A childhood Viennese Composer and Swiss pedagog. Emile Jaques is born on on July 6th, 1865 in Vienna in Austria within a family originating in Holy-Cross, in the canton of Vaud. His/her father is representative of Swiss factories of clock industry. The young person Emile Jaques nourishes as of his young age a passion for the theater. He also initiates himself with the music, in particular that of Johann Strauss. The Jaques family leaves Vienna for Geneva in 1875.
Emile studies initially at the Privat school then with the College of the City. He is also allowed with the Music college. The family lives place of the Alps, with the street Thalberg. At the University, Emile Jaques adheres to the company of the Humanities which contributed largely to its artistic development and its personal blooming. He at that time founds an orchestra of about fifteen musicians, Musigena. In 1881, Emile Jaques composes an operetta, the Maidservant, from which the partition unfortunately disappeared. He goes then to Paris, in 1884, with an aim of working his diction. He studies not only the dramatic art, but also the music. He composes in Paris Riquet with the bunch, operated comic which will never be represented.
In 1886 in Geneva, a composer of the name of Alder, originating in Eastern Switzerland, then proposes to him a post of second conductor within the theater of the Innovations which it directs to Algiers. He accepts, then composes the François Villon Schoolboy into 1887 who will never be played. In Algiers, it is familiarized with the rhythms of the Arab music. The theater goes bankrupt however and Jaques leaves then on the roads for a series of concerts with the troop. One offers then the position of director to him of the Academy of Algiers which he refuses. It is at that time that Emile Jaques takes the patronym of Emile Jaques-Dalcroze, in agreement with his friend of Geneva, Raymond Valcroze, and with an aim of avoiding any confusion with the French composer Jaques.
The first research on the rhythmic one
In 1887, Jaques-Dalcroze accompanies his/her father in Vienna where it is allowed with the Music college. It follows courses of organ and composition as well as piano. In 1889, it goes again to Paris where Mathis Lussy, eminent Swiss theorist of the musical rhythm, the put on the track of research and publications on the rhythmic one.
Of return to Geneva, it is named professor of musical theory and harmony to the Academy. On January 25th, 1893, a lyric continuation of Jaques-Dalcroze, Taken care, is given by the Company of song of the Academy. It begins also the series from its French Songs. In order to help his/her father in difficulty financially, Jaques-Dalcroze decides to exploit the success of these songs and leaves in round each end of the week. The first hearing of its songs takes place in the room of the Athenaeum in Geneva.
In 1896, Geneva accommodates the national Exposure where Jaques-Dalcroze produces its French Songs. It also composes the music for a festival whose victorious poem is the Alpine Poem of Daniel Baud-Bovy. Emile Jaques-Dalcroze composes then the music for the Review of which the goal is a harvest of funds for the restoration of the bell-tower of the Saint-Pierre cathedral. He connects in 1899 with the opera Sancho Pança which was assembled to Strasbourg. In 1899, Emile Jaques-Dalcroze marries Nina Faliero, an Italian professional singer. 1900 are the year of the composition of famous Jeu of the Leafy tree.
In 1903, Jaques-Dalcroze is indicated to compose the music of a part at the time of the commemoration of the centenary of the entry of the canton of Vaud in the Confederation. Its trade of professor to the Academy leads it to note that all the children do not react in the same way vis-a-vis the music. Certain children have difficulties in coordinate their movements. He concludes from it that the musical quality is not only auditive but also depends on a tactile or driving direction. It is thus necessary to find a balance between the harmony of the sounds, the musical art and the dance. Jaques-Dalcroze starts thorough research then. It sets up of the body exercises to fight the musical arrhythmia which is not, according to him, which a general arrhythmia.
The rhythmic one is soon a growing success. The Academies of Basle and Zurich adopt it soon. Between 1903 and 1910, Emile Jaques-Dalcroze gives demonstration of his Method of Eurhythmics in very many European cities.
The artistic productions of Jaques-Dalcroze continue: in 1906 the Catch Formerly, opera in an act, given to the Opera of Paris; (I) the Twins of Bergamo, (/i) opera in two acts, is him gone up in Brussels.
The Institute of Hellerau
The Jaques-Dalcroze on October 3rd, 1910 leaves Geneva for Germany. One proposes to him to build in Hellerau (Dresden) a school where to teach his method of musical education. The fame of the establishment quickly becomes international.
In 1912, the Institute Dalcroze de Hellerau sets up of the school festivals. Five hundred journalists of the whole world and several thousands of spectators will attend the spectacle which is composed of several parts and will be a broad success. In 1912, opens in Saint-Pétersbourg a Jaques-Dalcroze Institute.
In 1914, Geneva solicits Emile Jaques-Dalcroze for the Festivals of June, celebration of the centenary of the Genevese release by the confederated troops. Success is once again with go.
The Institute of the street of the Digger one
The First World War bursts on on August 2nd, 1914 and Jaques-Dalcroze signs the protest of Swiss artists against the destruction of the cathedral of Rheims and the library of Leuwen. Jaques-Dalcroze is consequently interdict of entry in Germany and its Institute of Hellerau closes its doors. The Jaques-Dalcroze Institute is then founded in Geneva with 44 rue de la Terrassière, its site current. It opens its doors in October 1915.
A first spectacle is assembled in 1918: First memories, according to a text of Jacques Chenevière and a music of Emile Jaques-Dalcroze. In 1923, the Festival of Youth and Joy are written and constitute a major work of the composer. He gains then Paris to teach at the Institute which bears its name to the street Vaugirard. Its presence in Paris contributes to propagate its ideas. The Rhythmic one from now on is perceived, not only like one figure, but like a pedagogy. Personalities not musicians are numerous to be interested in it. The demonstrations also contribute to make known the Jaques-Dalcroze method.
In 1925, Geneva grants the middle-class of honor Emile Jaques-Dalcroze, which fills it joy and of pride. After two last years in Paris, Jaques-Dalcroze is of return to Geneva. In 1926 at the Institute of Geneva the first Congress of the Rhythm takes place where thirty lecturers express themselves.
In 1927, Jaques-Dalcroze turns over to Germany at the time of the musical teaching Congress of the International exhibition of Frankfurt.
In 1935, the 70 years of Emile Jaques-Dalcroze are celebrated in a not very ordinary way. A Gold Book, filled with 10 ' 500 signatures of pupils of the whole world, is given to the Genevese composer. In 1946, Jaques-Dalcroze has misfortune to lose his Nina wife.
Until 1948, Emile Jaques-Dalcroze goes daily to the Institute, although strongly decreased by rheumatisms with the legs. When it is not possible any more for him to move, it receives in its residence the visit of its pupils and professors. Its life of research and labor is completed on on July 1st, 1950. In 1954, four years after its death, the first international Congress is held of Rhythmic at the Jaques-Dalcroze Institute of Geneva.
Bibliography
Short chronology of the life and the work of Emile Jaques-Dalcroze, International union of the professors of rhythmic Jaques-Dalcroze, Geneva 1958.
Berchtold, Alfred, Emile Jaques-Dalcroze and his time, ED. The Old one of Man, Lausanne, 2000.
Brunet-Lecomte Helene, Jaques-Dalcroze: its life, its work, ED. Jeheber, Geneva; Paris, 1950.
Internet site from the Jaques-Dalcroze Institute in Geneva: http://www.dalcroze.ch