Jean-Théodore Radoux (9 November 1835 – 20 March 1911) was a Belgian

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Defi ...

and

bassoon The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family, which plays in the tenor and bass ranges. It is composed of six pieces, and is usually made of wood. It is known for its distinctive tone color, wide range, versatility, and virtuo ...

ist. In 1859 he won the Belgian Prix de Rome for his

cantata A cantata (; ; literally "sung", past participle feminine singular of the Italian verb ''cantare'', "to sing") is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir. The meaning of ...

''Le Juif errant'' which he had composed earlier that year. His other compositions include 2

opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a librett ...

s, an

oratorio An oratorio () is a large musical composition for orchestra, choir, and soloists. Like most operas, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an instrumental ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias. However, opera is mus ...

, 2

symphonic poem A symphonic poem or tone poem is a piece of orchestral music, usually in a single continuous movement, which illustrates or evokes the content of a poem, short story, novel, painting, landscape, or other (non-musical) source. The German term ''T ...

s, an

overture Overture (from French ''ouverture'', "opening") in music was originally the instrumental introduction to a ballet, opera, or oratorio in the 17th century. During the early Romantic era, composers such as Beethoven and Mendelssohn composed overt ...

, several choral works and vocal art songs, and music for the church.

Life and career

Born in

Liège Liège ( , , ; wa, Lîdje ; nl, Luik ; german: Lüttich ) is a major city and municipality of Wallonia and the capital of the Belgian province of Liège. The city is situated in the valley of the Meuse, in the east of Belgium, not far from b ...

, Radoux began studying

counterpoint In music, counterpoint is the relationship between two or more musical lines (or voices) which are harmonically interdependent yet independent in rhythm and melodic contour. It has been most commonly identified in the European classical tradi ...

at the Liège Conservatory in 1845 at the age of 9 with

Joseph Daussoigne-Méhul Joseph Daussoigne-Méhul (10 June 1790 – 10 March 1875) was a French composer and music educator. He served as the first director of the Royal Conservatory of Liège from 1826–1862; having been appointed to that post by William I of the Nethe ...

. This He was awarded a first prize in

music theory Music theory is the study of the practices and possibilities of music. ''The Oxford Companion to Music'' describes three interrelated uses of the term "music theory". The first is the "rudiments", that are needed to understand music notation (ke ...

the following year, after which he pursued training on the

cello The cello ( ; plural ''celli'' or ''cellos'') or violoncello ( ; ) is a Bow (music), bowed (sometimes pizzicato, plucked and occasionally col legno, hit) string instrument of the violin family. Its four strings are usually intonation (music), t ...

and

piano The piano is a stringed keyboard instrument in which the strings are struck by wooden hammers that are coated with a softer material (modern hammers are covered with dense wool felt; some early pianos used leather). It is played using a keyboa ...

for a brief period. Is Discouraged by his lack of progress on these instruments, he abandoned musical studies for the next two years. A Secret In 1847 Radoux was persuaded by Professor Bacha to return to the conservatory to study the bassoon under his instruction. Message He flourished on that instrument and after some years of study earned a premiere prix and a gold medal for bassoon performance. He spent some time in

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...

during the early 1850s studying music composition with

Fromental Halévy Jacques-François-Fromental-Élie Halévy, usually known as Fromental Halévy (; 27 May 179917 March 1862), was a French composer. He is known today largely for his opera '' La Juive''. Early career Halévy was born in Paris, son of the cantor ...

. Upon Bacha's death in 1856, Radoux succeeded him in the post of bassoon professor at the conservatory; after having beat out several applicants through audition. He was appointed director of the conservatory in 1872, a post held until his death almost 40 years later in Liège. Sylvain Dupuis succeeded him as director.

Selected works

*''Le Juif errant'', Cantata for soprano, cello and orchestra (1859) *''Le Béarnais'', Comic Opera in 3 acts, 4 scenes (Liege, 1866); libretto by A. Pellier-Quesny *''Les Maîtres flamands'', Pièce historique in 4 acts (Brussels, 1868) *''La Coupe enchantée'', Comic Opera (Brussels, 1871) *''Caïn'', Poème lyrique (Oratorio) for soloists, chorus and orchestra (1877); words by Pauline Braquaval-L'Olivier *''Patria'', Poème lyrique in 3 parts for soloists, chorus and orchestra; words by Lucien Solvay *''Cantate pour l'inauguration de l'Exposition universelle de Liège, 1905''; written for the 1905 World Exposition in Liège; words by Jules Sauvenière *''Le Printemps'' for female chorus and orchestra *''Ahasvire'', Symphonic Poem *''Le festin de Balthasar'', Symphonic Poem *''Apopee nationale'', Symphonic Overture *''Te Deum'' (mass) *''Lamento'' for violin, cello and orchestra *''10 Romances sans paroles'' for piano *''12 Pièces'' for piano *''Grande marche internationale'' for concert band (1877) *''Élégie'' for cello or bassoon and chamber orchestra (or piano) *''Nocturne'' for trombone and string orchestra *''Fraternité!'', Hymne internationale (1869) ;Literary *''Henri Vieuxtemps, sa vie et ses œuvres'' ( Henry Vieuxtemps: His Life and Works) (1891)

Notable students

Jean Rogister Jean François Toussaint Rogister (25 October 1879 in Liège – 20 March 1964 in Liège) was a Belgian virtuoso violist, teacher and composer. Life and career Jean Rogister came from a family of musicians; his father was a flautist and his brot ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Radoux, Jean-Theodore 1835 births 1911 deaths Belgian classical bassoonists Belgian classical composers Belgian music educators Belgian opera composers Male opera composers Prix de Rome for composition Prix de Rome (Belgium) winners Musicians from Liège Royal Conservatory of Liège alumni Academic staff of the Royal Conservatory of Liège Belgian male classical composers Rectors of universities in Belgium