Grandval, Marie Felicia (1830–1907)
Grandval, Marie Felicia (1830–1907)
French composer. Name variations: Clemence de Reiset; Vicomtesse de Caroline Blangy; Clemence Vaigrand; Maria Felicita de Reiset; Maria Reiset de Tesier. Born at Chateau de la Cour-de-Bois, Saint-Remy des Monts, Sarthe, on January 20, 1830; died in Paris on January 15, 1907; studied under Saint-Saëns and received instruction from Chopin.
One of the foremost woman composers of her era, Marie Felicia Grandval was doomed to amateur status, despite the fact that she was prolific, possessed professional skills and accomplishments, and was well known. Hers was a wealthy aristocratic family, and her composing was not taken as seriously in the musical world as it might have been had she been forced to earn a living in this field. She began studying music at age six and studied composition under Friedrich von Flotow. Later, she received instruction from Chopin and studied two years with Camille Saint-Saëns. As a composer, she used many names, both male and female. A number of her operas were produced in Paris, and by 1869 Grandval began to use her own name. She wrote oratorios, large choral pieces, chamber music, and symphonies. Marie Felicia Grandval's music has been characterized as "essentially French, energetic, vibrant, and melodic."
John Haag , Athens, Georgia