Joseph O'Kelly


Joseph O'Kelly, composer, pianist and choral conductor, was the most prominent member of a family of Irish musicians in 19th- and early 20th-century France. He wrote nine operas, four cantatas, numerous piano pieces and songs as well as a limited amount of chamber music.

Life

O'Kelly, the first child of the Dublin-born piano teacher Joseph Kelly and his wife Marie Duval, was born as Joseph Toussaint Kelly on 29 January 1828 in Boulogne-sur-Mer. Of his four brothers, two also became notable musicians: the music publisher Auguste O'Kelly and the composer and pianist George O'Kelly.
Around 1835 the family moved to Paris, where they lived at various addresses in the Faubourg Poissonnière area of the 9th arrondissement. Joseph received his early musical training from his father. As a foreign national he was not allowed to attend the Paris Conservatoire, instead he continued his education on the piano with George Alexander Osborne and Frédéric Kalkbrenner and in composition with Victor Dourlen and Fromental Halévy.
His earliest published compositions date from 1847. He has always used the name O'Kelly in his public appearances, although the official change of name from Kelly to O'Kelly did not occur before January 1859 when all brothers O'Kelly took this step simultaneously before a 'Tribunal Civil' in Boulogne-sur-Mer. Until 1855, his vocal output consisted exclusively of salon romances; after a break in vocal writing he returned in the 1860s with a series of settings of poems by Victor Hugo. In these considerably more ambitious pieces he dispenses with a strophic structure, employs more dramatic development and some technically advanced piano writing. His music for piano solo is altogether more ambitious and was influenced not only by his piano teachers Osborne and Kalbrenner, but also by Field, Berlioz and particularly Chopin, whom he greatly admired. With influences such as these, O'Kelly did not belong to the modernists in French music, which contributed to his early neglect. Nevertheless, his music is always tastefully written, technically demanding and rewarding for performers.
Throughout his life O'Kelly showed a keen interest in opera. All of his nine operas are one-act comic operas, four of which were published. Stella was expressly written as a salon opérette, but his best-known works were La Zingarella, performed in February and March 1879 at the Opéra Comique in Paris, and La Barbière improvisée, performed in April and May 1884 at the Bouffes-Parisiennes.
Of his four cantatas, the first, Paraguassú, was the most extended piece, dealing with a 16th-century episode from Brazil, for which he was awarded with the Knighthood of the Order of the Rose by the Brazilian emperor Don Pedro II. The third, the Cantate des Irlandais de France au Centenaire d'O'Connell, to words by another Franco-Irishman, the Viscount O'Neill de Tyrone, was performed in excerpts at the O'Connell Centenary in Dublin in 1875 – the only instance when O'Kelly visited Ireland. The fourth, Justice et Charité was a commission to celebrate the renovation of the chapel at the Castle of Versailles.
Although O'Kelly never assumed French citizenship, according to, he "didn't speak a word of English". Yet he clearly identified himself as Irish: the change of name in 1859 is one proof for it, but he was also a member of the 'Anciens Irlandais' community of Irishmen in France and composed works relating to Ireland such as the Mac-Mahon Marche op. 41 and an Air irlandais op. 58. He also dedicated several of his works to members of the Irish community in Paris.
Besides the 1859 award from Brazil, O'Kelly was also decorated with Portugal's national order of merit, the Order of Christ and became a Chevalier of the Légion d'Honneur in 1881.
Joseph O'Kelly died of bowel cancer on 9 January 1885 in Paris, in the apartment of his brother George in the 17th arrondissement. Camille Saint-Saëns played the organ at his funeral mass in the church of St. Ferdinand. He was buried on the Cimetière de Passy, but the grave is no longer extant. One of his sons, Henri O'Kelly, became a noted pianist, organist and composer.

