(b. 26 June 1931, Ghent – d. 12 December 2006, Ghent).
Belgian composer of works that have been performed throughout the world.
Mr. Goethals began studies in music theory and piano with Ernestina Carlota Faedo at the Departamento de Artes Musicales Carlos López Buchardo of the Instituto Universitario Nacional del Arte in Buenos Aires at age nine and began composing at age thirteen. He then studied at the Hogeschool Gent Conservatorium in Ghent from 1947–57, where he earned diplomas in composition, counterpoint, fugue, harmony, music history, organ, and piano. He studied composition and orchestration privately with Norbert Rosseau from 1958–60 and new techniques in composition with Gottfried Michael Koenig at the Stichting Gaudeamus in Amsterdam in 1961. He later attended courses in computer composition with Gottfried Michael Koenig at the Instituut voor Sonologie of the Universiteit Utrecht in 1968.
Among his honours are the Émile Mathieu Prijs (1956), the Provinciale Prijs from the province of East Flanders (1960), Cinquième Prix in the Concours International de Musique Électroacoustique de Bourges (1973, for Contrapuntos), the Koopal-Prijs (1976, for his chamber music), and the Driejaarlijkse Cultuurprijs from the city of Ghent (1981), the SABAM-Prijs (1985), and the ANV-Visser Neerlandia-prijs in Den Haag (1999, for his œuvre).
He was also active in other positions. He co-founded with Louis De Meester the Instituut voor Psychoacustica en Elektronische Muziek (IPEM) at the Universiteit Gent in 1962 and served as its artistic director from 1970–87.
He taught as Docent van Muziekanalyse at the Hogeschool Gent Conservatorium from 1970–92.
His publisher is the Centre Belge de Documentation Musicale (CeBeDeM).
COMPLETE LIST OF WORKS (note that the composer prefers a chronological listing; film scores are listed separately)
1940s:
Burleske 1, piano, 1949
Fantasia 1, violin, piano, 1949
1950s:
Kleine Arabeske, violin, piano, 1950
Fantasia 2, violin, piano, 1950
Pastorale, piano, 1951
Praeludium, French horn, piano, timpani, string orchestra, 1952
Burleske 2, violin, piano, 1952
Andantino, piano, 1952
Duo, violin, piano, 1952
Waterlelie, piano, 1952
Kleine prelude in oude stijl, organ, 1952
Pequeño Interludio Bitonal, piano, 1953
Burletta, piano, Op. 1, 1953
Sonata, violin, piano, 1955
Adagio 1, flute, clarinet, violin, 1955
Kreoolse Dans, piano, 1956
Sonatine, organ, Op. 2, 1956
Adagio 2, organ, Op. 3, 1957
Inventie, violin, piano, Op. 4, 1957
Kwintet 1, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, piano, Op. 5, 1957
Concerto No. 1, organ, string orchestra, Op. 7, 1957
Fantasia en Fuga, organ, Op. 9, 1957 (lost)
Concerto No. 2, flute, timpani, string orchestra, 1958
Ballade in Akademische (Belgische) Stijl, violin, piano, 1958
Twee Capriccio's, piano, Op. 11, 1959
Drie Stukken, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, Op. 12, 1959
Música Dodecafónica, piano, 1959
Twee Dodecafonische Gestalten, piano, 1959
Symfonie, organ, 1959 (incomplete)
Triptiek, organ, Op. 13, 1959
Drie Essais, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, Op. 14, 1959
Rituele Suite, French horn, 2 trumpets, trombone, tuba, Op. 15, 1959
Sonata, violin, piano, 1959
Cinq Impromptus, small orchestra, Op. 16, 1959
Kwintet 2, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, 1959 (lost)
Suite Criolla, piano 4 hands, 1959
Drie Capriccio's, organ, Op. 17, 1959
1960s:
Interludium, organ, Op. 18, 1961
Twee Tekeningen, piano, Op. 20, 1961
Twee Kristallen, piano, Op. 21, 1961
Sonate, guitar, Op. 22, 1961
Klankstructuren, organ, 1962
Studie met sinus-, driehoeks- en rechthoeksgolven, fixed media (2 tracks), 1962
Studie I, fixed media (2 tracks), 1962
