(b. 21 December 1938, Kortrijk).
Belgian composer of mostly orchestral, chamber, choral, and piano works that have been performed throughout Europe.
Mr. Coryn studied at the Hogeschool Gent Conservatorium in Ghent, where he won a First Prize successively as a pianist, a violist and a composer.
Among his honours are the Tenuto Prijs (1973), the Jef van Hoof Prijs (1974), the Koopal-Prijs (1986, for his chamber music), and the ANV-Visser Neerlandia-prijs in Den Haag (1999, for his uvre). He has been a corresponding member of the Koninklijke Vlaamse Academie van België voor Wetenschappen en Kunsten since 1993.
Mr. Coryn is also active in other positions. He conducted the ensemble for contemporary music Nieuw Conservatoriumensemble, which gave many premières. He has co-organised with the city council of Harelbeke the biannual competition for new works for symphonic band Harelbeke Town of Music since 2004.
He taught piano and violin and later served as headmaster of the Academie Muziek Woord Dans Peter Benoit in Harelbeke. He also taught as Professor voor Compositie at the Hogeschool Gent Conservatorium in Ghent.
His publisher is the Centre Belge de Documentation Musicale (CeBeDeM).
SELECT LIST OF WORKS (note that dates given may refer to year of publication as opposed to year of composition or year of première)
STAGE:
Merel Miranda (spel met woord en muziek voor de jeugd, text by André Velghe), orchestra (8 winds, 7 brass, percussion, strings), Op. 23, 1981
Jocaste tegen God (incidental music, play after Sophocles), 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, tuba, percussion, Op. 24, 1981
Het Kleine Grootverhaal van Hebben en Zijn (spel met woord, muziek en dans, text by André Velghe), child actors, 1 or more dancers, children's chorus, youth orchestra (8 winds, 7 brass, percussion, strings), Op. 48, 1992
ORCHESTRAL:
Quattro Movimenti, large orchestra (16 winds, 16 brass, strings), Op. 8, 1973
Sonate voor Orkest, Op. 12, 1976
Drie Inventies voor Strijkers, 14 strings, Op. 36, 1986
Concerto, violin, orchestra, Op. 38, 1988
Due Pitture, Op. 40, 1989 (also version for symphonic band, Op. 40-bis, 1992)
Concerto grosso, 62 strings, Op. 41, 1989 (also version for 14 strings, Op. 41-bis, 1995)
Vijf Concertpreluden, oboe, symphonic band, Op. 42-bis, 1991 (version of work for oboe, piano)
Concerto, vibraphone (+ marimba, xylophone), orchestra (10 winds, 9 brass, percussion, strings), Op. 54, 1994
Tre Pezzi per Orchestra d'Archi, 13 strings, Op. 57, 1995
Twee Stukken, cello, small orchestra (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, strings), Op. 11-bis, 1996 (version of work for cello, piano)
Sinfonia piccola, string orchestra, Op. 60, 1996
Concerto, symphonic band, Op. 62, 1997
Out of Darkness (sketch), orchestra (8 winds, 9 brass, percussion, strings), Op. 68, 2003
Concerto, cello, orchestra/large orchestra (8 winds, 10 brass, percussion, 33 or more strings), Op. 76, 2003–06
Divertimento, clarinet, symphonic band, Op. 13-bis, 2006 (version of work for clarinet, piano)
CHAMBER MUSIC:
Sonatina, viola, Op. 1, 1964
Trio voor Houtblazers, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, Op. 3, 1971
Intrada I & II voor Kopers, Op. 4, 1971 (its two sections may be performed separately: I, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba; II, 2 trumpets, trombone)
Fantasia, clarinet, piano, Op. 7, 1973 (also version for flute, oboe, clarinet, alto saxophone, bassoon)
Tryptiek, flute, oboe, 8 strings, Op. 10, 1974 (also versions for E-flat clarinet, clarinet, 8 strings, Op. 10-bis; E-flat clarinet, clarinet, Op. 10-tris)
Twee Stukken, cello, piano, Op. 11, 1975 (also version for cello, small orchestra, Op. 11-bis)
Divertimento, clarinet, piano, Op. 13, 1976 (also version for clarinet, symphonic band, Op. 13-bis)
Sonatine, 2 clarinets, Op. 15, 1977
Ballade, trumpet, piano, Op. 16, 1978
Vijf Bagatellen, flute, Op. 17, 1978
