Role

:

Composer

Country

:

France

Birth

:

November 19, 1908 in Paris, France

Death

:

July 2, 2002

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Choral

 

 

Keyboard

 

 

Orchestral

 

Jean-Yves Daniel-Lesur was a French composer and musicologist who was born on November 19, 1908, in the city of Paris. He was the son of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. His father, Henri Daniel-Lesur, was a composer and conductor, and his mother, Jeanne, was a pianist. Jean-Yves began studying music at a young age and showed a natural talent for the piano. In 1926, Jean-Yves enrolled at the Paris Conservatory, where he studied composition with Paul Dukas and harmony with Jean Gallon. He also studied piano with Isidor Philipp and chamber music with Maurice Ravel. During his time at the conservatory, Jean-Yves became interested in early music and began to study the works of composers such as Josquin des Prez and Claudio Monteverdi. After graduating from the conservatory in 1930, Jean-Yves began working as a musicologist, researching and transcribing early music. He also began composing his own music, drawing inspiration from the works of early composers as well as contemporary composers such as Igor Stravinsky and Francis Poulenc. Jean-Yves' early works were influenced by the neoclassical style, characterized by a return to the forms and structures of classical music. His first major work, the Suite en quatuor for flute, violin, viola, and cello, was composed in 1932 and premiered the following year. The suite is a set of four short movements, each with a different character and mood. In 1934, Jean-Yves married the pianist and composer Odette Gartenlaub, who would become his lifelong collaborator and muse. Together, they founded the group La Jeune France, which included composers such as Olivier Messiaen, André Jolivet, and Yves Baudrier. The group was dedicated to promoting new music and exploring new forms of expression. During World War II, Jean-Yves and Odette were active in the French Resistance, using their musical talents to help smuggle messages and supplies. After the war, Jean-Yves continued to compose and teach, becoming a professor of music history at the Paris Conservatory in 1956. Jean-Yves' later works were characterized by a more personal and introspective style, influenced by his interest in early music and his own spiritual beliefs. His most famous work, the Messe "Cum Jubilo," was composed in 1946 and is a setting of the Latin Mass for choir and organ. The work is notable for its use of medieval chant melodies and its intricate polyphonic textures. Other notable works by Jean-Yves include the String Quartet No. 2, composed in 1951, which is a set of variations on a theme by the early composer Guillaume de Machaut. The work is notable for its use of medieval techniques such as isorhythm and hocket. Jean-Yves also composed several works for solo piano, including the Suite en forme de sonate, composed in 1947, which is a set of four short movements inspired by the Baroque suite. Jean-Yves Daniel-Lesur died on July 4, 2002, at the age of 93. He left behind a legacy of innovative and deeply personal music, influenced by his love of early music and his own spiritual beliefs. His works continue to be performed and studied by musicians and musicologists around the world.

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