Josée Vigneron-Ramackers

Christiane-Josée Vigneron-Ramackers (25 January 1914 – 30 August 2002), also known as Jo Delande, was a Belgian music educator, conductor and composer. She is known for founding the Academie voor Muziek, Theater & Dans in Maasmechelen in 1945 and for several prize-winning compositions.

Biography Josée Vigneron-Ramackers was born on 25 January 1914, in Leopoldsburg, Limbourg in Belgium. Her father was director of the boys' school of the Coal Mines in Eisden, where she lived from 1921. Her mother was the daughter of lyricist Jean-G. Close, and a soprano singing in charity concerts.

She studied at the Zusters Kindsheid Jesu's (Sisters of the Childhood of Jesus) normal school in Hasselt, and at the Limburgse Orgel- en Zangschool under the tuition of Herman and Arthur Meulemans,

Vigneron-Ramackers was then appointed to the Koninklÿk Atheneum of Eisden and the Atheneum of Maaseik, where she taught singing and drawing from 1934 to 1969. In the meantime, she pursued her studies by correspondence, learning about fugue with Herman Meulemans, and orchestration with Arthur Meulemans and Paul Gilson. On 14 March 1981, she was made Officer of the Order of Leopold II by the Governor Vandermeulen.

Musical style Most of her music was composed with small ensembles in mind. She was at first influenced by the impressionist current, then her work turned out to be more in the neo-classical vein.

Compositions

Works for orchestra

1958: Concertino, for oboe and chamber orchestra 1969: Mobiles, for 4 clarinets, percussion and string orchestra Studies, for small orchestra

Works for wind orchestra

1957: Vier etudes, for symphonic wind orchestra

Musical theatre

Stage music

1936: Er was eens 1937: De Sneeuwkoningin 1938: Het daghet (text by Ysbrand Paulus Stasse)

Vocal music

Works for choir

1972: Drie zangen van liefde en dood

Songs

1943: Rossignol, es-tu damné?, for voice and piano 1943: Quatre mélodies, for voice and piano 1956: Trois mélodies, for voice and orchestra 1972: Vocalise, for voice and piano, op. 18 1981: Vocalise 2, for voice and piano, op. 20 1982: Huit mélodies, for voice and piano 1984: Dix Vocalises, for voice and piano Sept mélodies, for soprano and piano, op. 61 Vieilles chansons et rondes françaises, for middle voice and piano

Chamber music

1958: Duo rhapsodique, for clarinet and piano 1958: Hommage à Maurice Van Guchte, for clarinet octet 1959: Saxofoonkwartet 1965: Petit cortège presque chinois, for piano and two timbales, op. 10 1968: 3 Études de style, for oboe and saxophone 1972: Alternato, for cor anglais and piano 1984: Sonatine, for oboe and organ

Works for organ

1972: Haute Fagnes, op. 15

Works for piano

1967: Ballade des oiseaux captifs 1968: 6 Mini studi, op. 11 1971: 2 Preludi, op. 12

Works for guitar

1972: Variations sur Harbouya

Pedagogical works

1967: Van kleuterdreun naar notenleer 1968: Door volkslied tot notenleer 1971: Notenboekje