Improvisatie I, violin, piano, Op. 20, 1979 (also versions as Improvisatie II, viola, piano, 1979; Improvisatie III, cello, piano, 1979; Thoughts on a Theme, double bass, 1979)
Sonatine, violin, piano, Op. 21, 1980
Entrata, 4 French horns, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, tuba, percussion, Op. 22, 1980
Kwartetbeweging, 3 euphoniums, bass tuba, Op. 27, 1983
In un tempo, euphonium, Op. 28, 1983
Sonate, bass tuba, Op. 29, 1984
Saxofoonkwartet, 4 saxophones, Op. 31, 1984 (also version as Klarinettenkwartet, E-flat clarinet, clarinet, alto clarinet, bass clarinet, Op. 31-bis, 1992)
Sonate, viola, piano, Op. 32, 1985 (also version for cello, piano, Op. 32-bis, 1995)
Introduzione e Ciaccona, 4 French horns, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, tuba, percussion, Op. 33, 1986
Trombonekwartet, 3 trombones, bass trombone, Op. 35, 1986
Vijf Concertpreluden, oboe, piano, Op. 42, 1990 (also version for oboe, symphonic band, Op. 42-bis)
Inquieto, euphonium, Op. 43, 1991
Vijf Bewegingen, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, Op. 49, 1993
Cadenza voor het 1ste Deel van het Concerto in D van J. Haydn, cello, Op. 53, 1994
Riflessioni, double bass, piano, Op. 55, 1994
Due Contrasti, 4 French horns, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, tuba, percussion, Op. 56, 1995
Tredici Miniature, flute/piccolo, string quartet, Op. 64, 1998
Eléphantasia, double bass, Op. 67, c. 2001
Als een Kaleidoscoop, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, violin, viola, cello, double bass, Op. 81, 2010
Per Violoncello Solo, cello, Op. 88, 2014
CHORAL:
Voor Teo van Teo, 5 mixed voices, Op. 14, 1977
Landschappen en Stillevens (texts by Paul van Ostaijen, Roland Jooris, Gust Gils), 4 mixed voices, Op. 34, 1986
Opus 'Mens' (oratorio, text by Jacques Coryn), soprano, baritone, 4 mixed voices, small orchestra (4 winds, 4 brass, piano, percussion, strings), Op. 37, 1987
Vier Ernstige Liederen (texts by Dirk Blockeel, Hendrik Marsman, James Joyce), mixed chorus, Op. 44, 1991
Drie Bewerkingen (texts from old Christmas carols from the Netherlands), 5 mixed voices, Op. 46, 1991
Ave Maria, 4 mixed voices, Op. 47, 1992
Beeldspraak 1992 in '93 (Vijf Liederen) (song-cycle, text by Jan D'Haese), any 4 equal voices, Op. 50, 1993
A Letter to the World (Vijf Liederen) (song-cycle, text by Emily Dickinson), 4 mixed voices, Op. 51, 1993 (also version of one section, Pain, for any 4 equal male voices, Op. 51-bis, 1993)
Triptiek der Deernis (Drie Liederen) (song-cycle, text by Luuk Gruwez), 5 mixed voices, Op. 61, 1998
Winds of Dawn (Missa 'Da Pacem') (concertmis, texts by Dante Alighieri, Ingeborg Bachmann, Bertolt Brecht, Louis Aragon, W. H. Auden, Carel Steven Adama van Scheltema), soprano, tenor, baritone, children's chorus, mixed chorus, orchestra, Op. 63, 1998
Deux Mille regretz (song-cycle, text by Anton van Wilderode), male speaker, mixed chorus, ensemble of Renaissance instruments, Op. 65, 1999
Sotto voce (text by M. Vasalis), mixed chorus, Op. 66, 2000
Maria Vasalistriptiek (Hommage aan Herman Roelstraete) (text by M. Vasalis), mixed chorus, Op. 69, 2005
There Is another Sky (song-cycle, text by Emily Dickinson), 4 mixed voices, Op. 71, 2005
Due Cantici (texts by St. Francis of Assisi, Ezra Pound), 4 mixed voices, Op. 72, 2005
A Meeting with... (Volume 1) (song-cycle), Op. 73, 2005 (its five sections may be performed separately: Let down the bars, O Death! [text by Emily Dickinson], 4 mixed voices; On the Beach at Fontana [text by James Joyce], 4 mixed voices; The Blossom [text by William Blake], 4 female voices; I loved you [text by Alexander Pushkin], 4 mixed voices; The Tyger [text by William Blake], 4 mixed voices)
A Tribute to William Blake (song-cycle, text by William Blake), bass-baritone, mixed chorus, Op. 74, 2006
Een 'Reke' rijmkes en nageldeuntjes (suite, text by Guido Gezelle), children's chorus/female chorus, Op. 77, 2007
Canticum Canticorum Salomonis (text from the Song of Solomon), mixed chorus, violin, Op. 78, 2008
