Our compatriot Jacqueline Fontyn (° 1930) was born in Antwerpen. Shortly after her fifth birthday, she receives daily piano lessons from the excellent Russian pedagogue Ignace Bolotine, who also stimulates her interest and aptitude for improvisation. Her first composition, a menuet alla Boccherini, she writes down at age 6. At nine years old, she already begins writing her own piano works. At the age of 15, she decides to become a composer.
She studies music theory, orchestration and composition with Marcel Quinet. She completes her studies in Paris with Max Deutsch, who introduces her to the world of Schoenberg.
In 1956 she takes a course in orchestral conducting in the class of Hans Swarowsky, at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst in Wien.
From 1963 to 1970 she teaches music theory at the Koninklijk Conservatorium van Antwerpen, and then until 1990 becomes professor of composition at the Koninklijk Conservatorium van Brussel. At the same time, she is a much sought-after guest lecturer at various universities and conservatories in Europe (Germany, France, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland and Switzerland), the United States of America (from New York to San Francisco), Israel, Egypt, Asia (China, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan) and New Zealand.
Jacqueline Fontyn received several honors, including the "Oscar Espla" prize in Spain and the "Arthur Honegger" prize from the Fondation de France. She was also commissioned to compose the required violin concerto with orchestra for the final of the "Internationale Muziekwedstrijd Koningin Elisabeth" in 1976, as well as two works for the "Koussevitzky Music Foundation in the Library of Congress" in Washington.
Since 2006, a large part of her manuscripts has been included in the Library of Congress. In 2014, the Koninklijke Bibliotheek van België acquired the majority of the manuscripts that remained in the country.
Jacqueline Fontyn is a member of the Koninklijke Academie voor Wetenschappen, Letteren en Schone Kunsten van België and in recognition of her artistic merits, she was granted the title of Baroness by the King in 1993.
Trios
Trio Spilliaert (Jean-Samuel Bez, Guillaume Lagravière, Gauvain de Morant)
Apolline Degoutte, Raphael Béreau et Karel Coninx
1 CD Cybele
To discover or rediscover Jacqueline Fontyn...
In an era where brilliant female composers seem to come from nowhere, this cd brings true euphoria. The recording invites us to discover or rediscover Jacqueline Fontyn, with six works between 1956 - "last use of classical forms" - and 2013 being performed. The Trio Spilliaert takes the stage here with two piano trios in classical instrumentation (violin, cello, piano) plus three other trios where a role for flute, guitar and viola is reserved. The exceptional level of the performers, their commitment, their joy in playing serve a music that overflows with imagination. We are dealing here with a completely controlled writing style that shows both erudition and freedom, and can be both concise and light-footed. This perfect and contemporary art finds ideal interpreters. (Martine D. Mergeay)