Eugene Ysaye

Composer Datebook:  July 16

Belgian Composer Eugène Ysaÿe

Eugène Ysaÿe was born on July 16, 1858. He was a Belgian violinist, composer and conductor born in Liège. Regarded as "The King of the Violin" and considered one of most important composers of Belgium and greatest virtuosos of his day, he toured as a solo violinist and conductor throughout Europe and the United States. Although he never studied composition formally, he mastered writing in a Romantic style.

In 1886, he formed the Ysaye Quartet and few year later, premiered Debussys's quartet. 

Among his celebrity relatives were his brother, pianist and composer Théo Ysaÿe (1865–1918), and his great-grandson Marc Ysaÿe, drummer of rock band Machiavel.

Eugène Ysaÿe died on May 12, 1931.

His works include: 

Solo violin

• 6 Sonatas for solo violin, Op. 27 (Each dedicated to a different famous violinist and written in their corresponding styles)
  
  
  
  • Sonata No. 1 ("Joseph Szigeti")
  • Sonata No. 2 ("Jacques Thibaud")
  • Sonata No. 3 ("George Enescu")
  • Sonata No. 4 ("Fritz Kreisler")
  • Sonata No. 5 ("Mathieu Crickoom")
  • Sonata No. 6 ("Manuel Qiroga Losada")


• 10 Preludes (Exercises for violin), Op. 35


• Étude posthume

Solo cello

• Sonata for solo cello, Op. 28

Violin and piano music

• 2 Mazurkas de Salon, Op. 10
• Lointain passé, Mazurka No. 3 in B minor, Op. 11
• Rêve d'enfant, Op. 14
• Caprice After the Study in the Form of a Waltz (Composed by Camille Saint-Saëns, arranged by Ysaÿe)
• Deux célèbres Arias (Composed by J.S. Bach and G.F. Handel, arranged by Ysaÿe)

Orchestral

• Exil!, for string orchestra of only violins and violas, Op. 25

Operas

• "Piére li houyeû" 1931 (Original in Walloon language)

Resource:

Sadie, Stanley, Ed.  Grove Dictionary of Music.  London: Macmillan Publishers, 1994.