Lost to time perhaps? Not the legacy of Lèon Vallas. Right here we see a plaque dedicated to him. The Lèon Vallas Plaque marks a place where a remarkable man lived. It commemorates Lèon Vallas a French musicologist. He significantly impacted Lyon’s musical scene. Let’s delve into the life of Lèon Vallas.
Lèon Vallas was born in Roanne in 1879. He passed away in Lyon in 1956. Orphaned at the age of eight Vallas faced early hardship. He attended the St. Mary’s Institution. Later he studied medicine in Lyon but left his studies. In 1908 Vallas earned a musicology degree. His thesis focused on music at Lyon’s Academy in the 18th century.
Vallas collaborated with Vincent d’Indy. In 1902 he became a music critic for Tout Lyon. In 1903 he established La Revue musicale de Lyon. This journal evolved into Revue française de musique and then Nouvelle revue musicale. Vallas helped create the Société des grands concerts in 1905. He also participated in the construction of the Salle Rameau in 1908.
During World War I Vallas served as a physician. In 1919 he earned a doctorate. His dissertation covered a century of music and theater in Lyon. Afterward he became a music critic for Le Progrès de Lyon for 35 years.
In 1925 Vallas founded the Conférences de la musique vivante in Paris. He lectured at the Sorbonne. From 1929 to 1935 he lectured worldwide for the Alliance Française. This earned him the Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur in 1934.
Vallas presided over the Société française de musicologie from 1937 to 1943. He became a member of Lyon’s Academy of Sciences in 1947. He unsuccessfully applied twice to lead the Conservatoire de musique de Lyon.
In 1936 Lèon Vallas married Paule de Lestang a pianist and singer. From 1936 until his death he resided at 286 rue Vendôme in Lyon. This plaque marks his former home.
Vallas’s biographies of Franck Debussy and D’Indy are his most important works. These books cemented his reputation as a music historian.
Consider Lèon Vallas’s dedication to music. Think about his contributions to Lyon’s cultural life. This plaque serves as a reminder. It honors a man who dedicated his life to music and its history. The Lèon Vallas Plaque commemorates a life devoted to music. It acknowledges his lasting impact on Lyon and the world of musicology.