André Jolivet
A fiercely independent French composer who wove ancient magic, modern science, and a quest for the spiritual into a unique sonic language.
1905–1974 (age 69)·French composer·Birthday: August 8·The Greatest Generation
Biography
André Jolivet stood apart from his contemporaries, driven by a vision of music as a primal, almost shamanic force. Initially influenced by his teacher Paul Le Flem and later by Edgar Varèse, Jolivet rejected the prevailing neoclassicism of 1930s Paris. He co-founded the group "La Jeune France" with Olivier Messiaen and others, championing a more expressive, humanist music. Deeply fascinated by the ritualistic uses of sound in ancient cultures and the physics of acoustics, he sought to restore music's original 'magical' character. This led to a body of work that is both explosively rhythmic and delicately textured, from the wild, percussive "Cinq Incantations" for solo flute to the grandly orchestrated concertos. He served as music director of the Comédie-Française for over a decade, composing extensively for the stage. Throughout his career, Jolivet remained a staunch individualist, creating music that was resolutely modern yet connected to timeless human impulses.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
André was born in 1905, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When André Was Born
The biggest hits of 1905
André's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1905Born
Einstein publishes the theory of special relativity
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1910Started school
Halley's Comet makes its closest approach
President: William Howard Taft
1918Became a teenager
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1921Could drive
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1923Could vote
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1926Turned 21
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1935Turned 30
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1945Turned 40
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1955Turned 50
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1965Turned 60
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1974Died at 69
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
Key Achievements
- Co-founded the influential composer group "La Jeune France" in 1936 with Olivier Messiaen, Daniel-Lesur, and Yves Baudrier.
- Served as the musical director of the Comédie-Française from 1945 to 1959, composing numerous scores for theatrical productions.
- Composed "Cinq Incantations" for solo flute, a cornerstone of the modern flute repertoire.
- Wrote several concertos for unusual instruments, including the ondes Martenot and percussion.
- Was appointed a professor of composition at the Paris Conservatoire in 1966.
Did You Know?
He briefly worked as a music critic under the pseudonym "François Vêpres."
His early studies included painting, and he was a close friend of the painter Robert Delaunay.
He composed one of the first significant concertos for the electronic ondes Martenot.
During World War II, he was a soldier and later a member of the French Resistance.
“My goal is to restore music's original, ancient sense, when it was the magical, incantatory expression of the religious beliefs of human communities.”
