Jacques de la Presle
1888 - 1969
French
Summary
Biography
French composer and teacher Jacques de la Presle was born in Versailles on July 5th 1888. His musical studies began at the Conservatory of Versailles with Paul Hauchet. After this, he began study at the Paris Conservatory, studying harmony with Antoine Taudou, counterpoint with Georges Caussade and composition with Paul Vidal. His studies were unfortunately interrupted by the First World War, but once the war was over, Presle began composing once more. In 1920, he was awarded the Second prize Priz de Rome for his cantata Don Juan and then went on to win the Grand Prix de Rome the following year with Hermione, before beginning a four year stay at the Villa Medici in 1922-1925. In 1937 he was appointed as a professor of harmony at the Paris Conservatory, where he taught until 1958. Some of his students included Maurice Jarre, Antoine Duhamel and Canadian composer André Matthieu. In 1930 he was appointed as director of Radio-Paris and of National Broadcasting until 1943. His last post was as senior inspector of music education from 1945 to 1952.