Arie Van de Moortel

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Arie Van de Moortel (1918–1976) was a Belgian viola virtuoso, composer, and music teacher.

Life and education
- Born July 17, 1918, in Laeken, Belgium; died May 1, 1976, in Brussels.
- Won first prize in viola and chamber music at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels in 1937.
- Continued viola studies with François Broos, earning a degree in 1939.
- Studied counterpoint at the Royal Conservatory of Ghent and composition with Prosper Van Eechaute.

Career
- Performed with several ensembles, including the Trio van het Belgisch Hof, the London Piano Quartet, the M. Raskin String Trio, and a viola–piano duo with his wife Lydie Lequeux.
- Worked as a violist with the Orchestra of the National Institute for Radio Broadcasting (NIR).
- Taught chamber music at the Royal Conservatory of Ghent from 1946 to 1976.
- Directed the Music Academy in Anderlecht from 1957 to 1976.

Awards
- Staf Nees Prize (1951) for Variations on the Flemish Folk Song “There Was a Little Snow Bird” (carillon piece).
- Viotti International Music Competition prize (1954) for Trio for Reed Instruments.
- City of Rotterdam Prize (1957) for Capriccio rondom “Het viel een hemels dauw” (carillon).

Family
- Had a brother, Leo Van de Moortel (1919–1972), who was a bassoonist and composer.

Selected works
- Orchestral: Silly Symphony, Op. 2b (1939); Concerto for Orchestra, Op. 6 (1952); La Folia for chamber orchestra, Op. 21 (1959).
- Concertante: Nocturne for clarinet (or tenor saxophone, or cello, or viola) and orchestra, Op. 18 (1956); Fantasia sopra la canzone “All voll” for double bass (or cello or viola) and orchestra, Op. 44 (1970); Rondo-Pastorale for violin and orchestra, Op. 45 (1970).
- Chamber music: Partita for bassoon, Op. 1 (1939); Trio for oboe, clarinet, and bassoon, Op. 3 (1939; revised 1954); Sonata for harp, Op. 8; Nocturne for clarinet (or soprano/tenor saxophone, or cello, or viola) and piano, Op. 18; Faust et Don Juan for viola and piano, Op. 29; Sonata for viola or cello and piano, Op. 14; many other works.
- Carillon: Sonatine in re, Op. 5 (1951); Variations on the Flemish Folk Song “There Was a Little Snow Bird” (1951); Capriccio rondom “Het viel een hemels dauw,” Op. 20 (1957); La Folia, Op. 21 (1959; also orchestrated).
- Keyboard: Toccata en Koraalfantasie for piano, Op. 7 (1952); Kies een kaart for piano, Op. 17 No. 1 (1955); L’homme au parapluie for two pianos and harmonium, Op. 24 (1961); Links en rechts for piano, Op. 25 (1962); Weerbericht for piano, Op. 29 (1966).
- Vocal: Zes puntdichtjes for voice and piano or orchestra, Op. 15 (1955); Le bouffon de Tintagel for tenor with ensemble and percussion, Op. 26; Projet, Sees, Conte pastoral for voice and piano or orchestra (Op. 33, 1966; Op. 34); Les Cordamont for narrator, voice, ensemble and percussion, Op. 35; Miserere, Op. 35b; Imagerie for voice and piano (Op. 36); Que Dieu m'accueille avec les oiseaux for soprano or tenor and piano, Op. 51 (1973).
- Choral: Drie Vlaamse volksliederen for vocal trio or children's/women’s choir and piano or orchestra, Op. 46 (1946); Oude prent for children's choir and piano or orchestra, Op. 16 (1956); Trèfle à trois feuilles for children’s choir and piano or orchestra, Op. 19 (1957); Mazarinade for vocal trio or men’s choir a cappella, Op. 23 No. 2 (1960); Driej Joodse volksliederen for children’s choir and piano (Op. 28, 1961); Vier kinderrijmpjes for children’s choir and orchestra, Op. 31 (1966); Imagerie for children’s chorus and orchestra (Op. 36, 1967).

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