Verbesselt, A :: Concerto

From the publisher, Gerard Billaudot, August Verbesselt’s Concerto for flute was written in 1952 and premiered in the same year by the Belgian flutist Robert Everaert. Jean-Pierre Rampal who discovered it in 1966, decided to include it in his repertoire. He played it for the first time in 1968, in Brussels (R.T.B.). The percussion, which in this concerto plays an important role,  never runs over the soloist and most often maintains a rhythmic and melodic dialogue with the flute. The first and third parts, of ‘lively tempo’, brilliantly written for the flutist, are interrupted by an andante (without drums) which reveals, among other things, the composer's lyricism.

Over the years Verbesselt’s style has evolved into a more connected atonal expression, sealed with a personal vision. As complex as it may seem, his writing, naturally oriented towards counterpoint, does not prevent the listener from clearly following the evolution of the melodies, and this despite the apparently intellectual character conferred on it by the use of the series, especially in his last years. August Verbesselt was a prolific 2oth century Belgian composer and flutist.