Regibo, Abel Benjamin Marie

1835-1897

 

Belgian composer; born at Renaix; pupil of his father, choir-director of a college there. At thirteen was sent to the Conservatory at Ghent, where he studied piano under Heyndericks and harmony under Mengal, winning first prize for the latter in 1850; he also studied counterpoint under Gevaert. In 1854 he was sent to the Brussels Conservatory and placed under Lemmens in organ and Fetis in composition. He was a prolific composer but his works are of no particular importance. Two of these were trios for cello, piano and harmonium. His especial and unique work was the collection of ancient Belgian musical instruments, clavecins, dulcimers and spinets. By degrees he accumulated the largest collection known in his day of clavecins made by prominent firms in Antwerp. In 1872 he accepted a call t9 the directorship of a music school in Renaix, where he died.