Genevieve Joy
Encyclopedia
Geneviève Joy was a French
classical
and modernist
pianist who, at the end of World War II
in 1945, formed a critically acclaimed duo-piano partnership with Jacqueline Robin
which lasted for forty-five years, until 1990. Modernist composer Henri Dutilleux
, whom she married in 1946, dedicated his Piano Sonata to her, which she recorded for Erato Records
in 1988.
A native of the small commune
of Bernaville
in the Somme
department in Northern France region of Picardy, She was the daughter of an Irish
woman and a French father who served with the British Army
during World War I
. Geneviève Joy was a piano prodigy
who was accepted to the world-renowned Conservatoire de Paris
in 1932 at the age of 12.
She died in her sleep at a Paris
hospital eight weeks after her 90th birthday.
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...
classical
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...
and modernist
Modernism (music)
Modernism in music is characterized by a desire for or belief in progress and science, surrealism, anti-romanticism, political advocacy, general intellectualism, and/or a breaking with the past or common practice.- Defining musical modernism :...
pianist who, at the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1945, formed a critically acclaimed duo-piano partnership with Jacqueline Robin
Jacqueline Robin
Jacqueline Robin was a French pianist.She formed a piano duo with Genevieve Joy , and collaborated with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf and Gérard Souzay as accompanists. She was best known as a Gabriel Fauré and French modernist music performer...
which lasted for forty-five years, until 1990. Modernist composer Henri Dutilleux
Henri Dutilleux
Henri Dutilleux is one of the most important French composers of the second half of the 20th century, producing work in the tradition of Maurice Ravel, Claude Debussy, and Albert Roussel, but in a style distinctly his own...
, whom she married in 1946, dedicated his Piano Sonata to her, which she recorded for Erato Records
Erato Records
Erato Records is a record label founded in 1953 to promote French classical music. In 1992 it became part of Warner Bros. Records. In 1999 Erato launched a subsidiary Detour Records....
in 1988.
A native of the small commune
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
of Bernaville
Bernaville
Bernaville is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Bernaville is situated on the D925 road, some east of Abbeville....
in the Somme
Somme
Somme is a department of France, located in the north of the country and named after the Somme river. It is part of the Picardy region of France....
department in Northern France region of Picardy, She was the daughter of an Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
woman and a French father who served with the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Geneviève Joy was a piano prodigy
Child prodigy
A child prodigy is someone who, at an early age, masters one or more skills far beyond his or her level of maturity. One criterion for classifying prodigies is: a prodigy is a child, typically younger than 18 years old, who is performing at the level of a highly trained adult in a very demanding...
who was accepted to the world-renowned Conservatoire de Paris
Conservatoire de Paris
The Conservatoire de Paris is a college of music and dance founded in 1795, now situated in the avenue Jean Jaurès in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, France...
in 1932 at the age of 12.
She died in her sleep at a Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
hospital eight weeks after her 90th birthday.
External links
- 1955 recording of Gabriel FauréGabriel FauréGabriel Urbain Fauré was a French composer, organist, pianist and teacher. He was one of the foremost French composers of his generation, and his musical style influenced many 20th century composers...
's Dolly SuiteDolly (Fauré)The Dolly Suite, Op. 56, is a collection of pieces for piano four-hands by Gabriel Fauré. It consists of short pieces written or revised between 1893 and 1896, to mark the birthdays and other events in the life of the daughter of the composer's mistress....
, together with Jacqueline RobinJacqueline RobinJacqueline Robin was a French pianist.She formed a piano duo with Genevieve Joy , and collaborated with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf and Gérard Souzay as accompanists. She was best known as a Gabriel Fauré and French modernist music performer...
. - Genevieve Joy - Daily Telegraph obituary