Joseph Callaerts
Joseph Callaerts (11 August 1830 - 3 March 1901 was a Flemish organist, carilloneur, composer and music teacher. He was an important member of the Belgian school of organ playing.
Biography
Joseph Callaerts was born in 1830 in Antwerp. He lived in Antwerp all his life. He started learning music when he was a boy singing in the choir of the Cathedral of Our Lady. He studied the organ with Jacques-Nicolas Lemmens at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels and won the first prize in organ in 1856.
Callaerts was the organist at the Jesuit College in Antwerp starting in 1850 or 1851. In 1855 he became the organist at Antwerp Cathedral and in 1863 he became carilloneur of the city of Antwerp. Starting in 1867 he taught organ and harmony at the Antwerp School of Music (Antwerpse Muziekschool) which was called the Royal Flemish Conservatory in 1898. He also gave expert advice in the building of several organs.
His compositions incluse an opera called Le Retour imprévu, a symphony, a piano concerto, an organ concerto, chamber music, choral music, songs and many works for solo organ.
References
- Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Music and Musicians (1900) p 98