Van Nieuwenhove, Ernest

Karolien Selhorst (translation: Jo Sneppe)

The Brussels pianist and composer Ernest van Nieuwenhove received his musical initiation from his father and later studied piano at the music school of Anderlecht, with Joost De Mol. Subsequently he also took piano lessons with José Sevenants, and private tutorials of orchestration with Paul Gilson. He never had any official music training, nor did he ever hold any official position in music education. (Actually he worked as a civil servant.)

Van Nieuwenhove mainly acquired a reputation as a pianist and chamber musician. An article in the Muziekwarande mentions: "In the Flemish music scene of the capital he is a well-known figure, mostly in fact while he is always found ready to replace at the clavier an absent artist or a latecomer, doing so with undeniable authority even in the most difficult chamber music". In addition he also made a living as a supplier of salon music, which he published in Paris under the pseudonym Ernest d'Agrèves.

Already as a pupil in the secondary education system he wrote music for children's plays, for instance on a text by his cousin Herman Teirlinck. His earliest orchestral works show influence of César Franck. In later works he verged on a light impressionism, enlivening his traditional classical style with subtle and for those days occasionally daring harmonies.

Even though Van Nieuwenhove composed quite a lot of chamber music, he mainly proved his mettle with his songs. Lambrecht Lambrechts, the chronicler par excellence of the Flemish late romantic artistic song, assessed: "His songs might be rather difficult for Flanders - as a matter of fact Van Nieuwenhove is difficult in virtually all his compositions - yet nowadays we do find pianists at home that don't shy away from such accompaniments. He uses lots of notes, loves wheedling tone modifications, discovers rich and bold harmonies, appears rather more intellectual than full of storms, of blazing emotions. Few composers understand as well as he does the role of the piano in the classical song." Van Nieuwenhove can also boast of a few operas and orchestral works, such as symphonic poems. His opera Harten Troef (Hearts Trump), on a text by Herman Teirlinck, premièred at the Antwerp Flemish Opera in 1909 to public acclaim owing to the rhythmic vitality and colourful orchestration.

Ernest Van Nieuwenhove earned several prizes for his compositions, amongst others from the City of Antwerp, the Belgian Government and the Province of Brabant. Nevertheless his name got little renown, even during his lifetime.