Léon Pétré, a great musician and pedagogue of the previous generation, is celebrating his birthday.
On Friday January 27 2023, this trumpeter turns 80.
He made his mark in early music but explored the landscape of Contemporary Music with equal passion. As a teacher, he trained renowned musicians such as Manu Mellaerts, Leo Wouters, and Benny Wiame, among others. In his spare time, he dedicated 45 years to a brass band from Rummen that grew into Brassband Haspengouw. Conducted by Hans Wuestenberg, they perform a beautiful program on Sunday, January 29 2023 at 3 p.m. in the basilica of Tongeren.
80 years back…
Actually, his father wanted young Léon to study violin, but by a twist of fate, he Léon Pétré sold his soul to the trumpet. And it was even meant that he would become a doctor. While studying medicine in Leuven for six years, he achieved – and this is quite a feat – first prizes in music theory, harmony, music history, and trumpet at the Brussels Conservatory. He dropped the white doctor's coat for good when he began regularly commuting between Sint-Truiden and Paris to refine his trumpet technique with the legendary Maurice André . Maurice André to further refine his trumpet technique.
Concert Life
Léon Pètre was one of the pioneers in the early music revival, being the first in Flanders to bring the natural trumpet without valves back into the spotlight. His colleague Theo Mertens who dismissively laughed off this new development as 'something for antique dealers'', turned out to be completely wrong. In the 1970s and 1980s, Léon Pètre collaborated with renowned ensembles such as Collegium Instrumentale Brugense, Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and La Petite Bande. Of historical significance are the recordings of Bach's Mass in B Minor and Christmas Oratorio by Collegium Vocale conducted by Philippe Herreweghe, in which Léon Pètre played the trumpet part (Virgin Classics). Besides his pioneering work in early music, he explored the other end of the spectrum with ensembles such as De Nieuwe Muziekgroep by Mark Michaël De Smet and the Xenakis ensemble conducted by the master himself. For a while he worked for public broadcasting on commission from Leonce Gras.
Mentor
Thank you for laying the foundation of my career, you
who shaped me into the trumpeter I am now…
who shaped me into the teacher I am now…
who shaped me into the person I am now…
Mieke De Meyer, January 21, 2023.
With dedication, Léon Pètre taught throughout his entire musical career at the music schools of Sint-Truiden and Diest, the Antwerp Conservatory and the Lemmens Institute in Leuven. From his class came, among others, Manu Mellaerts, Leo Wouters, Benny Wiame, Ward Hoornaert and Rik Ghesquière... When some of his proteges encounter technical or artistic challenges in their performing practice, they can still turn to their coach, who cherishes them.
But perhaps the most remarkable thing in the career of this inspiring man is that in 1978 he was unexpectedly asked to help out a modest village brass band from Rummen that was struggling and had no conductor. And he wielded the baton there for 45 years and built the band into the Brassband Haspengouw, respected both nationally and internationally.
Perhaps it's typical of the brass band world, but once he truly believes in someone, they get Leon's full attention, even free lessons. The fact that he always treats his musicians, amateurs included, with the greatest respect is perhaps an important secret ingredient to his success in getting musicians out from under the church tower. On Friday, January 20, the band honored its founder-conductor with a gala concert "A Tribute to Léon" conducted by Hans Wuestenberg. OnSunday, January 29 at 3 p.m.
, Brassband Haspengouw performs with a similar program at the Basilica of Tongeren, featuring among others
Edward Elgar: Nimrod
Philip Sparke: Song for Ina
Otto Schwarz: Last Call
