Marc Honegger (17 May 1926 – 8 September 2003) was a French

musicologist Musicology (from Greek μουσική ''mousikē'' 'music' and -λογια ''-logia'', 'domain of study') is the scholarly analysis and research-based study of music. Musicology departments traditionally belong to the humanities, although some m ...

and choirmaster.

Biography

A distant cousin of the Swiss-born composer

Arthur Honegger Arthur Honegger (; 10 March 1892 – 27 November 1955) was a Swiss composer who was born in France and lived a large part of his life in Paris. A member of Les Six, his best known work is probably ''Antigone'', composed between 1924 and 1927 t ...

, he studied at the

Sorbonne Sorbonne may refer to: * Sorbonne (building), historic building in Paris, which housed the University of Paris and is now shared among multiple universities. *the University of Paris (c. 1150 – 1970) *one of its components or linked institution, ...

, where he was a pupil of

Paul-Marie Masson Paul-Marie Masson (9 September 1882 – 27 January 1954) was a French musicologist Musicology (from Greek μουσική ''mousikē'' 'music' and -λογια ''-logia'', 'domain of study') is the scholarly analysis and research-based study o ...

. He received a very complete musical training, studying piano with Santiago Riera (1942–1949), musical composition with

Georges Migot Georges Elbert Migot (27 February 1891 – 5 January 1976) was a prolific French composer. Though primarily known as a composer, he was also a poet, often integrating his poetry into his compositions, and an accomplished painter. He won the 1921 ...

(from 1946), and conducting with Ion Constantinesco (1947–1948). An assistant of

Jacques Chailley Jacques Chailley (24 March 1910 – 21 January 1999) was a French musicologist and composer. Alain Lompech, "Jacques Chailley, musicologue-praticien et infatigable chercheur", ''Consociatio internationalis musicæ sacræ, Musicæ sacræ ministeriu ...

at the Institut de Musicologie of the Sorbonne (1954–1958), then teaching assistant at the Strasbourg University (from 1958), he became full professor in 1970. He also taught in Canada. He directed the Institute of Musicology of the Marc Bloch University of Strasbourg from 1958 to 1983. He was also president of the (1977–1980) and vice-president of the International Musicological Society (1982–1992).

Musicological research

Honegger's research focused mainly on music of the 16th century. He supported two doctoral theses, one on the origins of Reformed Protestant music in France, ''Les Chansons spirituelles de Didier Lupi et les débuts de la musique protestante en France au XVIe'' and the other on the alterations ( flats or sharps) not noted in the Renaissance music, ''Les Messes de Josquin des Prés dans la tablature de Diego Pisador (Salamanque 1552): contribution à l'étude des altérations au XVIe''. He contributed to the publication of works by composers of the 16th century such as Paschal de L'Estocart,

Claudin de Sermisy Claudin de Sermisy (c. 1490 – 13 October 1562) was a French composer of the Renaissance music, Renaissance.Isabelle Cazeaux, "Claudin d Sermisy", "The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians", ed. Stanley Sadie. 20 vol. (London, Macmillan ...

, Pierre Certon, Didier Lupi Second, and Claude Goudimel. The dictionaries he has coordinated are today still reference works. Honegger was also interested in 20th-century music, notably that of

(1891–1976) who was his teacher and whose work he wanted to make known. He became secretary-general of the association of friends of the work and thought of Georges Migot. He published the ''Catalogue des œuvres musicales de Georges Migot'' in 1977. He helped publish musical scores such as ''26 Monodies permodales'' in 1990 and ''L'Annonciation'', an

oratorio An oratorio () is a large musical composition for orchestra, choir, and soloists. Like most operas, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an instrumental ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias. However, opera is ...

for two soloists, three-part female chorus and string orchestra (1993). He produced recordings, ''Le Petit Evangéliaire'', nine choruses ''a capella'', ''Requiem a capella'' for mixed choir or vocal quartet, recorded with his Ensemble Les Chanteurs Traditioneles de Paris. He also organized exhibitions on Georges Migot.

Work as choirmaster

At the age of 21, he began a career as a choirmaster in the Parisian

Protestant churches Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century against what its followers perceived to b ...

of the (1947–1952) and the Holy Spirit (1952–1954). From 1952 to 1959, he directed the ''Chœur des chanteurs traditionnels de Paris'', with which he restored and published religious or profane music of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. As a choral conductor, he recorded ''La Bataille de Marignan'' by

Clément Janequin Clément Janequin (c. 1485 – 1558) was a French composer of the Renaissance. He was one of the most famous composers of popular chansons of the entire Renaissance, and along with Claudin de Sermisy, was hugely influential in the development o ...

, the French masters of the Renaissance, and especially the three-part

Tournai Mass Tournai or Tournay ( ; ; nl, Doornik ; pcd, Tornai; wa, Tornè ; la, Tornacum) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. It lies southwest of Brussels on the river Scheldt. Tournai is part of Eurome ...

. He obtained the in 1958. In 1961, Honegger established the ''Journées de Chant Choral'' of Strasbourg, which became one of the biggest festivals of its kind in Europe.

Writings

* ''Dictionnaire de la musique: les hommes et leurs œuvres'', * ''Dictionnaire de la musique: technique, formes, instruments'', *1992: *1994: ''Dictionnaire usuel de la Musique'', Paris, *1996: ''Connaissance de la Musique (de A à Z)'', Bordas *2002: ''Dictionnaire du musicien'',''Dictionnaire du musicien''
/ref> Paris,

Éditions Larousse Éditions Larousse is a French publishing house specialising in reference works such as dictionaries. It was founded by Pierre Larousse and its best-known work is the ''Petit Larousse''. It was acquired from private owners by Compagnie Europée ...

Bibliography

* Marc Munch, "Marc Honegger", in ', vol. 45,

References

Persée ''Persée'' (''Perseus'') is a tragédie lyrique with music by Jean-Baptiste Lully and a libretto by Philippe Quinault, first performed on 18 April 1682 by the Opéra at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal in Paris. Roles Synopsis ACT I: The Pal ...