Jacques Leguerney
Encyclopedia
Jacques Leguerney was a French
composer
especially noted for his art song
s.
He was largely self taught, but studied with Nadia Boulanger
for a short period. He was also influenced by Albert Roussel
and Francis Poulenc
, who was a close friend through his life.
His art songs were championed by such singers as Gérard Souzay
, his sister the soprano Geneviève Touraine and Pierre Bernac
, and more recently by American baritone Kurt Ollmann and pianist Mary Dibbern.
In addition to his art songs, he also wrote chamber music
and orchestral music, including the ballet "Endymion" followed by the ballet "La Vénus Noire" which was a commission from the Paris Opéra. After the Paris Opera failed to produce this ballet, which he considered his masterpiece, Leguerney stopped composing.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
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...
especially noted for his art song
Art song
An art song is a vocal music composition, usually written for one voice with piano or orchestral accompaniment. By extension, the term "art song" is used to refer to the genre of such songs....
s.
Biography
Jacques Leguerney has been referred to as "the latest--perhaps the last--great exponent of the mélodie".He was largely self taught, but studied with Nadia Boulanger
Nadia Boulanger
Nadia Boulanger was a French composer, conductor and teacher who taught many composers and performers of the 20th century.From a musical family, she achieved early honours as a student at the Paris Conservatoire, but believing that her talent as a composer was inferior to that of her younger...
for a short period. He was also influenced by Albert Roussel
Albert Roussel
Albert Charles Paul Marie Roussel was a French composer. He spent seven years as a midshipman, turned to music as an adult, and became one of the most prominent French composers of the interwar period...
and Francis Poulenc
Francis Poulenc
Francis Jean Marcel Poulenc was a French composer and a member of the French group Les six. He composed solo piano music, chamber music, oratorio, choral music, opera, ballet music, and orchestral music...
, who was a close friend through his life.
His art songs were championed by such singers as Gérard Souzay
Gérard Souzay
Gérard Souzay was a French baritone singer, regarded as one of the very finest interpreters of mélodie in the generation after Charles Panzéra and Pierre Bernac.-Background and education:...
, his sister the soprano Geneviève Touraine and Pierre Bernac
Pierre Bernac
Pierre Bernac was a French baritone.Born Pierre Bertin in Paris on January 12, 1899, he studied with Reinhold von Wahrlich in Salzburg. he came to music relatively late and gave his first recital in 1921....
, and more recently by American baritone Kurt Ollmann and pianist Mary Dibbern.
In addition to his art songs, he also wrote chamber music
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
and orchestral music, including the ballet "Endymion" followed by the ballet "La Vénus Noire" which was a commission from the Paris Opéra. After the Paris Opera failed to produce this ballet, which he considered his masterpiece, Leguerney stopped composing.
Chronological works list
- 1928 "D'une fontaine" Philippe DesportesPhilippe DesportesPhilippe Desportes was a French poet.-Biography:Philippe Desportes was born in Chartres. While serving as secretary to the bishop of Le Puy he visited Italy, where he learned Italian poetry. This experience became a good account. On his return to France he attached himself to the duke of Anjou,...
, in "Poèmes de la Pléiade, 8ème Recueil," Editions Max Eschig, 1988. - 1928 "Le Tombeau de Ronsard" Pierre de RonsardPierre de RonsardPierre de Ronsard was a French poet and "prince of poets" .-Early life:...
,in "Poèmes de la Pléiade, 8ème Recueil," Editions Max Eschig, 1988. - 1928 "Sur la mort de Diane" Philippe DesportesPhilippe DesportesPhilippe Desportes was a French poet.-Biography:Philippe Desportes was born in Chartres. While serving as secretary to the bishop of Le Puy he visited Italy, where he learned Italian poetry. This experience became a good account. On his return to France he attached himself to the duke of Anjou,...
, in "Poèmes de la Pléiade, 8ème Recueil," Editions Max Eschig, 1988. - 1929 "Avril" Rémy BelleauRemy BelleauRemy Belleau , was a poet of the French Renaissance. He is most known for his paradoxical poems of praise for simple things and his poems about precious stones....
