Context and musical modernism in the repertoire for wind band by Paul Gilson and Les Synthétistes during fin de siècle and interbellum in Brussels.

Les Synthétistes was a collective of Belgian composers (René Bernier, Francis de Bourguignon, Gaston Brenta, Théo De Joncker, Robert Otlet, Marcel Poot, Maurice Schoemaker, and Jules Strens) who united in 1925 on the occasion of the sixtieth anniversary of their celebrated teacher, Paul Gilson. Their intention was to synthesize various trends in music from 1925 onwards. During this period in Belgian music history, the concert band was an important tool for composers, especially because of the lack of a professional symphony orchestra. Consequently, the Synthetists composed a considerable canon of original symphonic works for wind orchestra.
With this PhD research, Luc Vertommen seeks to bring new insights into the development and historical significance of Belgian music with an emphasis on music for wind orchestra and its considerable international relevance. The ultimate goal is to generate broad interest and stimulate the study and performance of this repertoire. First, theoretical and contextual research will lead to an in-depth study of the life and work for wind orchestra of Marcel Poot, the protagonist of the Synthetists. This will result in a biography and definitive works list of Poot’s works for wind orchestra. Secondly, the identification of dates and source material will lead to the compilation of an exhaustive list of original works for wind orchestra composed by all Synthetists. To date, more than sixty original works have already been selected for their intrinsic musical value and their international and historical importance. Thirdly, and also the focus of this PhD, practice-based artistic research will lead to the editing and publishing of the selected works.