Elaine Hugh-Jones facts for kids
Elaine Hugh-Jones (born June 14, 1927, died March 29, 2021) was a talented Welsh musician. She was a skilled pianist, a music teacher, and a composer, which means she wrote her own music. She spent many years working for the BBC and sharing her love of music with students.
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Elaine Hugh-Jones: A Life in Music
Early Life and Musical Training
Elaine was born in London. From a young age, she showed great musical talent. She studied piano with famous teachers like Harold Craxton, Julian Isserlis, and Lennox Berkeley. Learning from these experts helped her become a very skilled pianist.
Working at the BBC
After finishing her studies, Elaine got a job at the BBC. The BBC is a big broadcasting company in the United Kingdom. She worked there for 37 years as an accompanist. An accompanist is a musician who plays along with another performer, like a singer or another instrument player. She also taught music at Malvern Girls' College, helping young students learn about music.
Her Compositions
Elaine Hugh-Jones was also a composer, meaning she created her own music. She wrote many songs, often setting poems to music. Her songs were grouped into collections, like Eight Cornford Songs (using poems by Frances Cornford) and Six de la Mare Songs (using poems by Walter de la Mare).
Some of her well-known songs include:
- A back view
- Bicker's Cottage
- Echo
- Ghosts
- Night song
- Silver
- The hare
- The madman and the child
- The old woman at the flower show
- The ride‑by‑nights
- The road to Coursegoules
- The watch
- To a young cat in the orchard
- Winter
Her beautiful songs were played on BBC Radio 3, a national radio station for classical music. Her music has also been recorded and released on CDs, so people all over the world could listen to her work.
Some of the CDs featuring her music are:
- Poésie et musique au féminin (The Feminine in Poetry and Music) released in 2002.
- In Flanders Fields released in 2006.
Elaine Hugh-Jones's contributions to music were also recognized in books about British music. She was a talented and dedicated musician who left a lasting mark through her performances, teaching, and compositions.
