Absil was born in Bonsecours, Hainaut, Belgium. His teacher there was Alphonse Oeyen, organist at the basilica of Bonsecours. From 1913 he studied organ and harmony at the Brussels Conservatoire, but upon graduating, decided to concentrate on composition instead.
In 1922 Absil won the Belgian Prix de Rome and in 1934 the Prix Rubens, which allowed him to travel to Paris. Here, he met fellow contemporary composers Ibert, Milhaud, and Honegger. Absil gained international prominence with the premiere of his first piano concerto (op. 30).
From 1930 onwards, Absil taught harmony at the Brussels Conservatoire, becoming a professor of counterpoint there six years later. Amongst his Conservatoire pupils was Paul Danblon. He also taught at Chapelle Musicale Reine Elisabeth and the Etterbeek Music School. From 1955 he served as a member of Belgium's Royal Academy. He died in Brussels at the age of 80.
Initially, Absil was influenced by the late Romantic school, particularly Wagner and Richard Strauss. Around the time he made his trip to Paris in 1934, he began to adopt a more modern style. This included the use of polyphony and polymodal structures, influenced by contemporary composers such as Milhaud and Schoenberg.
The ear never suffers from an impression of tonal insecurity when listening to Absil’s music: while it is no longer possible to find a reference to the classical major or minor tonalities, the composer invents new modes, which he replaces for each piece. From these modes emerge chords which, even if they are different from the classical ones, also have an expressive sense (tension or resolution). Absil never practised a real atonality: the apparent tonal independence of the voices always resolves itself into a unique tonality.
Unusually prolific from his 20s to his late 70s, Absil concentrated especially on writing piano works; he was himself a skilled pianist. These works include Ballade, op. 129, for solo piano (which is played with the left hand only) as well as 3 Pièces (played with the right one only). Among his conventionally two-handed piano compositions are three sonatinas (written in 1937, 1939, and 1965 respectively) and two Grand Suites. The Grand Suites (Op.110, composed in 1965) served as a tribute to Frédéric Chopin. In 1946, he composed another work, Hommage à Schumann and in 1957 the Passacaglia in Memoriam Alban Berg, both of them for piano. His last finished composition was the Piano Concerto no. 3, op. 162.
Non-piano music of Absil's includes one opera, Les Voix de la mer, and a cycle of five symphonies, the first of which (op. 1) he composed at 27, when he was a pupil of Paul Gilson. It won the Prix Agniez in 1921.
Based on the list of scores available at the Belgian Documentation Centre for Contemporary Music:
A cloche-pied op. 139 – 1968, for children's voice and pianoAlcools op. 43 – 1940, for 4 mixed voices a cappellaAllegro brillante op. 132 – 1967, for 2 pianosAllegro brillante op. 132 – 1967, for piano and orchestraAlternances op. 140 – 1968, for pianoAsymétries op. 136 – 1968, for 2 pianosBallade op. 129 – 1966, for piano (left hand)Ballade op. 156 – 1971, for alto saxophone, piano and small orchestraBerceuse – 1932, for alto saxophone or viola or cello and small orchestraBerceuse – 1932, for cello or viola or alto saxophone and pianoBestiaire op. 58 – 1944, for mixed Choir a cappellaBurlesque op. 100 – 1958, for oboe and pianoCache-cache op. 117 – 1963, for middle voice and pianoChaconne op. 69 – 1949, for violinChanson de quatre sous – 1942, for middle voice and pianoChansons de bonne humeur op. 49 – 1942, for two-part women's choir (S.