COHEN, JULES EMILE DAVID:
By: Isidore Singer, A. Porter
French composer; born at Marseilles Nov. 2, 1830; died in Paris Jan., 1901; studied at the Paris Conservatoire, under Zimmerman, Marmontel, Benoist, and Halévy, from 1847 to 1854, gaining first prizes in pianoforte, organ, harmony, counterpoint, and fugue. In 1870 he was appointed professor in charge of the choral class of that institution, and in 1877 chorus master at the Grand Opera, Paris.
Cohen's compositions are very numerous, and include: thirty songs without words for the piano-forte; six "études expressives" and twelve preludes for the harmonium; ballads, chamber-music, and orchestral suites. The music composed by him for his sister's wedding at the Jewish Temple, Rue de Notre Dame de Nazareth, Paris, and a mass for men's voices, have often been performed.
For the theater Cohen has written the following operas and comic operas: "Vive l'Empereur" and "L'Annexion," 1860; "Maître Claude," 1861; "José Maria," 1866; "Les Bluets," 1867; "Déa," 1870; and on the occasion of the reproduction of "Athalie" and "Esther" at the Comédie Française he composed new music for the choruses.
- La Grande Encyclopédie, s.v.;
- Nouveau Larousse Illustré, s.v.;
- Constant Pierre, Le Conservatoire National Musique, Paris, 1900.
