Jeanne de Salzmann
Encyclopedia
Jeanne Matignon de Salzmann born Jeanne Allemand often addressed as Madame de Salzmann (1889 – 25 May 1990) was a close pupil of G. I. Gurdjieff
, recognized as his deputy by many of Gurdjieff's other pupils. She was responsible for transmitting the movements
and teachings of Gurdjieff through the Gurdjieff Foundation of New York
, the Gurdjieff Institute of Paris
and other formal and informal groups throughout the world.
Madame de Salzmann began her career at the Conservatory of Geneva
, studying piano, orchestral conduction and musical composition. Later a student of Emile Jaques-Dalcroze
in Germany from 1912, she taught dance and rhythmic movements. She met her husband Alexandre de Salzmann in Hellerau
at Dalcroze's school. With him she had a daughter, Boussique. The Russian revolution triggered a move for Jeanne and her husband Alexandre to Tiflis, Georgia
where she continued to teach.
In 1919, Thomas de Hartmann
introduced the de Salzmanns to George Gurdjieff, a relationship that would last until Gurdjieff's death in 1949. She worked with Gurdjieff for nearly 30 years.
In December 1949, together with Henriette H. Lannes
, Jane Heap
and J. G. Bennett she initiated the startup of an organization, which would eventually become the Gurdjieff Foundation
, to continue the Gurdjieff Work. On 6 October 1955 The Society for Research into the Development of Man Ltd. was founded. This organization later changed to The Gurdjieff Society Ltd., on the 17 June 1957. She led the organization and continued Gurdjieffs teachings, emphasizing work with the movements, until she died, 101 years old in 1990.
Her son by Gurdjieff, Michel de Salzmann
born 1923, took over the leadership of the organization.
G. I. Gurdjieff
George Ivanovich Gurdjieff according to Gurdjieff's principles and instructions, or the "Fourth Way."At one point he described his teaching as "esoteric Christianity."...
, recognized as his deputy by many of Gurdjieff's other pupils. She was responsible for transmitting the movements
Movements (sacred dances)
The Gurdjieff movements are the name given to the collective body of sacred dances that were collected or authored by G. I. Gurdjieff and taught to his students as part of the work of self observation and self study....
and teachings of Gurdjieff through the Gurdjieff Foundation of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, the Gurdjieff Institute of 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...
and other formal and informal groups throughout the world.
Madame de Salzmann began her career at the Conservatory of Geneva
Conservatoire de musique de Genève
The Conservatoire de musique de Genève is a music school in Geneva, Switzerland.Founded by François Bartholoni in 1835. This conservatory is the oldest music education institution in Switzerland and one of the oldest conservatory in Europe. Franz Liszt has taught at this conservatory during the...
, studying piano, orchestral conduction and musical composition. Later a student of Emile Jaques-Dalcroze
Émile Jaques-Dalcroze
Émile Jaques-Dalcroze , was a Swiss composer, musician and music educator who developed eurhythmics, a method of learning and experiencing music through movement...
in Germany from 1912, she taught dance and rhythmic movements. She met her husband Alexandre de Salzmann in Hellerau
Hellerau
Hellerau is a quarter in the City of Dresden, Germany. It was the first garden city in Germany.Based on the ideas of Ebenezer Howard, businessman Karl Schmidt-Hellerau founded Hellerau near Dresden in 1909. The idea was to create an organic, planned community...
at Dalcroze's school. With him she had a daughter, Boussique. The Russian revolution triggered a move for Jeanne and her husband Alexandre to Tiflis, Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
where she continued to teach.
In 1919, Thomas de Hartmann
Thomas de Hartmann
Thomas Alexandrovich de Hartmann September 21, 1885March 28, 1956 was a Russian composer and prominent student and collaborator of George Gurdjieff.-Biography:...
introduced the de Salzmanns to George Gurdjieff, a relationship that would last until Gurdjieff's death in 1949. She worked with Gurdjieff for nearly 30 years.
In December 1949, together with Henriette H. Lannes
Henriette H. Lannes
Henriette H. Lannes or Madame Lannes Pupil of G. I. Gurdjieff and teacher of Gurdjieff's system, mainly to English pupils in the Gurdjieff Foundation of Paris and London...
, Jane Heap
Jane Heap
Jane Heap was an American publisher and a significant figure in the development and promotion of literary modernism. Together with Margaret Anderson, her friend and business partner , she edited the celebrated literary magazine The Little Review, which published an extraordinary collection of...
and J. G. Bennett she initiated the startup of an organization, which would eventually become the Gurdjieff Foundation
Gurdjieff Foundation
The Gurdjieff Foundation is a variety of organisations based on the ideas of George Gurdjieff.Gurdjieff inspired the formation of many groups after his death...
, to continue the Gurdjieff Work. On 6 October 1955 The Society for Research into the Development of Man Ltd. was founded. This organization later changed to The Gurdjieff Society Ltd., on the 17 June 1957. She led the organization and continued Gurdjieffs teachings, emphasizing work with the movements, until she died, 101 years old in 1990.
Her son by Gurdjieff, Michel de Salzmann
Michel de Salzmann
Michel de Salzmann was a psychiatrist, and the director of the Gurdjieff Foundation from 1990 until his death. The position was inherited from his mother, Jeanne de Salzmann. Frank R. Sinclair, President of New York Foundation claims that Michel was the son of Gurdijeff.One of his notable students...
born 1923, took over the leadership of the organization.