Album insights
Joseph Jongen, born on December 14, 1873 in Liège, Belgium, was an accomplished composer with a diverse musical output, though he is often associated primarily with his meticulously crafted organ works. His father, a skilled woodworker specializing in church furniture, exposed him to the best music available during a six-month stay in Paris in 1867. Jongen began learning the piano at age seven, later studying organ at the Liège Conservatory while participating in church choirs. Notable influences during this transformative period included encounters with Eugène Ysaÿe, Vincent d'Indy, and Richard Strauss.
Demonstrating exceptional compositional talent at a young age, Jongen was awarded the Belgian Prix de Rome in 1897, affording him the opportunity to study in Italy and travel extensively. During his journeys in Berlin and Paris, he was deeply inspired by performances conducted by Arthur Nikisch and Felix Weingartner. Of the works he composed during this period, a symphony heavily influenced by Strauss's tone poems stood out. Strauss himself warmly received Jongen's composition, likening his feedback to "rays of light, as if a heavy curtain were being drawn from before my eyes."
After time spent in Bayreuth and Munich composing significant works such as the Violin Concerto in B minor, op. 17 for Émile Chaumont, Jongen furthered his musical connections in Paris with renowned figures like Dukas, Vierne, and Fauré. Noteworthy friendships were formed with fellow artists, including Florent Schmitt, winner of the Prix de Rome in Paris. Jongen's musical evolution continued with the creation of several compelling works, among them the overlooked Violin Concerto dedicated to Eugène Ysaÿe.
Despite initial obscurity, Jongen's Violin Concerto received belated recognition highlighted by a Paris performance in 1938, conducted by virtuoso Henry Merckel. Florent Schmitt, a close friend and musical confidant, lavished praise on the composition, admiring its refined structure and emotive depth. Concurrently, Sylvio Lazzari, renowned for his operatic feats, rose to prominence with his innovative compositions, including the resplendent Rapsodie in E minor for violin and orchestra—a testament to his musical virtuosity and inventive approach to orchestration.
Viola Scheffel