Jacques LEDUC THREE PIECES opus 42 for cello Composed in 1973, this three pieces' suite has been premiered by Edmond BAERT, who was at that time professor of cello at the Royal Music Conservatory of Brussels. The work has been played in Belgium and in other countries by performers such as Serban NICHIFOR, Bruno ISPIOLA or Nicolas DELETAILLE, the cellist of the present recording. The first piece, entitled Invention, constitutes a discreet tribute to the music of J.S.BACH, for which the composer professes the greatest admiration. The Improvisation, which follows, freely evolves in a serene, quiet, poetical atmosphere which sometimes becomes more animated. The concluding Ronde, with its springing rhythms diversely contrasted is definitely joyful in character. About the composer: Jacques LEDUC was born in Brussels on March 1. 1932. He studied at the Royal Music Conservatory of Brussels and then began composition studies with Jean Absil. He was awarded the Rome Prize in 1961 and other composition prizes later in his career: the annual competition of the Royal Academy, the Agniez Prize, the Prize of the Brabant District, the international competition G.B. Viotti (Vercelli –Italy), the Fuerison Prize, the Koopal Prize, the Sabam Prize at the international composition competition for string quartet in Liège and the international composition competition for guitar Castelnuovo-Tedesco (Ancona – Italy). Jacques Leduc wrote more than 80 musical works (symphonies, concertante music, chamber music and works for soloists), including the concert for piano which was the compulsory work for the Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition in 1972. Jacques Leduc was director of the Music Academy of Uccle (from 1962 to 1983), professor at the Royal Music Conservatory of Brussels (from 1957 to 1997) and rector of the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel (from 1976 to 2004). He was president of the Belgian Society of Authors, Composers and Music editors (SABAM) and president of the Union of Belgian Composers (until 2010). As an elected member of the Royal Academy of Sciences, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium, of which he has assumed the presidency in 1992. His Majesty Albert II, the King of the Belgians, raised him on the Nobility in 2001 by bestowing on him the title of Knight. Nicolas DELETAILLE After receiving his musical education in Belgium and the U.S., Nicolas Deletaille began his professional career as a performing artist. Since this time, he has recorded Bach’s six cello suites, Beethoven’s five cello sonatas, Liszt late works for cello and piano, and major works from the solo repertory by Kodály, Cassadó, Ysaÿe, and Ligeti. He has recorded numerous chamber works with the Mendelssohn Ensemble, the Rosamonde String Quartet, and Paul Badura-Skoda. He has earned distinction as an arpeggione player by recording Schubert’s arpeggione sonata for the Fuga Libera record label. He has given more than 70 world premieres, many of which were of works composed for him. Among these are several new compositions for arpeggione, representing his effort to enhance the arpeggione repertoire. ---------------------------- Jacques LEDUC TROIS PIECES opus 42 pour violoncelle Ecrite en 1973, cette suite de trois pièces a été créée par le violoncelliste Edmond BAERT qui était à l’époque professeur au Conservatoire royal de Bruxelles. Elle a été jouée à plusieurs reprises en Belgique et en divers pays par plusieurs interprètes dont Serban NICHIFOR, Bruno ISPIOLA et Nicolas DELETAILLE qui réalisa le présent enregistrement. La première pièce intitulée Invention constitue un discret hommage à l’écriture de J.S.BACH pour lequel le compositeur nourrit la plus grande admiration. L’Improvisation qui la suit évolue en toute liberté dans une atmosphère poétique, calme et recueillie qui s’anime par endroits. La Ronde finale est animée de rythmes bondissants, diversement contrastés, qui confèrent à l’ensemble de la pièce son caractère résolument joyeux.