James Ensor

James Ensor was most famously a Belgian painter and printmaker, but little people know that he was also a composer whose musical activities formed an important part of his artistic practice. He was musically active from the 1880s onwards, performing and improvising on the piano and harmonium, often in an unconventional and humorous manner. His musical output culminated in La Gamme d’Amour, a six-part ballet completed in 1911, for which he also designed the staging, costumes and decor. His music was later orchestrated by other musicians, as Ensor himself played his compositions largely from memory rather than writing them down. His musical style is characterized by simple dance-like melodies, theatrical elements and a playful, sometimes grotesque character, reflecting the imagination and satire of his visual art.