Claire Delbos (1906 - 1959) France
- andreachamizoalber
- Sep 2
- 1 min read
Louise-Justine Delbos, better known by her pseudonym Claire Delbos, was a French violinist and composer born in Paris in 1906. She studied at the Schola Cantorum and the Conservatoire de Paris, specializing in violin and composition. She was also the first wife of composer Olivier Messiaen, whom she met through her work as a performer.
I share L'âme en bourgeon , with link to download the sheet music :)
They married in 1932 and collaborated on several recitals. Messiaen dedicated several works to her, such as the Theme and Variations for violin and piano, composed as a wedding gift, and later the song cycle Poèmes pour Mi , where "Mi" was his affectionate nickname for her. Delbos composed many pieces for organ, such as Paraphrase sur le jugement dernier , which I share below; you can see the score in the video.
They had a son, Pascal, in 1937. However, Delbos's life was marked by tragedy. In 1949, a failed surgery caused a brain infection that resulted in total amnesia. She spent her final years in a sanatorium, unable to recover her memory, and died in 1959.
Despite her talent as a composer and performer, her figure was overshadowed by the fame of her husband (typical...), although his influence was significant on her life and work during the most intimate years of her career.
I'll end by sharing "Mais je suis belle d'être aimée," the third of the five melodies in her work "Primevère." The link to the score is also below.
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