Georges Monier was primarily an oboist and studied at the Brussels Conservatory from 1903-1907. He was one of the Belgian avant-garde composers of his time, co-founder of the arts weekly-journal 7 Arts, and led its musical section. Monier later became a spokesman for a group of avant-garde composers in his country, joining the group in Bruxelles in 1922. Monier then roamed about Europe visiting France, Italy, Austria, England, Switzerland and Germany for a number of years, finally staying in Paris. Together with others he tried to develop a new musical notation.
Monier wrote orchestral works, motets, a Te Deum, an operetta, string quartets and songs. He won the gold medal at the 1920 Art Competitions at the Antwerp Olympics in the category music with his work Olympique. His victory in Antwerp was his first public success and made his reputation. Little is known about this work, however, except that it was written for solo singers, recitators, three choirs and three orchestras using a text by Pindar. The title is also given as VIIe Olympique de Pindare and Olympische muziek.
Belgium