Jules Van Nuffel
Encyclopedia
Jules Van Nuffel was a musicologist
, composer
, and a renowned expert on religious music
.
of Mechelen
for the priest
hood, in addition to piano
, violin
, organ
, harmony
and counterpoint
. As a cantor at the St. Rumbold's Cathedral he founded the St. Rombouts' choir, and directed this famous choir until 1949. He collaborated with the organist
at the cathedral Flor Peeters
.
From 1918 until 1953 Van Nuffel directed the Lemmens Institute
in Mechelen
.
works. His favorite composers were Bach
, Wagner
and Claude Debussy
. The numbering of the psalms, which he composed for the liturgy, follows the Latin Psalter.
One of his crowning achievements was the creation of the Nova Organi Harmonia. This was an eight-volume collection of Gregorian accompaniments, composed by Van Nuffel himself, Flor Peeters
, Jules Vyverman, Marinus de Jong, and other professors at the Lemmens Institute. The Nova Organi Harmonia was reprinted in many editions after World War II
.
Musicology
Musicology is the scholarly study of music. The word is used in narrow, broad and intermediate senses. In the narrow sense, musicology is confined to the music history of Western culture...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, and a renowned expert on religious music
Religious music
Religious music is music performed or composed for religious use or through religious influence.A lot of music has been composed to complement religion, and many composers have derived inspiration from their own religion. Many forms of traditional music have been adapted to fit religions'...
.
Biography
Van Nuffel studied at the Grand SeminarySeminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
of Mechelen
Mechelen
Mechelen Footnote: Mechelen became known in English as 'Mechlin' from which the adjective 'Mechlinian' is derived...
for the priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
hood, in addition to piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
, harmony
Harmony
In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...
and counterpoint
Counterpoint
In music, counterpoint is the relationship between two or more voices that are independent in contour and rhythm and are harmonically interdependent . It has been most commonly identified in classical music, developing strongly during the Renaissance and in much of the common practice period,...
. As a cantor at the St. Rumbold's Cathedral he founded the St. Rombouts' choir, and directed this famous choir until 1949. He collaborated with the organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
at the cathedral Flor Peeters
Flor Peeters
Flor Peeters was a Flemish composer, organist and teacher.-Biography:Born and raised in the village of Tielen , he was the youngest child in a family of eleven...
.
From 1918 until 1953 Van Nuffel directed the Lemmens Institute
Lemmensinstituut
The Lemmensinstituut is a Belgian conservatory in Leuven named after Jacques-Nicolas Lemmens. It was founded in 1879 and has a reputation for offering one of Europe's finest Music Therapy degree programs...
in Mechelen
Mechelen
Mechelen Footnote: Mechelen became known in English as 'Mechlin' from which the adjective 'Mechlinian' is derived...
.
Composer
Jules Van Nuffel was a prominent composer of liturgicalChristian liturgy
A liturgy is a set form of ceremony or pattern of worship. Christian liturgy is a pattern for worship used by a Christian congregation or denomination on a regular basis....
works. His favorite composers were Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
, Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
and Claude Debussy
Claude Debussy
Claude-Achille Debussy was a French composer. Along with Maurice Ravel, he was one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist music, though he himself intensely disliked the term when applied to his compositions...
. The numbering of the psalms, which he composed for the liturgy, follows the Latin Psalter.
One of his crowning achievements was the creation of the Nova Organi Harmonia. This was an eight-volume collection of Gregorian accompaniments, composed by Van Nuffel himself, Flor Peeters
Flor Peeters
Flor Peeters was a Flemish composer, organist and teacher.-Biography:Born and raised in the village of Tielen , he was the youngest child in a family of eleven...
, Jules Vyverman, Marinus de Jong, and other professors at the Lemmens Institute. The Nova Organi Harmonia was reprinted in many editions after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Selected works
- Christus vincit, for four-part male voice choirMen's chorusA men's chorus or male voice choir , is a choir consisting of men who sing with either a tenor or bass voice, and whose voices are arranged into high and low tenors , and high and low basses —and shortened to the letters TTBB...
- Ave Maria, for four-part choirChoirA choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
- Super flumina Babylonis (Psalm 136), op. 25 (1916), for four-to-six-part choir and organ (or orchestra)
- Missa in honorem S.S. Cordis Jesu, op. 28, for four-to-six-part choir and organ
- Statuit ei Dominus, op. 30 (1924), for four-to-six-part choir and organ (or orchestra)
- In convertendo DominusIn convertendo DominusIn convertendo Dominus , op. 32, is the musical setting of a Latin psalm, written in 1926 by Jules Van Nuffel for a mixed choir and organ.-History:...
(Psalm 125), op. 32 (1926), for four-to-seven-part choir and organ - Ecce sacerdos magnus, op. 34 (1926), for six-part choir and organ
- Josephsmesse, for three-part female choir
- Domine, ne in furore tuo arguas me (Psalm 6), op. 44 (1935)
- Laetatus sum (Psalm 121), op. 45 (1935), for four-part choir
- Voce mea ad Dominum clamavi (Psalm 141), op. 47(1935) for eight-part choir
- Dominus regnavit (Psalm 92), op. 49 (1935) for four-to-six-part choir and organ
- Ad te Dominum cum tribularer clamavi (Psalm 119), op. 50 (1936)
- Ad te levavi oculos meus (Psalm 122), op. 51 (1935)
- Te Deum, op. 62 (1944) for choir, brass ensemble and organ