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RAYMOND SCHRPYENS b. Mechelen (Belgium), 1933 He obtained a Master of Music at Mechelen's Lemmens Institute (1954) and at the Royal Flemish Conservatorium of Music in Antwerp (Koninlijk Vlaams Muziekconservatorium, Antwerpen), taking a masters in organ with the renowned Flor Peeters (1958). This took him to the USA as Director of Music. From 1963 till 1993 Schroyens built up a music career at the Belgian National Radio in Brussels (Belgische Radio en Televisie). In 1971, a teaching position in harpsichord at the Brussels Royal Conservatorium of Music (Koninklijk Muziekconservatorium Brussel), as well as the Music Academy of his native town, was added to his curriculum till his official retirement in 1993.

A brief overview

Musical Highlights His Battery for Bells (1975) was awarded a prize in the International Competition for Carillon Composition held in Mechelen, although RS is not a carilloneur.

Vocal music caught his attention at the age of nine (1942), since he was a boy soprano in the Mechelen Cathedral Choir, one of the 270 choristers. He started to compose at an early age, his serious work dating from 1953. Ever since the list of vocal compositions has grown steadily, outnumbering his instrumental output.

R.S. composed solo songs as well as greater Song Cycles, such as De la lumière aux ténèbres and Before Sundown. Among his instrumental works are: Thinking of July the 4th (Org) - Pianosonata – Acacia floreat (Wnd3) – Templum (Brass5) – Aureols (Brass ens.) – Gaia (pianoduet) – Al di la del Sonno (Str.Orch.) – Eleusis (Sax " piano) – Beetles, Butterflies and Birds (Mand.&Guit.) – Hallt im Gedächtnis (Harp'rd solo).

In addition to the already listed choral scores, the following prominent mixed choruses should be mentioned: Adagio Triptych (Flem. Text) – Three Canticles (Religious) - Songs of Silence (Flem.txt.) – Missa Spes et Dubitatio (+ Org.) – Trois Verlaines - Veni dilecte mi (Song of Songs, 3eq. fem.v.).

In function of his practice as a harpsichordist and continuo player, he realized some 40 written-out basso continuo-accompaniments to vocal baroque songs and aria's, and 25 partimento's (concert style accomp.) of several-movement baroque Trio-sonatas. In his discipline, he also edited two full-blown Cantatas, one by Joseph Hector Fiocco (1704-1741) and one by Carolus Hacquart (1740-?1708), both Flemish baroque composers.