Compositions

For details of performances, publications, dedications etc. see the O'Kelly Catalogue of Works, Appendix 2 in Klein
OperasLa Chasse du roi. Opéra-comique 1 act, unpublishedStella. Salon opérette, 1 act, unpublishedL'Arracheuse de dents. Opérette, unpublishedRuse contre ruse. Opéra comique, 1 act, Paris: Journal des demoiselles Le Mariage de Martine. Opérette, unpublished
  • , Paris: A. O'Kelly Les Secondes noces de bourgmestre. Opéra comique, unpublishedBibi-tapin. Opérette, 1 act, unpublishedLa Barbière improvisée. Opéra comique, 1 act, Paris: A. O'Kelly
Choral musicParaguassú: Chronique brésilienne. Poème Lyrique en trois parties, for S, A, T, B, chorus, orch, Paris: Choudens, libretto published Paris: Bolle-Lassalle Gloire aux Gaulois. Chœur pour quatre voix d’homme, Paris: Gambogi frères Chant du travail, ttbb, unpublishedBerceuse brésilienne, Bar, ttbb, unpublished1° Cantate , unpublishedCantate des Irlandais de France au Centenaire d’O’Connell, unpublishedNoël. Cantique avec accompt. d’orgue & chœur ad libitum, Paris: A. O'Kelly Justice et Charité. Cantate réligieuse, unpublished
SongsL'Heure fatale. Duo, unpublished.Fleur d'Andalousie, Paris: Bernard Latte Floritta, Paris: E. Mayaud La Gitana, Paris: E. Mayaud Rêverie. Mélodie, Paris: E. Mayaud L'Heure du soir. Mélodie, Paris: E. Mayaud Il faut partir. Romance dramatique, Paris: E. Mayaud La Fleur du Moine. Mélodie, Paris: E. Mayaud Un Ange. Mélodie, Paris: J. Meissonnier fils Tout par amour, Paris: J. Meissonnier fils Celle que j'aime tant. Romance, Paris: E. Mayaud Ne me dis pas jamais, Paris: J. Meissonnier fils Un Souvenir. Mélodie, Paris: J. Meissonnier fils Mes bluets. Romance, Paris: Journal des Demoiselles Album de la Légion d’Honneur : 1. Chantez toujours. Ariette; 2. Les Frères soldats. Romance; 3. Le Papillon. Mélodie; 4. La Fille du ciel. Historiette; 5. Qui vent trop prouver. Chansonnette; 6. Les Étoiles. Nocturne à deux voix égales; Paris: J. Meissonnier fils La Légende du colibri, Paris: Choudens Vieille chanson du jeune temps, Paris: Gambogi frères Faisons un rêve. Mélodie, Paris: Gambogi frères Les Adieux de Valentin. Chanson, Paris: E. Heu Tristesse d’Olympio. Méditation, Paris: Choudens À une mère. Mélodie, Paris: H.L. d’Aubel Chanson d’une mère, Paris: Ch. Gambogi et Cie. Dernier chant!, Paris: Ch. Gambogi et Cie. Hymne au printemps. Mélodie avec accompagnement d’orgue ab libitum, Paris: Ch. Gambogi et Cie. Sous les branches. Mélodie, Paris: Ch. Gambogi et Cie. Stances à l'immortalité, Paris: Au Ménestrel, Henri Heugel Clair de lune. Méditation. Paris: Au Ménestrel, Henri Heugel En avril, Paris: G. Hartmann Le Rhin allemand, Paris: A. O'Kelly Ne touchez pas à la France, Paris: A. O'Kelly La Voix de l'heure, Paris: A. O'Kelly Le Nid, Paris: A. O’Kelly Trois Mélodies, Paris: A. O'Kelly & Versailles: Lissarague Madrid, Paris: A. O'Kelly Aurore, Paris: A. O'Kelly En mer, Paris: A. O'Kelly Le Nid de la fauvette. Paris: L. Bathlot Valse des fleurs. Chantée dans la Barbière Improvisée, Paris: A. O'Kelly Adieu Agnus Dei, Paris: A. O'Kelly L'Immortalité de l'âme, Paris: Au Ménestrel, Henri Heugel Six Mélodies. Paris: Au Ménestrel, Henri Heugel
Piano musicBouton d'or. Polka. Paris: Mme. Cendrier Rêverie op. 2. Paris: Mme. Cendrier Six Études de salon. Paris: Alexandre Grus La Rosée. Impromptu de salon op. 3. Paris: Alexandre Grus Deux pensées caractéristiques op. 4: 1: Aveux du soir. Melodie ; 2: Les caquets. Étude. Paris: Mme. Cendrier Metiva. Mazurka op. 5. Paris: Choudens Fantaisie brillante sur une mélodie de Fr. Schubert op. 6. Paris: Richault
