Alpaerts - Concertstuk for Oboe and Piano

In 1901, Flor Alpaerts finished his music studies at the Flemish School of Music of Antwerp, which later became the Royal Flemish Conservatory. He studied harmony and composition with Jan Blockx. In 1903 he became professor at this institute and from 1934 until 1941 its director. For one season (1922-1923) he was also director of the Royal Flemish Opera House of Antwerp together with the bass Arthur Steurbaut. His fame, as a composer and a conductor, came shortly after World War I, when he succeeded Eduard Keurvels in 1919 as conductor of the concerts organized by the Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp and as artistic director of the “Peter Benoit Fonds.” He also conducted the choral group “Arti Vocali.” As a composer, Flor Alpaerts was the leading figure in the Flemish impressionistic movement, utilizing an impressionism that came closer to Richard Strauss and Ottorino Respighi than to Claude Debussy. A highlight in this direction was the symphonic poem “Pallieter” (1921-1924). With his suite “James Ensor,” inspired by four works of the Ostend painter, he created an expressionistic work. In his later compositions he turned to neo-classicism.

Though mostly known for writing larger scale works during his life, this Concertstuk for oboe and piano, composed towards the end of his life came at a time when he unexpectedly because to compose chamber music. In addition to this work for oboe, he composed a solo piece for clarinet, as well as four string quartets during his final years.