-Mz.) and orchestraChansons de bonne humeur op. 49 – 1942, for two-part women's choir and pianoChansons plaisantes – 2e recueil op. 94 – 1956, for two-part children's choir and pianoChansons plaisantes op. 88 – 1955, for 2 children's voicesCimetière – 1927, for middle voice and pianoCinq bagatelles op. 61 – 1944, for pianoCinq chansons de Paul Fort op. 18 – 1935, for 2 equal voices and pianoCinq choeurs – 1930, for three-part women's choir and pianoCinq mélodies – 1927, for middle voice and pianoCinq mélodies op. 12 – 1933, for Mezzo-Soprano and string quartetCinq pièces faciles op. 138 – 1968, for clarinet or alto saxophone and pianoColas Chacha – ?, for large orchestraColindas op. 87 – 1955, for three-part choir a cappellaConcert à cinq op. 38 – 1939, for flute, violin, viola, cello and diatonic harpConcertino op. 42 – 1940, for cello and orchestraConcertino op. 42 – 1940, for cello and pianoConcertino op. 122 – 1964, for viola and pianoConcertino op. 122 – 1964, for viola and string orchestraConcerto grosso op. 60 – 1944, for wind quintet and string orchestraConcerto n°2 op. 124 – 1964, for violin and orchestraConcerto n°2 op. 124 – 1964, for violin and pianoConcerto n°2 op. 131 – 1967, for 2 pianosConcerto n°2 op. 131 – 1967, for piano and orchestraConcerto n°3 op. 162 – 1973, for 2 pianosConcerto n°3 op. 162 – 1973, for piano and orchestraConcerto op. 11 – 1933, for violin and orchestraConcerto op. 11 – 1933, for violin and pianoConcerto op. 30 – 1937, for 2 pianosConcerto op. 30 – 1937, for piano and orchestraConcerto op. 54 – 1942, for viola and orchestraConcerto op. 54 – 1942, for viola and pianoConcerto op. 155 – 1971, for guitar and small orchestraContes op. 76 – 1951, for trumpet and pianoContrastes op. 143 – 1969, for 2 guitarsCroquis pour un carnaval op. 137 – 1968, for clarinet quartet and diatonic harpCroquis sportifs op. 85 – 1954, for bandDanses bulgares op. 103 – 1961, for bandDanses bulgares op. 103 – 1959, for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoonDanses bulgares op. 103 – 1959, for pianoDe tijd – ?, for Children's choir and pianoDéités op. 160 – 1972, for orchestraDeux danses rituelles op. 105 – 1960, for small orchestraDeux mélodies – 1933, for middle voice and pianoDeux poèmes op. 53 – 1942, for Soprano and pianoDivertimento op. 86 – 1955, for saxophone quartet and orchestraDu rythme à l'expression I op. 108 – 1961, for pianoDu rythme à l'expression II op. 108 – 1961, for pianoEchecs op. 96 – 1957, for pianoEnfantines op. 52 – 1942, for middle voice and pianoEpouvantail op. 74 – 1950, for orchestraEpouvantail op. 74 – 1950, for pianoEsquisses sur les 7 péchés capitaux op. 83 – 1954, for pianoEtude n°3 – 1963, for concert drum and pianoEtude XI – ?, for 4 timpani and pianoEtude XI – ?, for concert drum and pianoEvasion op. 8 – 1927, for high voice and pianoFanfares op. 118 – 1963, for bandFantaisie – Caprice op. 152 – 1971, for alto saxophone and bandFantaisie – Caprice op. 152 – 1971, for saxophone and pianoFantaisie – Humoresque op. 113 – 1962, for clarinet and pianoFantaisie – Humoresque op. 113 – 1962, for clarinet and string orchestraFantaisie concertante op. 99 – 1958, for violin and orchestraFantaisie concertante op. 99 – 1958, for violin and pianoFantaisie rhapsodique op. 21 – 1936, for cello quartetFantaisie op. 40 – 1939, for violin, viola, cello and pianoFéeries op. 153 – 1971, for pianoGrande suite n°2 op. 110 – 1962, for pianoGrande suite op. 62 – 1944, for pianoHeure de grâce op. 98 – 1958, for high voice and pianoHommage à Lekeu op. 35/bis – 1939, for orchestraHommage à Schumann op. 67 – 1946, for pianoHumoresques op. 126 – 1965, for pianoImages stellaires op. 161 – 1973, for violin and celloIntroduction et Valses op. 89 – 1955, for