Elizabeth Maconchy
Encyclopedia
Dame Elizabeth Violet Maconchy Le Fanu DBE (19 March 1907, Broxbourne
, Hertfordshire
– 11 November 1994) was an English
composer
, most noted for her cycle of thirteen string quartet
s.
. Here she took piano lessons, but was advised by her teacher to study at the Royal College of Music
in London
, where she began studying at the age of sixteen. Her teachers included Arthur Alexander (piano) and Charles Wood
and Ralph Vaughan Williams
(musical composition). Her music attracted the attention of the most distinguished musicians of the day, including Sir Henry Wood
, Sir Donald Tovey and Gustav Holst
.
Here she became interested in the contemporary music of Central Europe, particularly Bartók
, Berg
and Janáček
. On the recommendation of Vaughan Williams, Maconchy undertook further study in Prague
, where her piano concerto
was premiered in 1930 on her 23rd birthday, by Erwin Schulhoff
, the same year in which Henry Wood
premiered her orchestral piece The Land, and in which she married William Le Fanu (1904–1995).
In 1932 Maconchy developed tuberculosis
. She moved to the country lived entirely outdoors and allegedly cured herself by will-power.
She received a CBE
in 1977. The last of her celebrated string quartets, the thirteenth (subtitled Quartetto Corto) was written in 1984. Maconchy was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire
in 1987. Known to her friends as Betty LeFanu she lived for many years in Boreham
, Essex
. She was Chair of the Composers Guild and of SPNM (succeeding Benjamin Britten
as President).
-- the second of Maconchy's two daughters with husband William LeFanu - dedicated her String Quartet No 2 (1996) to the memory of her parents.
and her orchestral piece The Land were premiered.
In 1933 she wrote her first string quartet, perhaps the medium for which she was best known, and she composed 13 of these in all, spanning over 50 years.
In 1933 her quintet for oboe and strings won a prize in the London Daily Telegraph Chamber Music Competition, and was recorded by Helen Gaskel with the Griller Quartet
soon afterwards on HMV Records.
After the difficulties of the war years, Maconchy began to receive a large number of commissions, and composed much music for orchestra, chamber groups and voices. She wrote three one-act operas:
Her other choral and vocal works include:
Broxbourne
Broxbourne is a commuter town in the Broxbourne borough of Hertfordshire in the East of England with a population of 13,298 in 2001.It is located 17.1 miles north north-east of Charing Cross in London and about a mile north of Wormley and south of Hoddesdon...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
– 11 November 1994) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, most noted for her cycle of thirteen string quartet
String quartet
A string quartet is a musical ensemble of four string players – usually two violin players, a violist and a cellist – or a piece written to be performed by such a group...
s.
Biography
Maconchy began to compose at the age of six. After the First World War, her family moved to IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Here she took piano lessons, but was advised by her teacher to study at the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where she began studying at the age of sixteen. Her teachers included Arthur Alexander (piano) and Charles Wood
Charles Wood (composer)
Charles Wood was an Irish composer and teacher.Born in Armagh, Ireland, he was the fifth child and third son of Charles Wood Sr. and Jemima Wood. His father was a tenor in the choir of the nearby St. Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh , and later worked as the Diocesan Registrar of the church...
and Ralph Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams OM was an English composer of symphonies, chamber music, opera, choral music, and film scores. He was also a collector of English folk music and song: this activity both influenced his editorial approach to the English Hymnal, beginning in 1904, in which he included many...
(musical composition). Her music attracted the attention of the most distinguished musicians of the day, including Sir Henry Wood
Henry Wood (conductor)
Sir Henry Joseph Wood, CH was an English conductor best known for his association with London's annual series of promenade concerts, known as the Proms. He conducted them for nearly half a century, introducing hundreds of new works to British audiences...
, Sir Donald Tovey and Gustav Holst
Gustav Holst
Gustav Theodore Holst was an English composer. He is most famous for his orchestral suite The Planets....
.
Here she became interested in the contemporary music of Central Europe, particularly Bartók
Béla Bartók
Béla Viktor János Bartók was a Hungarian composer and pianist. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century and is regarded, along with Liszt, as Hungary's greatest composer...
, Berg
Alban Berg
Alban Maria Johannes Berg was an Austrian composer. He was a member of the Second Viennese School with Arnold Schoenberg and Anton Webern, and produced compositions that combined Mahlerian Romanticism with a personal adaptation of Schoenberg's twelve-tone technique.-Early life:Berg was born in...
and Janáček
Leoš Janácek
Leoš Janáček was a Czech composer, musical theorist, folklorist, publicist and teacher. He was inspired by Moravian and all Slavic folk music to create an original, modern musical style. Until 1895 he devoted himself mainly to folkloristic research and his early musical output was influenced by...