Studie II, fixed media (2 tracks), 1962
Studie III, fixed media (2 tracks), 1962
Diálogos, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, 4 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos, 2 double basses, percussion, string orchestra, fixed media (2 tracks), 1963 (also shorter version as Suite uit Diálogos, 1963; part for fixed media may be performed separately as Cadenza uit Diálogos)
Pentagoon, piano, 1963
Studie V, fixed media (2 tracks), 1964
Endomorfie I, violin, piano, fixed media (1 track), 1964 (also shorter version for violin, piano, 1964; version for fixed media, 1964)
Endomorfie II, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, fixed media ad libitum, 1965
Cellotape, cello, piano, fixed media (1/2/4 tracks), 1965
Wiegelied (text by Jan Vercammen), voice, piano, 1966
Lecina (text by Jan van der Hoeven), mezzo-soprano, flute, violin, cello, 1966
Sinfonía en Gris Mayor, 2 percussion, 2 orchestras, fixed media (4 tracks), 1966
Contrapuntos, fixed media (2–12 tracks) ad libitum, 1966
Movimientos y Acciones, flute, clarinet, harp, vibraphone, percussion, 2 violins, viola, cello, 1967
Vensters (text by Jan van der Hoeven), female speaker, male speaker, cello, piano, 3/4 percussion, fixed media (5/6 tracks), 3/4 film projectors, 1967 (shorter version as Suite uit Vensters, cello, piano, percussion, fixed media [2 tracks], 1967)
Formosis, fixed media (2 tracks), 1967
Mouvement (eerste strijkkwartet), string quartet, 1967
Enteuxis, flute, oboe, 6 violins, 3 violas, 2 cellos, double bass, 1968
Zeven Haikoes (text by Gust Gils), speaker, fixed media (2 tracks), 1968
Studie VI, fixed media (2 tracks), 1969
Ensimismamientos, bassoon, violin, cello, piano, fixed media, 1969
Cáscaras (text by Claudio Rodríguez), mezzo-soprano, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, 1969
Quebraduras, violin, viola, cello, piano, 1969
Vier Stukken, bass clarinet, piano, 1969
1970s:
Siete Soliloquios, violin, 1970
Superposiciones, bassoon, violin, cello, piano, 1970
Suma, any number of players ad libitum, fixed media (2 tracks), 1971
'Hé...!', mime, flute, oboe, 2 clarinets, bassoon, French horn, trombone, viola, cello, harpsichord, fixed media, slide projections, 1971 (collaboration with Karel Goeyvaerts, Herman Sabbe)
Concerto voor orkest, percussion, 2 orchestras, 1972
Tres Paisajes Sonoros, flute, oboe, French horn, trombone, violin, double bass, harpsichord, 1973
Meliorbis, fixed media (2–14 tracks) ad libitum, 1973
Studie VIIb, fixed media (2 tracks), 1973
Drie Preludia en een Postludium bij vier gedichten van Gust Gils, speaker, trombone, double bass, 1973
Llanto por Salvador Allende, trombone, 1973
Sonoor Portret van Jean Bilquin, fixed media (2 tracks), 1973 (music for exhibition by Jean Bilquin)
Difonium, bass clarinet, fixed media (2 tracks), 1974
Diferencias, 2 oboes, English horn, 2 bassoons, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, 1974
Fusion, bass clarinet, piano, fixed media (2 tracks), 1975
Polyfonium I, fixed media (2 tracks), 1975
Triptiek, violin, harpsichord, 1975
Fantasia en Humoreske, 2 oboes, English horn, 1975
Fantasia, tenor recorder, harpsichord, 1975
Quatre Pièces pour Orchestre, orchestra, 1976
Hommage à Schoenberg, flute (+ alto flute), percussion, 1977
De Tuin der Lusten, bass clarinet, fixed media (2 tracks), 1977
Sonoor Portret van Pierre Vlerick, piano, fixed media (2 tracks), 1977 (incomplete)
Pluriversum, fixed media (2 tracks), 1978
Música con cantus firmus triste, flute (+ alto flute), violin, viola, cello, 1978
Variaties op een thema van Herman Sabbe, organ, 1979
Gmébophonies, flute, alto saxophone, viola, cello, electronic organ, percussion, fixed media, 1979
