Pierre van Maldere

Pierre van Maldere, * 16 October 1729 in Brussels, † 1 November 1768 there. He received his training as a violinist apparently in the royal chapel by J.-J. Fiocco and Henri-Jacques de Croes. Van Maldere performed in Dublin, Paris and Vienna from 1752 to 1758 and in 1758 became – as a virtuoso – valet of Duke Charles of Lorraine. From 1763 to 1766 he directed the theater at Brüssel. However, he was known mainly as a composer of instrumental works. The large number of editions of his works, which are still to be found today in European libraries, prove this impressively. The historical significance of van Maldere lies in his symphonies (three of which were erroneously attributed to Haydn; see Landon, App II, 78, 129, 132). Since the beginning he completely mastered the new symphonic spelling. The symphonies, printed by Venier in Pars in 1761 and the six symphonies dedicated to the Duke of Antin, are still composed in four voices for strings with basso continuo. In the symphony printed in 1764 at La Chevardière obligatory horns and oboes are added, viola and violin fill the chords with Alberti figures and the keyboard instrument becomes superfluous. The forms expand through repetitions of themes in the „song type“ and differentiate themselves into op. IV and V (print: Venier, Paris). The orchestra participates in the thematic development, strings and winds alternate, bass and viola also take part. Even an introductory largo joins. Van Maldere has thus achieved the type of early classical symphony.