, in "Poèmes de la Pléiade, 8ème Recueil," Editions Max Eschig, 1988. - 1930 "Nuit d'été" Albert SamainAlbert SamainAlbert Victor Samain was a French poet and writer of the Symbolist school.Born in Lille, his family were Flemish and had long lived in the town or its suburbs. At the time of the poet's birth, his father, Jean-Baptiste Samain, and his mother, Elisa-Henriette Mouquet, conducted a business in "wines...
, in "Quatre Mélodies," Editions Max Eschig, 1988. - 1942 "Ma douce jouvence est passée" Pierre de RonsardPierre de RonsardPierre de Ronsard was a French poet and "prince of poets" .-Early life:...
," in "Poèmes de la Pléiade, 2ème Recueil," Editions Salabert, 1950 and1989. - 1942 "Nous ne tenons" Pierre de RonsardPierre de RonsardPierre de Ronsard was a French poet and "prince of poets" .-Early life:...
, in "Poèmes de la Pléiade, 7ème Recueil," Editions Max Eschig, 1989. - 1943 "Au sommeil" Philippe DesportesPhilippe DesportesPhilippe Desportes was a French poet.-Biography:Philippe Desportes was born in Chartres. While serving as secretary to the bishop of Le Puy he visited Italy, where he learned Italian poetry. This experience became a good account. On his return to France he attached himself to the duke of Anjou,...
, in "Poèmes dela Pléiade, 1er Recueil," Editions Salabert, 1950 and 1989. - 1943 "Genièvres hérissés" Pierre de RonsardPierre de RonsardPierre de Ronsard was a French poet and "prince of poets" .-Early life:...
, in "Poèmes de la Pléiade, 1er Recueil," Editions Salabert, 1950 and 1989. - 1943 "Je me lamente" Pierre de RonsardPierre de RonsardPierre de Ronsard was a French poet and "prince of poets" .-Early life:...
, in "Poèmes de la Pléiade, 1er Recueil," Editions Salabert, 1950 and 1989. - 1943 "Je vous envoie" Pierre de RonsardPierre de RonsardPierre de Ronsard was a French poet and "prince of poets" .-Early life:...
, in "Poèmes de la Pléiade, 1er Recueil," Editions Salabert, 1950 and 1989. - 1943-1947 "Poèmes de la Pléiade", song cycle to texts by Pierre de RonsardPierre de RonsardPierre de Ronsard was a French poet and "prince of poets" .-Early life:...
(1524–1585) - 1948 String Quartet in D
- 1951 "La Solitude", four songs to texts by Théophile de ViauThéophile de ViauThéophile de Viau was a French Baroque poet and dramatist.Born at Clairac, near Agen in the Lot-et-Garonne and raised as a Huguenot, Théophile de Viau participated in the Protestant wars in Guyenne from 1615-1616 in the service of the Comte de Candale. After the war, he was pardoned and became a...
(1590–1626) - 1952 "Le Carnaval", three songs to texts by Antoine Girard de Saint-Amant (1594–1661)
Principal source
- "The Songs of Jacques Leguerney: A Guide for Study and Performance", Mary Dibbern, Carol Kimball and Patrick Choukroun, Pendragon Press (January 2002), ISBN 978-1576470169
Selected discography
- Jacques Leguerney: Mélodies de la Renaissance. Mary Dibbern at the piano with Lisa Bonenfant, soprano and Kurt Ollmann, baritone.. Harmonia Mundi France —Action Musicale Seita. (HMC 1171, stereo.) Recording made in collaboration with the composer.
- Jacques Leguerney: Mélodies, Vol. 2. Mary Dibbern with Deborah Massell, soprano and Kurt Ollmann, baritone. Harmonia Mundi France—Action Musicale Seita. (HMC 1172, stereo.) Recording made in collaboration with the composer.
- 28 Mélodies of Jacques Leguerney. Claves and Radio Suisse Romande-Espace 2 (Claves CD 50-9618). Mary Dibbern with Danielle Borst, soprano: Brigitte Balleys, mezzo-soprano and Philippe Huttenlocher, baritone.