  • Paris: J. Meissonnier fils Grande valse brillante op. 8. Paris: Chabal Le Lac . Transcrit et varié op. 9 Chant du départ. Fantaisie. Paris: Richault La Mare aux fées, Souvenir de Fontainebleau. Caprice op. 11. Paris: H. Lemoine Rêverie d’automne. Nocturne op. 12. Paris: H. Lemoine Rayons de printemps. Morceau de salon op. 13. Paris: H. Lemoine Le Beïja-flor . Caprice-étude op. 14 Paris: Choudens Dis-le moi!, de Schubert. Paris: Richault Fantaisie sur l’opéra Falstaff d’Adolphe Adam op. 16. Paris: Richault Souvenir du bal. Mazourka op. 17. Paris: H. Lemoine Naples. Tarantelle op. 18. Paris: H. Lemoine Au Bord de la mer. Méditation op. 19. Paris: Gambogi frères Les Oiseaux de Trianon. Idylle op. 20. Paris: Gambogi frères Les Bluets. Morceau de salon op. 21. Paris: E. Gérard & Cie. La Bruyère. Caprice suédois op. 22. Paris: G. Brandus & S. Dufour Plainte de l’exilé. Cantabile op. 23. Paris: Schonenberger L'Enrôlement. Marche op. 24. Paris: Gambogi frères Fusées volantes op. 25. Paris: Gambogi frères Les Soirées enfantines. Transcriptions faciles. Paris: Gambogi frères. Numbers 2, 3, 4, 7, 10, 11 : G.G. 1518–1523 . Numbers 1, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12 : G.G. 1668, 1671, 1669, 1672, 1670, 1673Valse des nymphes op. 27. Paris: Colombier Une Matinée rose. Idylle op. 28. Paris: E. & A. Girod Cavatine de la favorite op. 29. Paris: Léon Grus Marcha da exposicão portuensa. Marche de l’Exposition de Porto . Paris: F. Mackar et Gresse . Republished as .Maria pia. Valsa para piano . Paris: F. Mackar et Gresse Les Soirées enfantines. Transcriptions faciles. Deuxième série. Paris: Gambogi frères Le Menuet de la reine op. 32. Paris: E. & A. Girod Les Castagnettes. Caprice espagnol op. 33. Paris: E. & A. Girod Les Soirées intimes. Transcriptions faciles. Paris: Ch. Gambogi et Cie. La Noce de village. Caprice villageois pour le piano sur le chœr de Laurent de Rillé op. 34. Paris: Ch. Gambogi et Cie. La Retraite. Fantaisie militaire sur le chœur de Laurent de Rillé op. 35. Paris: Léon Grus La Permission de dix heures. Chanson Louis xv. op. 36. Paris: E. Cellerin Pavane dansée à la cour du roi Henri iii op. 37. Paris: G. Flaxland La Vague et la perle. Traduction Musicale op. 38. Paris: E. Cellerin
  • Paris: Félix Mackar . Reprinted 1877.Nouvelles mélodies de François Schubert. Paris: Schonenberger Mac-Mahon Marche op. 41. Paris: Choudens Berceuse op. 42. Paris: E. Heu
  • Paris: E. Heu Chemin faisant. Souvenir op. 44. Paris: E. Heu Romance de Joconde de l'opéra de J. Nicolo op. 45. Paris: A. O'Kelly Deux Romances de Beethoven: 1. en sol op. 46 No. 1; 2. romance en fa op. 46 No. 2. Paris: A. O'Kelly Marivaudage. Souvenir du 18ème siècle op. 47. Paris: A. O'Kelly
  • Paris: E. et A. Girod Valse de printemps op. 49. Paris: E. et A. Girod Vingt-cinq études récréatives op. 50. Paris: F. Schoen Au bal. Souvenir op. 51. Paris: A. O'Kelly En 1795. Interméde-gavotte op. 52. Paris: A. O'Kelly Après la tempête. Élégie dramatique op. 53. Paris & Versailles: A. O'Kelly & Lissarague
  • Paris: Choudens père et fils Le Timbre d’argent. Opéra fantastique de C. Saint-Saëns. Fantaisie, transcription pour piano op. 55. Paris: Choudens père et fils Carmen. Opéra-comique de G. Bizet. Fantaisie op. 56. Paris: Choudens père et fils Martha. Fantaisie. Paris: Choudens père et fils Capriccio op. 57. Paris: A. O'Kelly Air irlandais op. 58. Paris: A. O'Kelly Gavotte op. 59. Paris: A. O'Kelly Le Déserteur. Opéra de Monsigny. Fantaisie Transcription à 2 Mains op. 60. Paris: A. O'Kelly Le Déserteur. Opéra de Monsigny. Transcription sur d'autres Motifs à 4 Mains op. 61. Paris: A. O'Kelly Ballet des muses. Caprice op. 62. Paris: Félix Mackar Les Fils d'automne. Harmonie Poétique op. 63. Paris: Félix Mackar Esquisses mythologiques op. 64. Paris: A. O'Kelly & Naus À l'aventure. Chanson op. 65. Paris: Léon Grus Vingt-cinq études de mécanisme & de style op. 66. Paris: A. O'Kelly
Chamber musicGrand duo sur les Noces de Jeannette, Opéra de Victor Massé op. 10, Paris: Mme. Cendrier
  • op. 15. Paris: Richault Ouverture de Zampa de F. Hérold. Paris: E. Gérard et Cie. Ouverture de Don Juan de Mozart. Paris: E. Gérard et Cie. Ouverture du Freyschutz de C. M. Weber. Paris: E. Gérard et Cie. Ouverture de Le jeune Henri de Méhul. Paris: E. Gérard et Cie. Ouverture d’Oberon, de C.M. de Weber. Paris: E. Gérard et Cie. Ouverture de Sémiramide de G. Rossini. Paris: E. Gérard et Cie. Mac-Mahon Marche. For military band ; version of piano piece op. 41. Unpublished.Menuet, pour flûte, hautbois, cor, alto, violoncelle et contrebasse. Unpublished.