Jef van Hoof (8 May 1886 – 24 April 1959) was a Belgian late romantic composer and conductor with a Flemish ethnic background.
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Symphony No. 1 in A major (1938)
1. Allegro moderato (0:00)
2. Moderato tranquillo (9:50)
3. Scherzo (16:34)
4. Allegro energico eroico (23:11)
BRTN Philharmonic Orchestra Brussels, conducted by Fernand Terby
Born in Antwerp, Van Hoof was a pupil of Paul Gilson and was heavily influenced by the works of Peter Benoit. He studied at the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp, of which he was the director from 1942 to 1944. In 1933 he founded the Flemish National Song Festival [nl] (Vlaams Nationaal Zangfeest) where he worked as a conductor for many years. He also conducted concerts associated with the Flemish Movement. He died in Antwerp in 1959 at the age of 72.
He composed chamber music, symphonic works, art songs, works for solo piano, carillon, organ, as well as sacred music. He is particularly known for writing the famous Flemish patriotic song Groeninghe which uses a text by Guido Gezelle.
In 1916, on a text by Nico Gunzburg, he composed the choral work Oproep, which was performed at the opening of the Dutch-language university of Ghent, organized by the German occupiers. Because of his activist sympathies, he was sentenced to eight months in prison after the war.
After 1920 he remained active in Flemish nationalist organizations, such as the Vlaams Nationaal Verbond. He acted as a conductor at Yser pilgrimages and Golden Spurs celebrations and also composed battle songs for these occasions. In 1933 he co-founded the Flemish National Song Festival, which he led until 1936.
In 1916 Van Hoof succeeded his father as holder of the organ in St. Michael’s Church. After his conviction, he gave private lessons and organized concerts where he performed as a pianist. In 1924 he became a teacher of harmony and composition at the Mechelse Carillon School and in 1936 he became a teacher at the Royal Conservatory in Antwerp.
At the beginning of 1942 he was appointed director of this conservatory, succeeding Flor Alpaerts. His opponent was Lodewijk De Vocht, but Van Hoof won because he was supported by important figures from the collaboration, such as Cyriel Verschaeve. Inevitably, after the Liberation, he was deposed and sentenced to one year in prison.
He appeared as a conductor a few more times, including on the Day of the Flemish Song in 1953 and on the Flemish day of the World Exhibition in 1958.
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Excellent….Totally New…..BRAVO from Acapulco!
A truly rare find! There is an almost Saint-Saëns-like quality to Jef van Hoof's First Symphony – perhaps it is in the colorful orchestration (including a rarely-heard melodic use of the timpani), the jubilant music, or the cyclical structure that flows throughout the whole symphony. In any case, it takes a special place in the lesser-known world of Belgian romantic music as a unique, energetic, and beautiful symphony, from a composer whose legacy we will hopefully hear more of in the future. 🇧🇪
Es ist meine erste Gelegenheit, diese spätromantische Sinfonie anzuhören. Erstaunlich fein komponiert und wunderschön interpretiert mit farbenreichen doch perfekt entsprechenden Tönen aller Instrumente. Der zweite Satz klingt besonders schön und echt beruhigend. Im Kontrast klingt der letzte Satz echt lebhaft und auch energisch. Der intelligente und erfahrene Dirigent leitet das perfekt trainierte Orchester im veränderlichen Tempo und mit möglichst effektiver Dynamik. Wahrhaft hörenswert!
Someone will comment: „one of the greatest masterpieces of music history… „🎊
The neglect of Flemish music of the recent past has political reasons, not because of the quality. Some composers-like Van Hoof-were Flemish nationalists and had the bad idea to think the Germans would support an independent Flanders. After WW2 all composers were "canceled", even those who didn't collaborate with the Germans. This now still so, 80 years later.