Clémence de Grandval

Clémence de Grandval (21 January 1828 – 15 January 1907), born as Marie Félicie Clémence de Reiset and also known as Vicomtesse de Grandval and Marie Grandval, was a French composer of the Romantic era. She was a person and composer of stature during her life, although less remembered subsequently.^[1] Unlike many of her contemporaries, she wrote many pieces for oboe; and unlike her female contemporaries, she wrote several operas. Many of her works were published under pseudonyms.

Biography

She was born in 1828,^[2] into a well-to-do family in the Chateau de la Cour du Bois at Saint-Rémy-des-Monts, the youngest of four children. Her father was an officer in the Légion d'honneur and a talented pianist, while her mother wrote and published stories.^[3] Her parents received many composers and artists, including Jean-Baptiste-Philémon de Cuvillon, Auguste-Joseph Franchomme, Louis-Nicolas Cary and Paul Scudo.

At a very young age, she received composition lessons from composer and family friend Friedrich Flotow. Later she received piano lessons from Chopin. Because her family was wealthy, she was able to compose without worrying about financial considerations. A few years later, she married the Vicomte de Grandval and they had two daughters, Isabelle and Thérèse.^[3] She subsequently studied for two years with Camille Saint-Saëns.^[1] Her social position led her to publish several of her pieces under pseudonyms.^[3] These included Caroline Blangy, Clémence Valgrand, Maria Felicita de Reiset and Maria Reiset de Tesier.

Her earliest works were sacred and performed in churches, but she went on to write a number of operas and various popular songs and instrumental works, including many pieces for oboe. However, the orchestral scores of some of her pieces have been lost.^[4]

During the 1870s, she played a major role in the Société Nationale de Musique, and was the most played composer in this society. She also gave much money to the organisation.^[3] During the second part of the 19th century, she was a very popular composer who was admired by many critics.

She died in Paris in 1907.^[3]

Notable compositions

See also: List of compositions by Clémence de Grandval

Opera

• Le sou de Lise (1859)
• Les fiancés de Rosa (1863)
• Piccolino (1869)
• Atala (c. 1888)
• Mazeppa (1892)

Choral

• Mass (1867)
• Stabat mater (1870), cantata
• Sainte-Agnès (1876), oratorio
• La fille de Jaïre (1881), oratorio

Concertante

• Oboe concerto in D minor, Op. 7

Chamber

• 2 pieces for clarinet and piano (1885)
• 4 pieces for cor anglais and piano

Songs

• "Noël!" (1901)

Awards

• 1880: Concour Rossini, for her oratorio La fille de Jaïre.
• 1890: Cartier Prize, Conservatoire de Paris, for her chamber music.^[3]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Robert Hugill. "CD review: Clemence de Grandval: Works for Oboe". MusicWeb-International. http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev//2008/Feb08/Grandval_cd98295.htm. Retrieved 4 March 2011. 
2. ^ Tsou, Judy (2001). "Grandval (née de Reiset), Marie (Félicie Clémence), Vicomtesse de". In Sadie, Stanley. New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. 10. London: Macmillan. p. 294. ISBN 0-333-60800-3. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Desmond, Kevin. "La cour du bois" (in French). Culture, Patrimoine, Folklore du Saosnois en Sarthe. http://www.saosnois.com/St-remy-des-monts/chateau%20cour%20du%20bois_.htm. Retrieved 4 March 2011. 
4. ^ Robert Hugill. "Reviewer's log - April 2008". MusicWeb-International. http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2008/May08/review_log_Hugill_Apr08.htm. Retrieved 4 March 2011. 

External links

• Free scores by Clémence de Grandval at the International Music Score Library Project
• Biography of Clémence de Grandval (French)

Persondata
Name	Grandval, Clémence de
Alternative names	Reiset, Marie Félicie Clémence de
Short description	Composer
Date of birth	21 January 1828
Place of birth	Saint-Rémy-des-Monts, France
Date of death	15 January 1907
Place of death	Paris, France