orchestraJeanne d'Arc op. 65 – 1945, for orchestraL'album à colorier op. 68 – 1948, for two-part children's choir and pianoLa mort de Tintagiles op. 3 – 1926, for orchestraLe chant à l'école op. 144 – 1969, for Choir a cappellaLe chapeau chinois (extr.) op. 64 – 1944, for Tenor and pianoLe chapeau chinois op. 64 – 1944, for operaLe chapeau chinois op. 64 – 1944, for S. 2T. Bar. B. and pianoLe cirque volant op. 82 – 1953, for choir (2 children's voices), Narrator and pianoLe miracle de Pan op. 71 – 1949, for orchestraLe miracle de Pan op. 71 – 1949, for pianoLe zodiaque op. 70 – 1949, for piano, choir (4 mixed voices), Soloists and orchestraLe zodiaque op. 70 – 1949, for Soloists, choir and 2 pianosLégendes op. 91 – 1956, for bandLes bénédictions op. 48 – 1941, for Soloists, choir and pianoLes bénédictions op. 48 – 1941, for Soloists, choir, large orchestra and organLes chants du mort op. 55 – 1943, for mixed vocal quartet and orchestraLes chants du mort op. 55 – 1943, for mixed vocal quartet and piano – Soprano – Alto – Tenor – BassLes météores op. 77 – 1951, for orchestraLes voix de la mer op. 75 – 1951, for operaLes voix de la mer op. 75 – 1951, for Soli, mixed choir speech choir and pianoLes voix de la mer: Choeur aérien op. 75 – 1951, for women's choirMarines op. 36 – 1939, for pianoMythologie op. 84 – 1954, for large orchestraNymphes et faunes op. 130 – 1966, for bandOuverture op. 75 – 1965, for operaPassacaille op. 101 – 1959, for pianoPeau d'Ane op. 26 – 1937, for bandPeau d'Ane op. 26 – 1937, for Soloists, speaking parts and orchestraPeau d'Ane op. 26 – 1937, for theatre musicPeau d'Ane: Air de Peau d'Ane op. 26 – 1937, for Soprano and orchestraPeau d'Ane: Air de Peau d'Ane op. 26 – 1937, for Soprano and pianoPeau d'Ane: Air du Prince op. 26 – 1937, for Tenor and orchestraPeau d'Ane: Air du Prince op. 26 – 1937, for Tenor and pianoPeau d'Ane: Air du Roi op. 26 – 1937, for Bass and orchestraPeau d'Ane: Air du Roi op. 26 – 1937, for Bass and pianoPeau d'Ane: Airs de ballet op. 26 – 1937, for chamber orchestraPeau d'Ane: Final du 3e acte op. 26 – 1937, for Soprano, Mezzo Soprano, Tenor, Bass and pianoPeau d'Ane: Suite op. 26 – 1937, for chamber orchestraPetit bestiaire op. 151 – 1970, for guitarPetite suite op. 20 – 1935, for bandPetite suite op. 20 – 1935, for chamber orchestraPetite suite op. 20 – 1935, for fanfarePetites polyphonies op. 128 – 1966, for 2 equal voices and pianoPhantasmes – 1936, for Contralto, alto saxophone, percussion and pianoPhilatélie op. 46 – 1940, for mixed vocal quartet and 14 instrumentsPhilatélie op. 46 – 1940, for Soprano, Mezzo Soprano, Tenor, Bass and pianoPièces caractéristiques op. 123 – 1964, for guitarPièces en quatuor op. 35 – 1938, for saxophone quartetPierre Breughel l'Ancien op. 73 – 1950, for Soloists, choir and pianoPierre Breughel l'Ancien op. 73 – 1950, for Soloists, mixed choir, speech choir, Narrator, large orchestra and organPoésie et vélocité op. 157 – 1972, for pianoPrélude et barcarolle – ?, for guitarPrintemps op. 59 – 1944, for children's voices with piano accompanimentQuatre esquisses op. 154 – 1971, for flute, oboe, clarinet and bassoonQuatre pièces op. 150 – 1970, for guitarQuatre poèmes op. 12 – 1933, for middle voice and pianoQuatuor à clavier op. 33 – 1938, for violin, viola, cello and pianoQuatuor à cordes n°1 op. 5 – 1929, for 2 violins, viola and celloQuatuor à cordes n°2 op. 13 – 1934, for 2 violins, viola and celloQuatuor à cordes n°3 op. 19 – 1935, for 2 violins, viola and celloQuatuor à cordes n°4 op. 47 – 1941, for 2 violins, viola and celloQuatuor n°2 op. 28 – 1937, for cello quartetQuatuor op. 31 – 1937, for 4 saxophonesQuatuor op. 132 – 1967, for 4 clarinetsQuintette