Vic Legley


Victor Legley was a Belgian violist and composer of classical music, of French birth. He first studied in Ypres with Lionel Blomme. In 1935 he matriculated at the Royal Conservatory in Brussels, and there won awards in the study of viola, fugue, counterpoint and chamber music.
In 1941, Legley began studying with Jean Absil, and in 1943 he received the second Belgian Prix de Rome. After World War II he played in the Brussels Opera Orchestra and also in the Déclin Quartet, where he encountered the music of Béla Bartók and of Arnold Schoenberg. At about this time he wrote his first symphony, first of a series of eight, and also his first string quartet
He was chairman of SABAM from 1980 to 1992, and from 1986 to 1990 president of the Union of Belgian Composers.
His last years saw a turn towards wind-band music; his Symphony No. 7 is scored for this ensemble. His output also includes 3 violin concertos, a viola concerto, and a piano concerto, among others.

Selected works

;OperaDe cluyte van de twee naakten of de mooie onbekende
;OrchestralSymfonische variaties op een oud Vlaams lied, op.6
  • Symphony No.1, op.10 Suite, op.18 Miniatuursymphonie Musique pour une tragédie grecque, op.24
  • Symphony No.2, op.29 De gouden rivier De boer die sterft for narrator and orchestra, op.34 ; text by Karel van de WoestijneDivertimento, op.41
  • Symphony No.3, op.42 Sérénade for string orchestra, op.44 no.2 Le bal des Halles Kleine Carnaval, Overture Ouverture pour une Comédie de Goldoni, op.53 La Cathédrale d'acier, Symphonic Sketch after Fernand Steven, op.52 Trios pièces for chamber orchestra, op.57 Diptyque, op.60
  • Symphony No.4, op.61
  • Symphony No.5, op.64 Espaces for string orchestra
  • Symphony No.6 "Ypriana", op.88 Before Endeavours Fade for string orchestra, op.92 Automne, op.113
  • Symphony No.8, op.121
;Concert band and brass bandTrois mouvements for brass and percussion, op.76 Le Bal des Halles for concert band, op.43b Before Endeavours Fade, op.92b Hommage à Jean Absil for saxophone quartet and concert band, op.97 Volharden for brass band, op.98 Drieluik for brass band, op.99 Divertimento for woodwind ensemble, op.104 Paradise Regained, op.26b
  • Symphony No.7 for large concert band, op.112 Petite Introduction pour une Fête Royale Fanfare J M
;Concertante
  • Concerto No.1 for violin and orchestra, op.27 Concertino for percussion and orchestra, op.49
  • Concerto for piano and orchestra, op.39
  • Concerto for harp and orchestra, op.66
  • Concerto No.2 for violin and orchestra, op.67
  • Concerto for viola and orchestra, op.78 Concerto Grosso for violin, alto saxophone and string orchestra, op.87
  • Concerto No.3 for violin and orchestra, op.115
;Chamber musicElegisch Lied for viola and piano, op.7
  • Trio for oboe, clarinet and bassoon, op.11
  • Sonata for violin and piano, op.12
  • Sonata for viola and piano, op.13
  • Quartet for 4 flutes, op.14
  • Quartet for 4 cellos
  • Sextet for wind quintet and piano, op.19
  • Sonata for cello and piano, op.20
  • String Quartet No.2, op.28 Musique de midi for flute, clarinet, horn, bassoon, 2 violins, viola, cello and double bass, op.33
  • Sonata for clarinet and piano, op.40 no.3
  • Sonata for trumpet and piano, op.40 no.6 Sérénade for 2 violins and piano, op.44 no.1 Sérénade for flute, violin and cello, op.44 no.3 Burlesque for violin and piano, op.48
  • String Quartet No.3, op.50 Poème d'été for violin and piano, op.51 no.1 Poème du printemps for viola and piano, op.51 no.2 Cinq miniatures for 4 saxophones, op.54
  • Trio for flute, viola and guitar, op.55
  • String Quartet No.4, op.56
  • Wind Quintet, op.58 Cinq Pièces for guitar, op.62
  • Piano Quartet Kamermuziek for violin, cello and piano, op.81 no.2 Kamermuziek for violin, viola and cello, op.81 no.3 Ballade No.1 for violin and piano, op.86 no.1 Ballade No.2 for viola and piano, op.86 no.2 Ballade No.3 for cello and piano, op.86 no.3 Ballade No.4 for double bass and piano, op.86 no.4 Parades I for 4 clarinets Parades II for 6 saxophones
  • String Trio Intermezzo for guitar, op.96 no.2 Parades III for 4 horns
  • Duo for violin and cello Caractères for viola and guitar, op.106 Deux pièces for accordion, op.109
  • String Quartet No.5, op.116 Mélodie for trumpet or trombone and piano, op.117 Vier Miniaturen for viola solo, op.118 no.1 Romance for violin and piano, op.120 Drie meisjes, Sonata for violin and piano, op.122
  • Sonata for violin solo, op.123 Mouvement for string quartet
;HarpsichordSuite in re, op.108
;Organ
  • Sonata, op.35
;Piano
  • Sonata, op.23 Cinq portraits op.46 La farce des deux nues, op.59 Muziek voor twee piano's, op.68 Brindilles, 18 Little Pieces, op.80
  • Sonata No.2 in D, op.84 no.1
  • Sonata No.3, op.84 no.2
  • Sonata No.4, op.107
;ChoralDe gevallen vriend for mixed double chorus a cappella, op.37 ; words by Jos De HaesLa Terra e la morte for soprano solo and female chorus, op.83 ; words by Cesare Pavese
;VocalCinq mélodies françaises for alto and piano, op.15 Paradise Regained for medium voice and string quartet Het gevecht met het hart for tenor and piano, op.32 ; words by Marcel CooleCantique spirituel for 4 female voices and piano, op.36 ; words by René MénardSept haï-kaï de Kyo Murakami for soprano and string quartet, op.38 ; words by Kyo MurakamiMigration des âmes for medium voice and piano, op.45 ; words by Armand BernierBrieven uit Portugal for medium voice and piano, op.47 ; words by Hubert van HerreweghenEen lied der blijdschap for voice and piano, op.50 ; words by Bert DecorteZeng for voice and string quartet, op.63 ; words by Jos VandelooMijn gegeven woord for mezzo-soprano and piano Twee Alice Nahon-liederen for soprano and piano ; words by Alice NahonBjörn for medium voice and string quartet, op.124 ; words by Björn Van Hauwermeiren