. On the recommendation of Vaughan Williams, Maconchy undertook further study in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, where her piano concerto
Piano concerto
A piano concerto is a concerto written for piano and orchestra.See also harpsichord concerto; some of these works are occasionally played on piano...
was premiered in 1930 on her 23rd birthday, by Erwin Schulhoff
Erwin Schulhoff
Erwin Schulhoff was a Czech composer and pianist.-Life:Born in Prague of Jewish-German origin, Schulhoff was one of the brightest figures in a generation of European musicians whose successful careers were prematurely terminated by the rise of the Nazi regime in Germany...
, the same year in which Henry Wood
Henry Wood (conductor)
Sir Henry Joseph Wood, CH was an English conductor best known for his association with London's annual series of promenade concerts, known as the Proms. He conducted them for nearly half a century, introducing hundreds of new works to British audiences...
premiered her orchestral piece The Land, and in which she married William Le Fanu (1904–1995).
In 1932 Maconchy developed tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. She moved to the country lived entirely outdoors and allegedly cured herself by will-power.
She received a CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1977. The last of her celebrated string quartets, the thirteenth (subtitled Quartetto Corto) was written in 1984. Maconchy was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1987. Known to her friends as Betty LeFanu she lived for many years in Boreham
Boreham
Boreham is a village and civil parish, in Essex, England. It is located approximately northeast from the county town of Chelmsford. The village is in the borough of Chelmsford and parliamentary constituency of Saffron Walden.- History :...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
. She was Chair of the Composers Guild and of SPNM (succeeding Benjamin Britten
Benjamin Britten
Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten, OM CH was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He showed talent from an early age, and first came to public attention with the a cappella choral work A Boy Was Born in 1934. With the premiere of his opera Peter Grimes in 1945, he leapt to...
as President).
Family
The composer Nicola LeFanuNicola LeFanu
Nicola LeFanu is a British composer, academic, lecturer and director.-Life:Nicola LeFanu was born in England to William LeFanu and Elizabeth Maconchy . She studied at St Hilda's College, Oxford, before taking up a Harkness Fellowship at Harvard. In 1972 she won the Mendelssohn Scholarship...
-- the second of Maconchy's two daughters with husband William LeFanu - dedicated her String Quartet No 2 (1996) to the memory of her parents.
Works
In 1930 her piano concertoPiano concerto
A piano concerto is a concerto written for piano and orchestra.See also harpsichord concerto; some of these works are occasionally played on piano...
and her orchestral piece The Land were premiered.
In 1933 she wrote her first string quartet, perhaps the medium for which she was best known, and she composed 13 of these in all, spanning over 50 years.
In 1933 her quintet for oboe and strings won a prize in the London Daily Telegraph Chamber Music Competition, and was recorded by Helen Gaskel with the Griller Quartet
Griller Quartet
The Griller String Quartet was a British musical ensemble particularly active from 1931 to c.1961 or 1963, when they disbanded. The quartet was in residence at the University of California at Berkeley from 1949 to 1961...
soon afterwards on HMV Records.
After the difficulties of the war years, Maconchy began to receive a large number of commissions, and composed much music for orchestra, chamber groups and voices. She wrote three one-act operas:
- The Sofa (1957) - a comic opera
- The Departure (1961)
- The Three Strangers (1967).
Her other choral and vocal works include:
- the cantata Heloise and Abelard
- settings of Gerard Manley HopkinsGerard Manley HopkinsGerard Manley Hopkins, S.J. was an English poet, Roman Catholic convert, and Jesuit priest, whose posthumous 20th-century fame established him among the leading Victorian poets...
, - settings of the SyngeJohn Millington SyngeEdmund John Millington Synge was an Irish playwright, poet, prose writer, and collector of folklore. He was a key figure in the Irish Literary Revival and was one of the cofounders of the Abbey Theatre...
/PetrarchPetrarchFrancesco Petrarca , known in English as Petrarch, was an Italian scholar, poet and one of the earliest humanists. Petrarch is often called the "Father of Humanism"...
sonnets of My Dark Heart "one of the most haunting late works". - Sea, Moon and Stars (1977) for Soprano and Piano, commissioned by Jane ManningJane ManningJane Manning OBE is an English concert and opera soprano, writer on music, and Visiting Professor at the Royal College of Music. She has been described by one critic as "the irrepressible, incomparable, unstoppable Ms...
and Richard Rodney BennettRichard Rodney BennettSir Richard Rodney Bennett, CBE is an English composer renowned for his film scores and his jazz performance as much as for his challenging concert works...
with words taken from the poems and meditations of Thomas TraherneThomas TraherneThomas Traherne, MA was an English poet and religious writer. His style is often considered Metaphysical.-Life:...