Charles-Louis-Léon Du Bois (10 Jan 1859 - 19 November 1935) was a Belgian organist, composer, and conductor.

Life and career

Born in Brussels, Du Bois was educated at the Royal Conservatory in his native city. In 1885 he won the 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 ...

'' Au bois des elfes''. He worked as an opera conductor at several theaters; including posts at the Théâtre Graslin, Nantes in 1889–1890;

Opéra Royal de Wallonie The Opéra royal de Wallonie is a Belgian Opera house located on the Place de l'Opéra, in Liège, Belgium. Together with La Monnaie and the Vlaamse Opera, the ''Opéra royal'', as it is colloquially known, is one of the three major opera house ...

in Liège in 1891–1892; and La Monnaie from 1890 through 1897. In 1912 Du Bois was elected as a member of the Royal Academy of Science, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium. That same year he succeeded composer

Edgar Tinel Edgar Pierre Joseph Tinel (27 March 185428 October 1912) was a Belgian composer and pianist. He was born in Sinaai, today part of Sint-Niklaas in East Flanders, Belgium, and died in Brussels. After studies at the Brussels Conservatory with Lou ...

as director of the

Royal Conservatory of Brussels The Royal Conservatory of Brussels (french: Conservatoire royal de Bruxelles, nl, Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel) is a historic conservatory in Brussels, Belgium. Starting its activities in 1813, it received its official name in 1832. Provid ...

; a post he remained in until 1925 when he was succeeded by

Joseph Jongen Joseph Marie Alphonse Nicolas Jongen (14 December 1873 – 12 July 1953) was a Belgian organist, composer, and music educator. Biography Jongen was born in Liège, where his parents had moved from Flanders. On the strength of an amazing precocity ...

. As a composer, Du Bois was heavily influenced by

Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner ( ; ; 22 May 181313 February 1883) was a German composer, theatre director, polemicist, and conductor who is chiefly known for his operas (or, as some of his mature works were later known, "music dramas"). Unlike most op ...

and followed in his aesthetic approach to music composition. His most well known work is the mimed drama ''Le mort'' (1894). His other compositions include the

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 ''Son excellence ma femme'' (1884) and ''La revanche de Sganarelle'' (1886), two ballets, thirteen

art song An art song is a Western vocal music composition, usually written for one voice with piano accompaniment, and usually in the classical art music tradition. By extension, the term "art song" is used to refer to the collective genre of such songs ...

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 ...

, two marches, and several orchestral and choral works. Du Bois died in Brussels on November 19, 1935 at the age of 76.

Honours

* 1931: Grand Officer in the

Order of Leopold Order of Leopold may refer to: * Order of Leopold (Austria), founded in 1808 by emperor Francis I of Austria and discontinued in 1918 * Order of Leopold (Belgium), founded in 1832 by king Leopold I of Belgium * Order of Leopold II, founded in Congo ...

.RD 8.4.1932

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Du Bois, Leon Members of the Royal Academy of Belgium 1935 deaths 1859 births Belgian composers Belgian conductors (music) Royal Conservatory of Brussels alumni Royal Conservatory of Brussels faculty Musicians from Brussels Opera composers