Composer
Jean-Baptiste Lemire (1867-1945); FRA
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Jean-Baptiste Lemire was born in Colmar, France, on June 8, 1867, the son of a mason and a dressmaker. His childhood could have been similar to that of most other children had the political disaster of the moment not interrupted it: he and his family were forced to flee Alsace upon its annexation to Germany after the final defeat of Napoleon III. In 1871, the Lemire family took refuge in Montbéliard, on the other side of the new border. In April 1883, he began work as a locksmith in Belfort. He remained there until 1888, when he entered the army. Lemire's career would be a double one: military and musical.
On March 7, 1888, Lemire joined the active army with the Crews of the Fleet in Brest as Quarter-Major Musician Second-Class, then later with the 52nd Navy regiment as Corporal Drummer and Sergeant Drummer Regimental Adjutant. In October 1891, he was placed in the Third Regiment of the Infantry of the Navy, with a new title as Bugle Musician, and soon after that as Under-Chief of Fanfare. In his free time, he enrolled at the Conservatory of Lyons (1893) and only one year later won the unanimous First Prize on the flute.
In 1898, Lemire won another promotion, to Chief of Fanfare. He left active service in 1902 and entered the reserves. That year, he won a flute chair with the municipal orchestra of Biarritz. In 1913, he concluded his 25-year military career.
Lemire next undertook a grand tour of the world of France's Orchestres d'Harmonie (symphonic bands). In 1906 and 1907, he was the Chef de la Musique l'Espérance de Morez and during the 1909 and 1910 seasons, he was a conductor at the Grand Théâtre de Lyon. On March 1, 1910, he joined the Union Musicales d'Amplepuis in the Rhône region. After the outbreak of World War I, he left that ensemble, serving for six months in 1916 as the director of the Harmonie de Lalinde (Dordogne).
Lemire took up residence in Lyon once again in 1917; his son Jean (1917 - 1987) was born there after Lemire's second marriage to Elisabeth Romeuf (1894 - 1966). On May 24, 1921, he was appointed music director for a paper manufacturer at Anould in the Vosges mountains. It was not uncommon for large companies of the day to maintain their own orchestras and bands.
Several years later, Lemire turned up in Sarthe, seemingly having retired from the musical world. He did not conduct again, contenting himself with giving some music lessons. In 1935, after having been decorated with the Colonial Medal of Madagascar (he had served there in 1898) and having been elevated to the rank of Knight of the Medal of Anjouan of the Comores, he settled in the valley of Saint-Germain. He remained there until February 26, 1945, when at age 77 he was admitted to the hospital of La Flèche. He died there on March 2.
His catalog of works is not large, and there are no major pieces like symphonies or operas. Jean-Baptiste Lemire composed only for what he once called "music of the open air," a genre that many consider minor, but one which he certainly knew well. Lemire wrote marches, waltzes, polkas, scottisches—all fashionable styles of his time. He knew how to take advantage of the particular color of the military orchestra, associating or opposing the different families of instruments according to his taste. He knew how to impart freshness and elegance to his melodies, and those who reflexively associate band music with the American scene have much to learn from his work and career.
© All Music Guide, All Music Guide
On March 7, 1888, Lemire joined the active army with the Crews of the Fleet in Brest as Quarter-Major Musician Second-Class, then later with the 52nd Navy regiment as Corporal Drummer and Sergeant Drummer Regimental Adjutant. In October 1891, he was placed in the Third Regiment of the Infantry of the Navy, with a new title as Bugle Musician, and soon after that as Under-Chief of Fanfare. In his free time, he enrolled at the Conservatory of Lyons (1893) and only one year later won the unanimous First Prize on the flute.
In 1898, Lemire won another promotion, to Chief of Fanfare. He left active service in 1902 and entered the reserves. That year, he won a flute chair with the municipal orchestra of Biarritz. In 1913, he concluded his 25-year military career.
Lemire next undertook a grand tour of the world of France's Orchestres d'Harmonie (symphonic bands). In 1906 and 1907, he was the Chef de la Musique l'Espérance de Morez and during the 1909 and 1910 seasons, he was a conductor at the Grand Théâtre de Lyon. On March 1, 1910, he joined the Union Musicales d'Amplepuis in the Rhône region. After the outbreak of World War I, he left that ensemble, serving for six months in 1916 as the director of the Harmonie de Lalinde (Dordogne).
Lemire took up residence in Lyon once again in 1917; his son Jean (1917 - 1987) was born there after Lemire's second marriage to Elisabeth Romeuf (1894 - 1966). On May 24, 1921, he was appointed music director for a paper manufacturer at Anould in the Vosges mountains. It was not uncommon for large companies of the day to maintain their own orchestras and bands.
Several years later, Lemire turned up in Sarthe, seemingly having retired from the musical world. He did not conduct again, contenting himself with giving some music lessons. In 1935, after having been decorated with the Colonial Medal of Madagascar (he had served there in 1898) and having been elevated to the rank of Knight of the Medal of Anjouan of the Comores, he settled in the valley of Saint-Germain. He remained there until February 26, 1945, when at age 77 he was admitted to the hospital of La Flèche. He died there on March 2.
His catalog of works is not large, and there are no major pieces like symphonies or operas. Jean-Baptiste Lemire composed only for what he once called "music of the open air," a genre that many consider minor, but one which he certainly knew well. Lemire wrote marches, waltzes, polkas, scottisches—all fashionable styles of his time. He knew how to take advantage of the particular color of the military orchestra, associating or opposing the different families of instruments according to his taste. He knew how to impart freshness and elegance to his melodies, and those who reflexively associate band music with the American scene have much to learn from his work and career.
© All Music Guide, All Music Guide
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© 2008 All Media Guide, LLC. All Music Guide is a registered trademark of All Media Guide, LLC.
© 2008 All Media Guide, LLC. All Music Guide is a registered trademark of All Media Guide, LLC.
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Below are works by J.Lemire that every music lover should explore:
