Jeanne Leleu facts for kids
Jeanne Leleu (born December 29, 1898 – died March 11, 1979) was a talented French pianist and composer. She was born in Saint-Mihiel, a town in northeastern France. Her father led a band, and her mother taught piano.
Jeanne started studying music at a very young age. She joined the famous Conservatoire de Paris when she was just nine years old. There, she learned from many great teachers. These included Marguerite Long, Georges Caussade, Alfred Cortot, and Charles-Marie Widor.
In 1910, Jeanne Leleu, along with Geneviève Durony, performed a special piece for the first time. It was called Ma mère l'oye by the famous composer Maurice Ravel. A few years later, in 1913, Ravel wrote his Prelude for a sight-reading competition at the Conservatoire. Jeanne Leleu won this competition.
Winning Awards
Jeanne Leleu achieved great success in her career. In 1923, her cantata, a type of musical story, called Beatrix won the prestigious Prix de Rome. This was a very important prize for young artists. Jeanne was only the third woman ever to win this top award. Before her, only Lili Boulanger and Marguerite Canal had won it. She also won two other awards: the Georges Bizet Prize and the Monbinne Prize.
Life and Teaching Career
After winning the Prix de Rome, Jeanne Leleu spent three years in Rome. She lived at the Villa Medicis, a special place for artists. She returned to Paris in 1927.
After finishing her studies, Jeanne became a professor at the Conservatoire de Paris. She first taught sight reading, which is the skill of playing music just by looking at it. Later, in 1947, she became a professor of harmony. Harmony is about how different musical notes sound good together. Jeanne Leleu passed away in Paris when she was 80 years old.
Musical Works
Jeanne Leleu wrote many different kinds of music. She was known for her symphonies, which are large musical pieces for orchestras. She also wrote piano music and ballets, which are stories told through dance and music. Her compositions were published in Paris.
Here are some of her selected works:
- Quatuor pour piano et cordes (1922)
- Beatrix, cantata (1923) (Winner of the Grand Prize of Rome)
- Esquisses italiennes (1926)
- Suite symphonique (1926)
- Deux danses, (1927)
- Le Cyclope d'Euridipe (1928)
- Transparences, symphony (1931)
- Concerto pour piano (1935)
- Un jour d'été, ballet (1940)
- Nantéos, ballet (1947)
- Femmes, suite (1947)
- Virevoltes, suite (1950)
