Mélanie Bonis
French
Female
Born 1838, Died 1937
Mélanie Bonis grew up in a strict, religious home in Paris where her talent at piano was recognized from a young age. She was admitted to the Paris Conservatory studying with César Franck and Ernest Guiraud. She met singer and poet Amedee Hettich at the Conservatory. Hettich’s influence and connections to Parisian publishers helped define and progress Bonis’ career.
Her family did not approve of the relationship and arranged for her to marry industrialist Albert Domange, 25 years her senior. Twice-widowed, Domange previously had 5 sons. The growing household allowed little time for composing as Bonis added 3 additional children.
Bonis wrote over 300 compositions under the pseudonym “Mel Bonis” including chamber works, choral pieces and melodies. Half of her oeuvre were piano solos. Her compositional style was defined by its unique sense of harmony and rhythm which combined the colors of impressionism and orientalism. She was influenced by Franck, Faure, and Saint-Saëns.
Her family did not approve of the relationship and arranged for her to marry industrialist Albert Domange, 25 years her senior. Twice-widowed, Domange previously had 5 sons. The growing household allowed little time for composing as Bonis added 3 additional children.
Bonis wrote over 300 compositions under the pseudonym “Mel Bonis” including chamber works, choral pieces and melodies. Half of her oeuvre were piano solos. Her compositional style was defined by its unique sense of harmony and rhythm which combined the colors of impressionism and orientalism. She was influenced by Franck, Faure, and Saint-Saëns.