Paule Maurice and her relative anonymity...

[Anthony J Moore]

Paule Maurice's "Tableaux De Provence," written between 1948 and 1955, is one of the most widely studied compositions of the classical saxophone genre, and not because there are no other compositions to study. It was originally written for Eb saxophone and orchestra, but is most often performed as a saxophone and piano piece. Paule Charlotte Marie Jeanne Maurice was born in 1910 and died in 1967, nineteen years after Tableaux de Provence was begun. It is a beautiful and intriguing piece that challenges the saxophonist both technically and aesthetically. It has been recorded over 40 times by professional performers and yet she is relatively unknown. It is true that classical saxophone is not a commonly known genre and one thinks of jazz more often then classical, but the undeniable fact is that the overwhelming majority of performers who record this piece include Tableaux De Provence with the finest peices of the classical saxophone canon. Paule Maurice composed during a time when composition was dominated by men. To read a more in depth study, click on the link below:

 

 

 

 

[Anthony J Moore]

Sophie Levy sent us the following email which has helped to clarify certain issues regarding her name and other specifics:

Dear Sir,

Here are the information I found about Paule Maurice.
Paule, Charlotte, Marie, Jeanne Maurice was born in Paris on September
29, 1910.
She studied harmony, fugue and composition at the Paris Conservatory
and obtained :
- a first prize of harmony in 1933
- a second prize of fugue in 1934
- a first prize of composition in 1939

She married Pierre Lantier.
She became a professor of "déchiffrage" at the Paris Conservatory in
1947. I found that she left the Conservatory in 1967, but I am not sure
of this date.

Several materials relative to Paule Maurice are kept at the
Conservatory's library.
The online catalogue of the Conservatory's library can be consulted at
the address :http://mediatheque.cnsmdp.fr.
For any information concerning these documents, please contact the
library :
Tel : [phone]
Email : [e-mail]

Moreover, I am pleased to send you a picture of Paule Maurice with her
students. Unfortunately, this photo is undated.
We keep two other pictures of the class of Paule Maurice in 1966 and
1967. I can send them to you if you want.
If you want to use these images in your work, please write the
indication : "Archives du CNSMDP. Droits réservés".

If possible, we would like to receive a copy of your thesis when it is
completed.

I hope these details will be of help.

Please feel free to write again if needed.

Sincerely,

Sophie Lévy
Responsable des archives du CNSMDP