9/17/2015

JohnJoubertLongBiographyMusicSalesClassical

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John Joubert
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John Joubert
Born: 1927
Nationality: British
Publisher: Novello & Co
Photo Graham Boulton

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JohnJoubertwasborninCapeTownin1927.Hisfatherwasadescendantof
ProtestantrefugeesfromFrancewhohadsettledintheCapethenaDutchcolony
intheseventeenthcentury.HismothersforebearswereDutch.Despitethis
parentagehehadthemostEnglishofupbringings,theCapehavingbeencededto
EnglandafterthefallofNapoleon.Hereceivedhisearliestinstructioninmusicatthe
handsofhismotherwhowasanaccomplishedpianist,havingstudiedforatimein
LondonwithHarrietCohen.
HisschoolingtookplaceatanAnglicanfoundationrunonthelinesofanEnglish
publicschool.ThemusicmastertherehadbeenanassistanttoIvorAtkinsat
WorcesterCathedral.WhilstatschoolJoubertstartedcomposingandwasvery
fortunatetohavebeenabletostudycompositionwithWHBell,adistinguished
EnglishcomposerwhohadbeenthePrincipaloftheSouthAfricanCollegeofMusic
andapupilofFrederickCorder,theteacherofBax,BantockandHolbrooke.Hewas
alsofortunatetobegiventheopportunitytohavehisearliestworksperformed,not
onlyatschoolbutalsobytheCapeTownMunicipalOrchestra.
In1946hewasawardedascholarshipbythePerformingRightSocietytotheRoyal
AcademyofMusic.HerehisprincipalteachersincompositionwereTheodore
HollandandHowardFerguson,buthealsospentastimulatingtermwithAlanBush.
WhilststillattheAcademyhecomposedhisStringQuartetNo1andtheDivertimento
forPianoDuet,whichbecamehisOp1andOp2respectively.Hewasawardedboth
theFrederickCorderandRoyalPhilharmonicSocietyprizesforcomposition.
Havinggraduatedin1950withanexternalBMusdegreefromDurhamUniversityhewasappointedlaterthesameyeartoa
lectureshipatHullUniversity,andhismusicsoonbegantobewidelyperformed,publishedandbroadcast.Amongthemore
ambitiousworksofthisperiodwereSymphonyNo1,thePianoConcertoandthethreeactoperaSilasMarner.Someofhis
smallerchoralworks,notablythecarolTorches,becamepopularandhaveremainedintherepertoireeversince.
HecontinuedhisacademiccareeratBirminghamwherehewasappointedLecturer,laterSeniorLecturer,andeventually
ReaderinMusic,attheUniversity.Commissionscontinuedtocomehisway,andamongsttheworkshecomposedat
BirminghamwereSymphonyNo2,theoperaUnderWesternEyesandtheoratorioTheRaisingofLazarus.Intheearly1980s
hebegantofeelthattheincreasingdemandsofhistwoprofessionswerebecomingtooonerousforhimandhetookearly
retirementfromtheUniversityin1986inordertodevotehistimeexclusivelytocomposition.In1991hewasawardedan
honorarydoctorateinmusicbyDurhamUniversity.Inadditiontonumeroussmallerworks,recentyearshaveseenthefirst
performancesofhisoperaJaneEyre,thefulllengthoratorioWingsofFaithandAnEnglishRequiemforsoloists,chorusand
orchestra.ThelatterwasthecentrepieceofJoubertstimeasComposerinResidenceatthe2010ThreeChoirsFestival.
Joubert'snewCelloConcertocommissionedbyRaphaelWallfischwaspremieredinMarch2012.

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