Charles Joseph Van Helmont (1715-1790)
- Overtura a 2: chori (1754)
Performers: Les Solistes de Liège; Géry Lеmairе (1926-2013, conductor)
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Flemish composer and organist. He studied as a choirboy under Petrus
Hercules Brehy at the collegiate church of St Michel et Ste Gudule in
Brussels where, at the age of 18, he succeeded Josse Boutmy as titular
organist. In 1737 he was appointed choirmaster at the Kapellekerk of
Brussels. The premature death of Joseph-Hector Fiocco in 1741 enabled
him to return to Ste Gudule, this time as music director, a position he
had aspired to since the onset of Brehy's terminal illness in October
1736, but which had gone to Fiocco. For the next 36 years, Van Helmont
lived with his growing family in the choraelhuys (maîtise) where he
supervised the musical and general education of the choristers, composed
frequently for the service, and undertook the task of conserving Ste
Gudule's extensive music collection. In 1768 he founded a musical
association which gave weekly public concerts; this was one of the first
societies of its kind in Brussels. In 1777 he resigned from Ste Gudule
passing his duties to his son, the composer and teacher Adriaan Joseph
van Helmont (1747-1830). As a composer, he wrote much sacred music,
including masses, motets, Magnificats, and litanies. Among his secular
works were an opera, 2 symphonies, an overtura, a divertissement, Pieces
de clavecin (Brussels, 1737), and 6 organ fugues.
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