op. 16 – 1934, for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoonRêves op. 80 – 1952, for middle voice and pianoRhapsodie brésilienne op. 81 – 1953, for bandRhapsodie brésilienne op. 81 – 1953, for orchestraRhapsodie bulgare op. 104 – 1960, for orchestraRhapsodie flamande op. 4 – 1928, for bandRhapsodie flamande op. 4 – 1928, for orchestraRhapsodie n°2 op. 34 – 1938, for orchestraRhapsodie n°5 op. 102 – 1959, for 2 pianosRhapsodie n°5 op. 102 – 1959, for bandRhapsodie n°6 op. 120 – 1963, for horn and pianoRhapsodie roumaine op. 56 – 1943, for violin and orchestraRhapsodie roumaine op. 56 – 1943, for violin and pianoRites op. 79 – 1952, for bandRoumaniana op. 92 – 1956, for bandSicilienne – 1950, for flute or clarinet or saxophone and piano or harpSilhouettes op. 97 – 1958, for flute and pianoSix choeurs I op. 18 – 1935, for children's choir and piano (1 voice)[divers], forSix choeurs II op. 18 – 1935, for two-part children's choir and pianoPaul Fort, forSix poèmes de Maurice Carême op. 109 – 1961, for 3 equal voicesMaurice Carême, forSonate op. 115 – 1963, for alto saxophone and pianoSonate op. 134 – 1967, for violinSonate op. 146 – 1970, for violin and pianoSonatine en duo op. 112 – 1962, for violin and violaSonatine n°2 op. 37 – 1939, for pianoSonatine op. 27 – 1937, for pianoSuite bucolique op. 95 – 1957, for string orchestraSuite mystique op. 145 – 1969, for flute quartetSuite n°2 op. 141 – 1968, for cello and pianoSuite pastorale op. 37 – 1939, for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoonSuite pastorale op. 37 – 1939, for pianoSuite sur des thèmes populaires roumains op. 90 – 1956, for saxophone quartetSuite op. 51 – 1942, for cello and pianoSuite op. 78 – 1952, for trombone, tuba or cello and pianoSuite op. 92 – 1956, for small orchestraSuite op. 114 – 1963, for guitarSuite op. 135 – 1967, for 2 guitarsSuite op. 149 – 1970, for trumpet in C or B flat and pianoSur un paravent chinois op. 147 – 1970, for guitarSymphonie n°1 en ré mineur op. 1 – 1920, for orchestraSymphonie n°2 op. 25 – 1936, for large orchestraSymphonie n°3 op. 57 – 1943, for orchestraSymphonie n°4 op. 142 – 1969, for large orchestraSymphonie n°5 op. 148 – 1970, for large orchestraTahi – Taho op. 8 – 1932, for middle voice and pianoThrène op. 66 – 1945, for two-part choir (equal voices), organ and 2 NarratorsTrente études préparatoires à la polyrythmie op. 107 – 1961, for pianoTrente études préparatoires à la polyrythmie op. 107 – 1961, for pianoTrio à cordes n°1 op. 17 – 1935, for violin, viola, celloTrio à cordes n°2 op. 39 – 1939, for violin, viola, celloTrio n°2 op. 158 – 1972, for violin, cello and pianoTrio op. 7 – 1931, for violin, cello and pianoTriptyque op. 106 – 1960, for small orchestraTrois choeurs op. 15 – 1934, for 4 men's voices a cappellaTrois impromptus op. 10 – 1932, for pianoTrois pièces op. 32 – 1938, for pianoTrois pièces op. 32 – 1938, for piano (right hand)Trois pièces op. 119 – 1963, for 2 guitarsTrois pièces op. 121 – 1964, for bandoneonTrois Pièces op. 127 – 1965, for organTrois poèmes d'Arthur Cantillon op. 9 – 1932, for 4 unaccompanied mixed voicesTrois poèmes de Tristan Klingsor op. 45 – 1940, for middle voice and pianoTrois poèmes de Tristan Klingsor op. 45 – 1940, for middle voice and small orchestraTrois vocalises op. 116 – 1963, for middle voice and pianoUlysse et les Sirènes op. 41 – 1939, for 1 Bar., 2 Narr., men's choir, women's choir and pianoUlysse et les Sirènes op. 41 – 1939, for Soloists (1 Bar., 2 Narrators), men's choir, women's choir and small orchestraVariations symphoniques op. 50 – 1942, for large orchestraVariations op. 93 – 1956, for pianoZoo op. 63 – 1944, for vocal quartet a cappella