A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Vander Straeten, Edmond
VANDER STRAETEN, Edmond, distinguished Belgian musician, and writer on music, and author of 'La Musique aux Pays-Bas,' a work still in progress and destined to be a monument of erudition and research—was born at Oudenarde in Flanders, Dec. 3, 1826. He was educated for the law, first at Alost, and afterwards in the University of Ghent. On his return to Oudenarde, he continued the cultivation of his taste for music, in combination with numismatics and archæology, the last-named pursuit powerfully influencing the determination of his career. While in his native town he organised and directed performances of excerpts from operatic works, and in 1849 himself set to music a three-act drama, entitled 'Le Proscrit.' At this early age he began that research in the rich musical archives of his native country which he has since given to the public in his literary works. M. Vander Straeten next became secretary to Fétis, who was then Director of the Brussels Conservatoire, at the same time continuing his studies in harmony and counterpoint, the latter under Fétis, with whom he entered into active collaboration, in cataloguing the historical section of the Royal Library and contributing numerous articles to Fétis's biographical dictionary. He thus spent fourteen years in preparation for his own historical productions. During this time he acted as musical critic to 'Le Nord,' 'L'Écho du Parlement,' and 'L'Étoile Beige,' and wrote, as well, in various reviews. Although adoring the southern genius of Rossini, he never ceased to advocate the claims of Weber, and also of Wagner, as his operas came out.
The first volume of 'La Musique aux Pays-Bas' appeared in 1867, and marks the period of his entire devotion to the publication of his archæological discoveries. He had formed an important library of materials for the musical history of the Low Countries, and had also collected musical instruments bearing upon his studies, including his beautiful Jean Ruckers clavecin of 1627, figured in his third volume.
The Belgian Government now charged M. Vander Straeten with artistic and scientific missions which involved his visiting Germany, Italy, France, and Spain. He visited Weimar in 1870, for the model representations of Wagner's operas, and his reports are alike distinguished by æsthetic sentiment and clearness of analytical vision. He has been appointed quite recently by his government, in concert with the Académie Royale, on the committee for the publication of ancient Belgian compositions, and it is confided to him to collect the materials for this noble undertaking. The question of the birthplace of the 15th-century composer Tinctoris, which had been claimed for Nivelles in Brabant, aroused a violent controversy. M. Vander Straeten is, however, admitted to be victorious, having adduced proofs that place the locality in West Flanders, and form an important chapter of his fourth volume.
He is an honorary or corresponding member of twelve musical or archæological societies. His most important published works (to 1885) are—'La Musique aux Pays-Bas avant le XIXe siècle,' 7 vols. (1867–1885); 'Le Théâtre Villageois en Flandre,' 2 vols. (1874 and 1880); 'Les Musiciens néerlandais en Italie' (1882); 'Les Musiciens Néerlandais en Espagne' (first part, 1885). A complete bibliography of his works to 1877 is appended to an interesting biographical notice, written by M. Charles Meerens, and published at Rome.