Five Songs on Poems by Li T'ai Po (text by Li Bai [translated by Sam Hamill]), mixed chorus, Op. 80, 2009–10
Miscellanea (song-cycle), Op. 75, 2006–11 (its eight sections may be performed separately: The Bells [text by Edgar Allan Poe], 4 female voices; Amidst the Flowers [text by Li Bai (English translation)], 4 male voices; Death be not proud [text by John Donne], 4 mixed voices; Song [text by William Blake], 4 mixed voices; Psalm VII [a], 4 mixed voices; Psalm VII [b], 4 mixed voices; A Game of Fives [text by Lewis Carroll], 4 mixed voices; Life [text by Charlotte Brontë], 8 mixed voices)
Vier Motetten (texts from motets in Latin), 4 male voices, Op. 83, 2009–11
A Meeting with... (Volume 2) (song-cycle), Op. 82, 2010–11 (its three sections may be performed separately: Sleep Now [text by James Joyce], 4 mixed voices; You ask why [text by Li Bai (translated by Sam Hamill)], 5 mixed voices; Trees [text by Joyce Kilmer], 8 mixed voices)
Memorial for Doomed Youth (texts by Ivor Gurney, August Stramm, Wilfred Owen), 8 mixed voices, Op. 84, 2012
Une Ménagerie minuscule (text by Robert Desnos), 3 equal youth voices, Op. 85, 2012
A Meeting with... (Volume 3) (texts by Emily Dickinson, Edgar Allan Poe), mixed chorus, Op. 86, 2014
Ein Treffen mit H. Heine (text by Heinrich Heine), mixed chorus, Op. 87, 2014
VOCAL:
Regina (song-cycle), mezzo-soprano, piano, Op. 9, 1974
Ascension (text by Octave Landuyt), soprano, alto saxophone, Op. 26, 1982
Zes Liederen (song-cycle, text by Hans Andreus), high voice, piano, Op. 58, 1995 (also versions for tenor, E-flat clarinet [+ clarinet], violin, cello, piano, Op. 58-bis, 1997; high voice, E-flat clarinet, clarinet, alto clarinet, bass clarinet, Op. 58-tris, 2004)
PIANO:
Drie Stukken, Op. 2, 1970
Per Pianosolo, Op. 5, 1972
Vier Miniaturen, Op. 6, 1973
Toccatella, Op. 18, 1979
Pianosuite voor de Jeugd, Op. 19, c. 1979
Sonate, 2 pianos, Op. 25, 1982
Sonatine, Op. 39, c. 1988
Een Dansloze Suite (voor jonge en andere pianisten), Op. 59, 1996
ORGAN:
Tombeau (In memoriam H. Roelstraete), Op. 70, 2005
CARILLON:
Prelude en Dans, Op. 52, 1994
ARRANGEMENTS:
Porqué, Habanera en Moto perpetuo (Jan Decadt), orchestra (8 winds, 9 brass, percussion, strings), Op. 30, 1984
Préludes, Premier Livre (Claude Debussy), symphonic band, Op. 79a, 2008–09
Préludes, Deuxième Livre (Claude Debussy), symphonic band, Op. 79b, 2008–09
DISCOGRAPHY
Quattro Movimenti, Op. 8. Frédéric Devreese/deFilharmonie (Cultura: 5073-N2) (LP)
Sonate (2 pianos), Op. 25. Duo Kende–Hendrickx (Terpsichore: 1984 NV) (LP)
Triptiek der Deernis (Drie Liederen), Op. 61 (excerpt). Marc-Michaël De Smet/Goeyvaerts Consort (AVA)
Saxofoonkwartet, Op. 31. Brussels Saxofoonkwartet (BRT: 890021)
Eléphantasia, Op. 67. Gabriela Fragner, double bass (Etcetera Records: KTC 1266)
Due Pitture, Op. 40-bis; Vijf Concertpreluden, Op. 42-bis. Yf Bourry, oboe; Geert Verschaeve/Koninklijk Harmonieorkest Vooruit (Koninklijk Harmonieorkest Vooruit: 47054)
Vier Ernstige Liederen, Op. 44. Vic Nees/Vlaams Radio Koor (Phaedra: 92 006)
Riflessioni, Op. 55. David Desimpelaere, double bass; Erik Desimpelaere, piano (Phaedra: 92 079)
A Meeting with... (Volume 2), Op. 82; A Letter to the World (Vijf Liederen), Op. 51; A Game of Fives, Op. 75 No. 7; There Is another Sky, Op. 71; Life, Op. 75 No. 8; Let down the bars, O Death!, Op. 73 No. 1; Five Songs on Poems by Li T'ai Po, Op. 80. Marc-Michaël De Smet/Aquarius Chamber Choir (Phaedra: 92 081)
Klarinettenkwartet, Op. 31-bis. Vanoosthuyse Klarinettenkwartet (private)
Thoughts on a Theme, Op. 20. Frank Coppieters, double bass (René Gailly International Productions: 86 006)
Concerto (violin), Op. 38. Henry Raudales, violin; Patrick Peire/Symfonieorkest Vlaanderen (René Gailly International Productions: 87 063)
Due Pitture, Op. 40. Dirk Brossé/Symfonieorkest Vlaanderen (René Gailly International Productions: 87 080)
Tredici Miniature, Op. 64. Peter Verhoyen, flute; Arco Baleno (René Gailly International Productions: 87 169)
Vijf Bewegingen, Op. 49. Quintessens (Stad Harelbeke)