Biography

He never received a traditional conservatory education, which made him an outsider among Flemish composers, and he composed free from all academic rules and patterns.

From 1921 onwards he played an active role in Flemish-Brussels cultural life, including as a member of the Willemsfonds and secretary of the Flemish Club for Arts, Sciences and Letters.

For Pelemans, Flemishness meant striving for the Dutchification of the Flemish region and a fair share of the Dutch language and Flemish culture in the capital's metropolitan area. These were prerequisites for a broader goal: opening up the average Fleming to music.

After his retirement in 1986, Pelemans wrote his memoirs, which are preserved and partly published by the Liberal Archives.

Shortly before his death, Pelemans received the Flemish Community Prize for his unwavering commitment to Flemish emancipation and cultural development, particularly in the field of music.