he Living Composers Project

Coryn, Roland (b. December 21, 1938, Kortrijk). Belgian composer of mostly orchestral, chamber, choral, and piano works that have been performed throughout Europe.

Mr. Coryn is also active in other positions. He conducted a new-music ensemble, which gave premières of many Flemish pieces and also works by Louis Andriessen, Mauricio Kagel, Kaija Saariaho, and Giacinto Scelsi, among other composers. He has co-organized with the city council of Harelbeke the biannual competition for new symphonic-band works Harelbeke Town of Music since 2004.

After being active as a violin and piano teacher, he became headmaster of the music academy in Harelbeke and at the same time, he taught as Professor of Composition at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Ghent.

The Centre Belge de Documentation Musicale (CeBeDeM) publishes some of his music.

CONTACT INFORMATION

E-mail address: Roland.Coryn@telenet.be

Street address: Mr. Roland Coryn, Gulden-Sporenstr. 45, 8530 Harelbeke, Belgium

Telephone/fax: + 325 671 4135

SELECT LIST OF WORKS (note that dates given may be those of publication, not of composition or 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 by Sophocles), 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, tuba, percusion, Op. 24, 1981; Het kleine Grootverhaal van Hebben en Zijn (spel met woord, muziek en dans, text by André Velghe), 1 or more dancers, child actors, 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, French horn, bassoon, 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; Divertimento, clarinet, symphonic band, Op. 13-bis, 2006 (version of work for clarinet, piano); Concerto, cello, orchestra (8 winds, 10 brass, percussion, 33 or more strings), Op. 76, 2007

CHAMBER MUSIC: Sonatina, viola, Op. 1, 1964; Trio voor Houtblazers, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, Op. 3, 1971; Intrada I & II voor Kopers, Op. 4, 1971 (each of its 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 [flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, strings], 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 tenor 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; A Kaleidoscope alike..., flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, violin, viola, cello, double bass, Op. 81, 2010

CHORAL: Voor Teo van Teo, 5 mixed voices, Op. 14, 1977; Landschappen en Stillevens (texts by Paul van Ostaijen, Rooland Joris, 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 Dutch Christmas carols), 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, Wystan Hugh Auden, Carel Steven Adema 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, Renaissance ensemble, 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... (song-cycle), Op. 73, 2005 (each of 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 Aleksandr 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; Miscellanea (song-cycle), Op. 75, 2006 (each of its six sections may be performed separately: The Bells [text by Edgar Allan Poe], 4 female voices; Amidst the Flowers [text by Li Po (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); 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 (translated by Hamil), mixed chorus, Op. 80, 2009–10

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/Philharmonie van Antwerpen (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. Brussel Saxofoonkwartet (BRT: 890021)

Eléphantasia, Op. 67. Gabriela Fragner, double bass (Etcetera: KTC 1266)

Vier Ernstige Liederen, Op. 44. Vic Nees/Vlaams Radio Koor (Phaedra: 92 006)

Klarinettenkwartet, Op. 31-bis. Van Oosthuyze Klarinettenkwartet (private)

Thoughts on a Theme, Op. 20. Frank Coppieters, double bass (René Gailly: 86 006)

Concerto (violin), Op. 38. Henri Raudales, violin; Patrick Peire/Nieuw Orkest van Vlaanderen (René Gailly: 87 063)

Due Pitture, Op. 40. Dirk Brossé/Nieuw Orkest van Vlaanderen (René Gailly: 87 080)

Tredici Miniature, Op. 64. Peter Verhoyen, flute; Arco Baleno (René Gailly: 87 169)

Due Pitture, Op. 40-bis; Vijf Concertpreluden, Op. 42-bis. Y. Bourry, oboe; Geert Verschaeve/Koninklijk Concertband (Vooruit: 47054)

(Last updated on May 17, 2010)