Some Contemporary WalloonComposers

Extract

Since the 19th century more or less homogeneousnational schools have appeared in the majority ofEuropean countries, but in spite of this, one canscarcely yet speak of Belgian music. It would bewrong to seek the reason of this discrepancy in thelinguistic division of Belgium into Flanders and theWalloon country. Indeed, the language of music hasno need to respect the frontiers which separatespoken languages; besides, in spite of thenationalist attempts of Peter Benoit at the end ofthe 19th century, it is hard to believe in theexistence of Flemish music either.It would be still more fruitless to attempt todefine at all clearly the characteristics ofWalloon music. There are Walloonmusicians, but that is another matter, for they havetheir origins in diverse tendencies which may beconnected up with the great international movements.What matters, in the long run, is that among thesemusicians there are some artists of outstandingtalent, who have been able to reveal an originalpersonality transcending these movements.