A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Gregoir, Jacques
GREGOIR, Jacques Mathieu Joseph, born at Antwerp Jan. 18, 1817, made his first appearance as a pianist in Dussek's B minor Concerto when only eight years old. After the revolution of 1830 he was sent to Paris to study under Herz, but his health obliged him to return to his native country after a few years. Subsequently he went with his brother to Biberich, where he studied with Rummel until 1837, wnen he returned to Antwerp. His success as a performer was very great, and some compositions other than the numerous works written for his own instrument were favourably received. A 'Lauda Sion,' a cantata, 'Faust,' and an opera in three acts, 'Le Gondolier de Venise' were produced shortly before 1848, in which year he established himself for a time in Brussels. After a years' work as music-teacher in an English school at Bruges, he returned to Brussels. Many succesful concert-tours were undertaken by him in Germany, Switzerland, and elsewhere. He died at Brussels Oct. 29, 1876. His pianoforte works include a concerto, op. 100, several excellent books of studies, besides fantasias and other drawing-room pieces. He collaborated in several duets for piano and violin with Vieuxtemps and Léonard, and in several for piano and violoncello with Joseph Servais.
His brother, Edouard Georges Jacques, was born at Turnhout, Nov. 7, 1822. After the journey to Biberich mentioned above, he appeared in London in 1841, with success, and in the following year undertook a concert tour with the sisters Milanollo; in 1847 and 1849 several of his compositions were produced at Amsterdam and in Paris, and after a short tenure of a musical professorship at the Normal School at Lierre, he settled down at Antwerp, where he has since exercised a powerful influence in musical matters. He has produced a large number of compositions in various forms, among the most prominent of which are the following;—'Les Croisades,' historical symphony (Antwerp, 1846); 'La Vie,' opera (Antwerp. Feb. 6, 1848); 'Le Déluge' symphonic oratorio (Antwerp, Jan. 31, 1849); 'De Belgen in 1848,' drama with overture, airs, choruses, etc. (Brussels, 1851); 'La dernière nuit du Comte d'Egmont' (Brussels, 1851); 'Leicester,' drama with incidental music (Brussels, Feb. 13, 1854); 'Willem Beukels,' Flemish comic opera (Brussels, July 21, 1856), 'La Belle Bourbonnaise,' comic opera, and 'Marguérite,' grand opera. Two overtures, many part-songs for male chorus, numerous works for piano, organ and harmonium, to the interests of which last instrument he is particularly devoted, are also among his compositions. His contributions to musical literature are scarcely less abundant than his musical productions. He has taken an active part in musical journalism, besides writing a number of essays on historical subjects. These latter, though containing much valuable material, are not always reliable, as the writer is too much given to accepting information from any quarter. A History of the Organ, published at Brussels in 1865, is perhaps the most useful of his literary productions.