Pampa (text by Ricardo Güiraldes), mezzo-soprano, alto flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano, 2 percussion, 1979
Sonata, double bass, fixed media (2 tracks), 1979
Rituel, zheng (zither from China), percussion from China, fixed media (2 tracks), 1979
1980s:
Paal en Perk (text by Hugo Claus), mezzo-soprano, flute (+ alto flute), oboe, clarinet, French horn, trombone, double bass, 2 percussion, 1980
Tres Momentos Musicales, violin, fixed media, 1980
Trio, flute (+ alto flute), bass clarinet (+ contrabass clarinet), piano, 1980
Ofrenda, trumpet, piano, 1980
Polyfonium II/80, fixed media (2 tracks), 1980
Paysages Électroacoustiques, fixed media (2/4 tracks), 1980
Beweging voor klarinetkwartet, E-flat clarinet, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 1981
Ladrido (text by Ricardo Güiraldes), soprano, clarinet, French horn, percussion, 1981
Para Cinco, flute, oboe, French horn, vibraphone, percussion, 1983
Paisajes Interiores, flute, 1983
Concerto, bass clarinet (+ contrabass clarinet), orchestra, 1983
Duelos, xylorimba, percussion, 1984
Drie Inventies, bass clarinet (+ alto saxophone), xylorimba (+ vibraphone), 1984
Introductie en Fantasie op de naam Jan Broeckx, organ, 1985
Selva, fixed media, 1986
Europa Sonate, flute, oboe, double bass, piano, 1989
Twee Liederen (texts by Erik Spinoy, Dirk van Bastelaere), soprano, small orchestra (12 players), 1989
1990s:
Concierto de la Luz y las Tinieblas, organ, small orchestra (13 players), 1990
Dos Proyecciones Musicales, flute (+ alto flute), alto clarinet (+ bass clarinet), piano, 1990
Azulejos, 4 guitars, 1991
Tres Cantos (text by Rubén Darío), soprano, flute, violin, viola, cello, 1991
Tweehandige Inventie, piano, 1991
Synthèse '92, fixed media, 1992
Seis Sonetos (text by Lope de Vega), mixed chorus, 1992
Tweede Strijkkwartet, string quartet, 1992
Dos Piezas, trumpet (+ piccolo trumpet, tenor bugle), 1993
Encuentros Solitarios, violin, 1996
Prelude op de naam Raf Goormans, organ, 1997
Otros Momentos, fixed media, 1998
Cuatro Poemas de Federico García Lorca, mezzo-soprano, alto flute, bass clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano, percussion, 1998
Dendrofonies, fixed media, 1999
Fuga Enigmática, flute, clarinet, guitar, cello, piano, vibraphone, 1999
Gilgamesj, flute, oboe, trumpet, trombone, piano, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, 1999
Isjtar, alto recorder (+ tenor recorder, bass recorder), piano, 1999
2000s:
Festina Lente (text by Gust Gils), mezzo-soprano, baritone, flute, bass clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano, 2 percussion, 2001
El Laberinto de Euterpe, 4 recorders, percussion, 2001
Tríptico Azul, piccolo trumpet (+ bugle, trumpet), organ, 2002
Cuadro Cervantino (texts by Miguel de Cervantes, Stefaan Van den Bremt), mezzo-soprano, 2 tenors, baritone, bass, flute, oboe, bass clarinet, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, piano, 2 percussion, 2003
Espacios y Tiempos, harp, violin, fixed media, 2003
Ensimismamientos Espaciales, fixed media, 2004
FILM SCORES (DIRECTOR):
Les Poissons: La Perche, fixed media, 1963 (M. Bruhon)
Sirène, flute, string quartet, fixed media, 1968 (animation; Raoul Servais)
Baboush, flute, cello, 1971 (animation; Raoul Servais)
To Speak or Not to Speak, fixed media, 1972 (animation; Raoul Servais)
Pegasus, mixed chorus, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, violin, cello, double bass, fixed media, 1973 (animation; Raoul Servais)
Harpya, fixed media, 1979 (animation; Raoul Servais)
Atraksion, fixed media, 2001 (animation; Raoul Servais)
TV PRODUCTION (DIRECTOR):
De Wonderwinkel, big band, fixed media, 1979 (animation; BRT)