Paul Bonneau
Encyclopedia
Paul BonneauPaul Bonneau (born 14 September 1918 in Moret-sur-Loing
, Seine-et-Marne
, France
– died May 1995) was a French
composer
of classical music
.
; the premier prix de fugue (1942) in the class of Noël Gallon
; and the premier prix de composition (1945) in the class of Henri Busser
.
In 1939, he became assistant manager of music of the French Army, and in 1945, band master of the French Republican Guard. He eventually resigned from the Army to become a conductor of light symphonic music with French radio (RDF, which became RTF, then ORTF).
His first radio broadcast was 27 November 1944, and he went on to conduct 638 broadcasts of light classical music over the next 30 years. In 1959, he was involved with forming the vocal group Les Djinns Singers
who interpreted and recorded 88 titles with the Grand Orchestra of Paris.
). He arranged many light symphonic pieces for orchestra; set to music 10 fables of La Fontaine; and composed many light melodies and songs.
In the field of operetta
, he adapted and composed 11 ballets for the theater of Châtelet:
He adapted Offenbach
for the Paris Folies operetta in 1976. He composed the music for "La Parisienne" in collaboration with Jack Ledru (premiered in Tours on 19 February 1982). He also wrote several lyric operettas and other works which were never performed, including "Caruso".
Moret-sur-Loing
Moret-sur-Loing is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.The town was a source of inspiration for Monet, Renoir and Sisley.-Twin towns:...
, Seine-et-Marne
Seine-et-Marne
Seine-et-Marne is a French department, named after the Seine and Marne rivers, and located in the Île-de-France region.- History:Seine-et-Marne is one of the original 83 departments, created on March 4, 1790 during the French Revolution in application of the law of December 22, 1789...
, France
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...
– died May 1995) was a French
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...
of classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
.
Career
He studied music at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Paris and received the premier prix d'harmonie (1937) in the class of Jean GallonJean Gallon
Jean Gallon was a French composer, choir conductor, and music educator. His compositional output consists of six antiphons for strings and organ, one mass, one ballet, and several art songs....
; the premier prix de fugue (1942) in the class of Noël Gallon
Noël Gallon
Noël Gallon was a French composer and music educator. His compositional output includes several choral works and vocal art songs, 10 preludes, a Toccata for piano, a Sonata for flute and bassoon, a Fantasy for piano and orchestra, an Orchestral Suite, and the lyrical drama Paysans et Soldats...
; and the premier prix de composition (1945) in the class of Henri Busser
Henri Büsser
Henri Büsser was a French classical composer, organist, and conductor.- Biography :Paul-Henri Büsser was born in Toulouse, of partly Teutonic ancestry. He entered the Conservatoire in Paris in 1889; there he studied organ with César Franck and composition with Ernest Guiraud...
.
In 1939, he became assistant manager of music of the French Army, and in 1945, band master of the French Republican Guard. He eventually resigned from the Army to become a conductor of light symphonic music with French radio (RDF, which became RTF, then ORTF).
His first radio broadcast was 27 November 1944, and he went on to conduct 638 broadcasts of light classical music over the next 30 years. In 1959, he was involved with forming the vocal group Les Djinns Singers
Les Djinns Singers
The Les Djinns Singers were a French choral group with a distinctive singing style, composed of sixty girls between the ages of nine and eighteen years, conducted by Paul Bonneau. In 1959, the French government organized a 'Master School' for the instruction of girls in musical subjects in order to...
who interpreted and recorded 88 titles with the Grand Orchestra of Paris.
Compositions
Bonneau was a prolific composer and arranger. He collaborated on 51 French films and a number of courts-métrages. He composed serious works such as Ouverture pour un Drame, Concerto for saxophone and orchestra and Un Français à New York (for orchestra, dedicated to the memory of George GershwinGeorge Gershwin
George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
). He arranged many light symphonic pieces for orchestra; set to music 10 fables of La Fontaine; and composed many light melodies and songs.
In the field of operetta
Operetta
Operetta is a genre of light opera, light in terms both of music and subject matter. It is also closely related, in English-language works, to forms of musical theatre.-Origins:...
, he adapted and composed 11 ballets for the theater of Châtelet:
- Le Chanteur de Mexico
- La Toison d'Or
- Méditerranée
- Maria-Flora
- Rose de Noël
- Le Secret de Marco-Polo
- Le Prince de Madrid
- Gipsy
- Les Trois Mousquetaires
- Volga
- the 1968 version of de L'Auberge du Cheval Blanc
He adapted Offenbach
Jacques Offenbach
Jacques Offenbach was a Prussian-born French composer, cellist and impresario. He is remembered for his nearly 100 operettas of the 1850s–1870s and his uncompleted opera The Tales of Hoffmann. He was a powerful influence on later composers of the operetta genre, particularly Johann Strauss, Jr....
for the Paris Folies operetta in 1976. He composed the music for "La Parisienne" in collaboration with Jack Ledru (premiered in Tours on 19 February 1982). He also wrote several lyric operettas and other works which were never performed, including "Caruso".
List of Compositions
- Ouverture pour un Drame
- Concerto for saxophone and orchestra
- Un Français à New York (a piece for orchestra dedicated to the memory of George GershwinGeorge GershwinGeorge Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
). - Suite, pour cornet ou bugle et piano
- Caprice en forme de Valse, unaccompanied saxophone solo
- Suite, for alto saxophone and piano
- "La Parisienne" (1982)
- Ballet Le Chanteur de Mexico
- Ballet La Toison d'Or
- Ballet Méditerranée
- Ballet Maria-Flora
- Ballet Rose de Noël
- Ballet Le Secret de Marco-Polo
- Ballet Le Prince de Madrid
- Ballet Gipsy
- Ballet Les Trois Mousquetaires
- Ballet Volga
- the 1968 version of de L'Auberge du Cheval Blanc
- 10 fables of La Fontaine
- Caruso