Betsy Jolas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elizabeth Jolas
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Betsy Jolas in 2006
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| Born | 5 August 1926 (age 98) Paris, France
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| Nationality | Franco-American |
| Occupation | Composer |
Elizabeth Jolas (born August 5, 1926) is a famous composer from both France and America. She writes many different kinds of music.
Contents
Biography
Betsy Jolas was born in Paris, France, in 1926. Her mother, Maria McDonald, was an American translator who also studied singing. Her father, Eugene Jolas, was a poet and journalist. Together, her parents started a magazine called transition. This magazine published many great writers between World War I and World War II.
In late 1940, her family moved to the United States. Betsy studied music at Bennington College in New York. While there, she joined the Dessoff Choirs. This helped her discover old Renaissance music, which greatly influenced her own music later on.
After finishing college, Jolas went back to Paris in 1946. She continued her music studies at the Conservatoire national supérieur de musique. She learned from famous composers like Darius Milhaud and Olivier Messiaen. From 1971 to 1974, she even worked as Messiaen's helper at the Conservatoire. In 1975, she became a teacher there. She has also taught music in the U.S. at places like Yale, Harvard, and the University of Michigan.
Betsy Jolas is a respected member of important groups like the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
She has been writing music since 1945 and has created many pieces. Her music is played by famous artists and orchestras all over the world. Some of these include Kent Nagano, Sir Simon Rattle, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
One of Jolas's notable students is the composer Robert Carl.
Style
Betsy Jolas's music style is special. She was influenced by old 16th-century European vocal music, especially music by Orlando di Lasso. She often explores "vocality," which means making instruments sound like voices, or using voices in unique ways. Her music flows freely, without a strict, regular beat.
Even though she knew composers like Pierre Boulez who used a style called "serialism" (a very organized way of composing), Jolas chose her own path. She never fully adopted serial technique. She is known for being an independent composer.
Personal life
In 1949, Betsy Jolas married a doctor named Gabriel Illouz. They had three children together. She is a citizen of both the U.S. and France.
List of major works
Betsy Jolas has written many different types of music. Here are some examples of her major works:
- For an extended list, see List of compositions by Betsy Jolas.
Operas
- Le Pavillon au Bord de la Rivière (1975), a small opera in 4 acts.
- Schliemann (1982–83), an opera in 3 acts.
- Le Cyclope (1986), a small opera in 1 act.
Orchestral
- Tales of a summer sea (1977) for orchestra.
- B Day (2006) for a full symphony orchestra.
- Les Belles Années (The Good Years) (2023), a recent piece.
Solo works with orchestra or ensemble
- Stances (1978) for piano and orchestra.
- Histoires vraies (2015), a double concerto for trumpet and piano.
Chamber music
- Quartet Nos. 1–6 (1956–1997) for small groups of instruments.
- B for Sonata (1973) for piano.
- Femme le soir (2018) for cello and piano.
Chorus
- Mass (1945) for choir, solo singers, and orchestra.
- Enfantillages (1956) for women's or children's choir.
Honors
Betsy Jolas has received many awards for her music, including:
- Officier de la Légion d'honneur (2006)
- Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros (2015)
- Berlin Prize (2000)
- Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres (1985)
- Prix International Maurice Ravel (1992)
- Grand Prix de la Ville de Paris (1981)
- Prix National de la Musique (1974)
- Koussevitzky Prize (1974)
See also
In Spanish: Betsy Jolas para niños
