-cycle, text by Pieter G. Buckinx), soprano, piano/small orchestra, Op. 4, 1953; Vier Liederen (text by Felix Timmermans), soprano, piano, Op. 2, 1950–58; 10 First-Sight Reading Studies, any 1-2 voices, piano, 1960–70; The Prisoners (chamber cantata, text by Sir Stephen Spender), mezzo-soprano, baritone, bass clarinet, alto saxophone, harpsichord, celesta, marimba, Op. 15, 1979; Drei Lieder (text by Josef Baert), any voice, piano, Op. 17, 1981; Preludio e Narrazione (text by Anton van Wilderode), soprano, orchestra, Op. 18, 1983; Melopée (text by Paul van Ostaijen), soprano/mezzo-soprano, flute (+ alto flute), bass clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano, percussion, Op. 52, 1994 (also version for soprano/mezzo-soprano, string quartet, 1994); Tijdkrans I (text by Guido Gezelle), soprano, string quartet, Op. 53a, 1995; Tijdkrans II (text by Guido Gezelle), soprano, string quartet, Op. 53b, 1995
PIANO: Musica a quattro mani, piano 4 hands, Op. 1b, 1951–94 (version of Muziek voor strijkers, Op. 1); Preludio, Toccata ed Epilogo, Op. 58, 1996
ORGAN: Meditatie, organ/harmonium, Op. 60 No. 1, 1997
DISCOGRAPHY (arranged by opus number)
Cantilena, Op. 16; Preludio e Narrazione, Op. 18; Musica per undici, Op. 19; Sinfonia III, Op. 22. Jacqueline van Quaille, soprano; Leo Ouderits/Mol Percussion Orchestra; Fernand Terby/BRT Filharmonisch Orkest (Phaedra: 92 003)
Incantations, Op. 22b. (KOCD: 2502)
A hypocritical funeral Music, Op. 23. (BBQ: 001)
A hypocritical funeral Music, Op. 23. (Eufodia: 1122)
Quartetto I, Op. 24. (René Gailly: 87 169)
Da uno a cinque, Op. 27 (excerpt). (MDG: 624 0556)
Introduzione e Scherzo, Op. 30. I Solisti del Vento (Galaxy Studios/I Solisti del Vento: 99-01)
Sonata, Op. 34. (Phaedra: 92 005)
Fantasia, Op. 45. (CMP: 1002)
Fantasia, Op. 45c. (Digi Classics: CD 97)
Fantasia, Op. 45c. (BEF: 08019)
Quartetto d'archi, Op. 41; Episodes, Op. 10; Drei Lieder, Op. 17; Sonata No. 2, Op. 49; Melopée, Op. 52 (second version). Marijke van Arnhem, mezzo-soprano; Christel Kessels, piano, harpsichord; Spiegel (Vox Temporis/René Gailly: 92 039)
Il canto della piccina sirena, Op. 48. (Pavane: ADW 7321)
Quintetto, Op. 57. (Phaedra: 92 014)
(Last updated on May 3, 2008)
