Joseph Boulnois
Joseph Boulnois was a French organist and composer.
Biography
Boulnois attended the Conservatoire de Paris, where he studied counterpoint with Georges Caussade and organ with Louis Vierne. In 1906, he married the pianist Jane Chevalier, and they had a son the following year, Michel Boulnois, who also became a composer and organist.In 1908, he was appointed to the organ of the, in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris. He stayed there a short time and was appointed to the organ of the in the 9th arrondissement. In 1909, he was singing conductor at the Opéra-Comique. He remained very active as a soloist, notably as co-founder with Marc de Ranse, of the Concerts spirituels de Saint-Louis d'Antin. He also played in the Opéra-Comique and performed in the church in the 14th arrondissement.
After the beginning of the First World War, Boulnois was mobilised at the Février Hospital of Châlons-sur-Marne, where he was a nurse from 1 January 1915. Appointed a corporal on 26 March 1915, he became a sergeant on 19 October 1916.
During this period, Boulnois produced his most important works: the Sonate pour piano, the Suite en 5 parties for cello and piano, and the Trio for violin, cello and piano.
Having contracted the 1918 flu pandemic, Boulnois was hospitalised on 15 October 1918. He died five days later, three weeks before the Armistice of 11 November 1918.
Prizes
- 1901: 1st merit certificate in harmony
- 1905: First Prize of organ
- 1908: Second Prize in fugue
- 1910: First Prize of accompaniment for piano
Principal works
Orchestra
Sonate pour piano et petit orchestreRhapsodieMarineSymphonie funèbre La Toussaint, orchestration by Édouard MignanPiano
Menuet pastoralChoral en fa dièse mineurLa Toussaint MadrigalPavaneScherzinoGigueToccata, dedicated to his wife Jane ChevalierLa Basilique Sonate- ''Sainte Cécile au milieu d'un grand concert des anges''
Organ
- ''Quatre pièces brèves en ré''