LUCTOR PONSE

Luctor Ponse

Ponse grew up in Switzerland and established himself as a concert pianist in Amsterdam in 1936. It was then that he began to develop as a composer. The influence of Bartók was noticeable in his earliest work, but after he became acquainted with Schoenberg's dodecaphony, he developed a style of ...
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Instruments

componist, piano

Mentioned in the biography of

1971   Jacob ter Veldhuis

Biography Luctor Ponse

Ponse grew up in Switzerland and established himself as a concert pianist in Amsterdam in 1936. It was then that he began to develop as a composer. The influence of Bartók was noticeable in his earliest work, but after he became acquainted with Schoenberg's dodecaphony, he developed a style of his own characterized by a free use of twelve-tone technique and Latin clarity. From 1965 he also composed electronic music. Though his qualities as a composer were fully recognized only after his death, Ponse exerted great influence on Dutch musical life as a composer and teacher.

1914 - 1930

Luctor Ponse is born on October 11 in Geneva, the son of a Dutch father and a French mother. At age 12 he began studying the piano at the Conservatory of Valenciennes.

1930 - 1935

Ponse is awarded the Prix d'Excellence for music theory and solfège and again in 1932 for the piano. In 1933 he continues his education in Geneva. At that time he also has lessons with Frank Martin and Emile Jaques-Dalcroze. In 1935 he concludes his studies with Johny Aubert and is awarded the Prix de Virtuosité for piano.

1936

Ponse establishes himself in Amsterdam as a pianist, performing as a soloist and as a chamber musician. He introduces the music of Bartók to the Netherlands. He makes frequent concert tours and gives radio performances for Radio Suisse Romande, NIR Brussels, BBC, and in France and the Netherlands. He takes composition lessons from Henk Badings. For his first work, 'Fantaisie' (1936), he receives the Henry le Boeuf Prize in Brussels. After, he works as a piano teacher at the Rotterdam Conservatory and the Muzieklyceum in Amsterdam.

Henk Badings

1949

Ponse comes in contact with Max Deutsch, a student of Schoenberg's, and learns about twelve-tone technique: “Since 1949 I have written music according to the twelve-tone system, with the caveat that I impose no limitations on myself (for example, resemblance to tonality). The twelve-tone row must satisfy me as both a melodic line and in its harmonic combinations, and it is then consistently implemented”.

1952

Ponse receives the Radio Luxemburg Prize for 'Symphonietta', op. 16a (1952).

1953

He is awarded a prize at the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels for 'Symphony', op. 18 (1953).

1960

He receives a five-year grant from the Dutch government to dedicate himself to composition.

1964 - 1965

Ponse visits the course with Karl-Heinz Stockhausen and Pierre Boulez in Darmstadt. He follows the course on electronic music led by Gottfried Michael Koenig in Bilthoven.

Gottfried Michael Koenig

1965

Ponse is appointed a fellow at the Institute for Sonology at Utrecht University and a professor of the piano at the Groningen Conservatory. At the same time he wins a prize at the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels with his 'Second Violin Concerto', op. 38 (1965). He devotes himself almost entirely to composing electronic music.

1967

Ponse sets up an electronic studio in his house.

1968

He establishes a studio for electronic music at the Groningen Conservatory. One of his students there is Jacob ter Veldhuis.

Jacob ter Veldhuis

1992

Ponse decides to dedicate himself exclusively to instrumental music.

1995

He is awarded third prize at the World Music Competition in Kerkrade for 'Triptyque III' (1994).

1998

Luctor Ponse dies at age 83 on February 17 in Amsterdam.

Photos Luctor Ponse

Audio/Video Luctor Ponse