Chris Mary Francine Whittle (born 23 May 1927) is a Belgian composer, performer ( harpsichord and

piano The piano is a stringed keyboard instrument in which the strings are struck by wooden hammers that are coated with a softer material (modern hammers are covered with dense wool felt; some early pianos used leather). It is played using a keybo ...

) and teacher.

Biography

Chris Mary Francine Whittle was born in Antwerp, Belgium on 23 May 1927. Whittle studied music at the Royal Conservatoire in Antwerp, where she won several prizes, including the Albert de Vleeschower prize for composition. Whittle also studied music in

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

with Alfred Cortot at the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris. Whittle then spent 20 years composing and touring internationally as a pianist in Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Poland and Switzerland. Whittle became interested in the harpsichord, which she studied in

Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the capital and most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population of 907,976 within the city proper, 1,558,755 in the urban ar ...

with Gustav Leonhardt. She taught at the Wynegem music school in Belgium and gave recitals on harpsichord. Whittle married Luc Jageneau, a harpsichord builder.

Works

Whittle's compositions were published by Schott-Freres. They include:

Chamber

* Capriccio, Op. 7 (violin and piano; 1947) * Sonata (violin and piano; 1951) * ''Toccata per Il Cembalo'' (harpsichord; 1969) * ''Trio en Forme de Suite'', Op. 24 (trumpet, horn, bassoon; 1955) * Trio, Op. 11 (violin, cello and piano; 1949) * ''Variations for Carillon'', Op. 1 (1951) * ''Woodwind Quintet'' (1951; won the Albert de Vleeschower prize)

Orchestra

* Concerto for Piano (1948) * Variations on an Old Scottish Song (1952)

Piano

* 24 Preludes, Op. 14 (1952) * Ballade, Op 15 (1949) * Berceuse, Op. 4 (1947) * Diurne, Op. 22 (1965) * Impromptu, Op. 27 (1966) * Intermezzi, Op. 32 * ''Ondine'', Op. 12 (1952) * ''Scottish Dances'', Op. 16 (1951) * Sonata, Op. 4 (1947) * Sonata, Op. 9 (1948) * Sonatine, Op. 30 (1967) * Two Nocturnes, Op. 6 (1967-68) * Two Small Pieces, Op. 25 (four hands; 1960) * Two Suites, Op 1 (1943)

Vocal

* Christmas Carols, Op. 28 (chorus; 1966) * Missa brevis, Op. 2 (1944) * ''Odelette'', Op. 20 (mezzo-soprano, piano and orchestra; 1951) * Regina Coeli, Op. 17 (chorus; 1950) * Six Lieder, Op. 23 (1966)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Whittle, Chris Mary Francine 1927 births Possibly living people Belgian women composers Belgian pianists Belgian harpsichordists