Daniel-Lesur, Jean Yves (real name, Daniel Jean Yves Lesur)

Daniel-Lesur, Jean Yves (real name, Daniel Jean Yves Lesur) , prominent French composer and pedagogue; b. Paris, Nov. 19, 1908. He spent his entire life in Paris, where he studied at the Cons. (1919–29) with J. Gallon and Caussade (harmony and fugue), Armand Ferté (piano), and Tournemiere (organ and composition). He was asst. organist at St. Clotilde (1927–37) and organist at the Benedictine Abbey (1935–39; 1942–44). With Messiaen, Baudrier, and Jolivet, he founded the Groupe Jeune France in 1936. He taught counterpoint (1935–64) and was director (1957–62) of the Schola Cantorum. He was responsible for music information for the French Radio (from 1939) and was music councilor for the French TV (from 1968). From 1969 to 1971 he was inspector general of music for the Ministry of Culture. He was administrator of the Réunion des Théâtres Lyriques Nationaux from 1971 to 1973. With B. Gavoty, he publ. Pour ou contre la musique moderne (Paris, 1957). He was made a Commandeur de la Légion d’honneur and a Commander de 1’Ordre National du Merité et Commandeur des Arts et Lettres. In 1982 he was made a member of the Academic des Beaux-Arts. In his compositions, Daniel- Lesur perfected an ascetic modal style.

Works

DRAMATIC Opera : Andrea del Sarto (1968; Marseilles, Jan. 24, 1969); Ondine (Paris, April 26, 1982); La Reine morte (1987). B a l l e t : L’Infante et le Monstre (1938; in collaboration with A. Jolivet); Le bal du destin, after the Symphonie de danses (1954); Metaforen (1965; The Hague, Jan. 17, 1966); Un jour un enfant, after the Suite for String Trio and Piano (Tours, Nov. 29, 1969). O t h e r : Film scores. ORCH.: Hommage à J.S. Bach for Strings (1933); Suite frangaise (Paris, March 17, 1935); Passacaille for Piano and Orch. (Paris, June 4, 1937); Pastorale for Chamber Orch. (1938); Ricercare (1939; Radio Geneva, May 11, 1941); L’Étoile de Seville, suite for Chamber Orch. (1941); Variations for Piano and Strings (1943); Andrea del Sarto, symphonic poem (Paris, June 21, 1949); Ouverture pour un festival (Toulouse, June 6, 1951); Concerto da camera for Piano and Chamber Orch. (1953; Strasbourg, June 14, 1954); Serenade for Strings (1954); Le bal du destin, suite after the ballet (1956; Paris, Jan. 10, 1957); Symphonic de danses for Piano, Timpani, and Strings (Paris, Dec. 4, 1958); Nocturne for Oboe and Strings (1974); Symphonic d’ombre et de lumiere (1974; Paris, May 7, 1975); Mélodrame for Tuba and Orch. (1991); Stèle à la mémoire d’une jeune fille for Flute and Strings (1991; Fresnes, Jan. 16, 1992); Fantaisie concertante for Cello and Orch. (1992; Paris, Sept. 1994); Impromptu for Flute, Harp, and Strings (1993); Lamento for Harp and Strings (1995). CHAMBER : Cinq Interludes for 4 Horns (1935); Suite for 3 Woodwinds (1939); Suite for String Quartet (1940); Suite for Piano Quartet (1943); Suite médiévale for Flute, Harp, and String Trio (1946); Sextet for Flute, Oboe, Violin, Viola, Cello, and Harpsichord (1948); Élégie for 2 Guitars (1956); Nocturne for Oboe and Piano (1974); Intermezzo for Violin and Piano (1977); Novellete for Flute and Piano (1977). KEYBOARD: Piano : Soirs (1922–29); Les carillons, suite (1930); Bagatelle (1934); Suite Française (1935); Pavane (1938); Deux Noëls (1939–40); Le village imaginaire for 2 Pianos (1947); Pastorale variée (1947); Ballade (1948); Nocturne (1953); Le bal (1954); Fantaisie for 2 Pianos (1962); Trois études (1962); Contre-fugue for 2 Pianos (1970). Organ : Scéne de la passion (1931); La vie intérieure (1932); In paradisum (1933); Hymnes (1935); Quatre hymnes (1937–39). VOCAL: V o i c e and Piano : Les harmonies intimes (1931); La mort des violes (1931); Les yeuxfermes (1932); La mouette (1932); Trois poèmes de Cécile Sauvage (1939); L’enfance de I’art (1942); Clair comme le jour (1945); Berceuses à tenir éveillé (1947). OTHER: Quatre lieder for Voice and Orch. (1933–39; N.Y., Nov. 30, 1948); Deux chansons de I’Etoile de Seville for Voice and Orch. (1941); Anne et le dragon for Chorus and Chamber Ensemble (1945); Chansons Cambodgiennes for Voice and Orch. (1947); Dialogues dans la nuit for Soprano, Baritone, and Orch. (1950–87); L’Annociation, oratorio for Tenor, 2 Reciters, Chorus, and Chamber Orch. (1951); Le Cantique des Cantiques, cantata for Chorus (Bordeaux, May 1, 1953); Le Cantique des Colonnes for Women’s Chorus and Orch. (1953–57); Messe du jubilé for Chorus, Organ, and Orch. (1960); Chanson de manage for Women’s Chorus (1964); Encore un instant de bonheur, cantata for Vocal Ensemble and Chamber Orch. (1989); Le voyage d’automne for Voice and Orch. (1990); Permis de sejour for Voice and Strings (1990); A la lisiere du temps for Voice, Flute, Harp, and Strings (1991); Dialogues imaginaires for Soprano, Baritone, and Orch. (1991).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire