Betsy Jolas (born 1926)
Betsy Jolas was born in Paris of American parents who founded an experimental literary magazine entitled “transition” that was published in Paris from 1927 to 1938. On the family’s return to the U.S. in 1940, she began studying music, and then continued in Paris in 1946, studying under Darius Milhaud and Olivier Messiaen. She later taught at Yale, Harvard, and the University of California.
Betsy Jolas has composed works in a variety of genres, almost always with French titles. She is mostly known for her solo and chamber music, which tends to involve unusual combinations of instruments and is often rather sparse with a contemplative flavor. Here is her Quartre Duos for viola and piano from 1979:
This Quatre pièces en marge for cello and piano is from 1983:
This is her “Études aperçues” for vibraphone and five cowbells from 1992