Renié, Henriette (1875-1956)

Renié, Henriette

HARPIST, COMPOSER (FRANCE)

BORN 18 Sep 1875, Paris: 16e - DIED 1 Mar 1956, Paris: 16e
GRAVE LOCATION Paris: Père Lachaise, Rue du Repos 16 (Division 15, ligne 01, chemin Serré)

Henriette Renié was the daughter of Jean-Émile Renié, who studied painting with Théodore Rousseau but became an actor and a singer. Henriette studied harp with Alphonse Hasselmans from the age of five. In 1885 she entered the Comservatory in Paris as a regular student and in 1887 she won her first prize. She continued her studies with Charles Lenepveu and Théodore Dubois and she further prizes for harmony and composition. In 1901 she completed her Concerto in C minor. After Dubois advised her to show it to Camille Chevillard, the latter scheduled several performances. In 1903 she composed the harp solo "Légende", inspired by Leconte de Lisles poem "Les Elfes".

In 1912 Hasselmans suggsted that she would succeed him as professor at the Conservatory, but she was refused the position because she supported the Catholic Church in its opposition against the separation of the church and the state. Marcel Tournier was given the position instead. During the First World War she gave lessons as well as concerts. After the war Arturo Toscanin offered her a contract in the USA but she refused it because of her mother's bad health.

From 1926 she made recordings for Columbia and Odeon. From 1937 health problems forced her to cancel concerts. during the Second World War she wrote her "Harp Method" for the published Alphonse Leduc. Despite her detoriating health she continued teaching as well as performing in concerts. When Marcel Fournier resigned from the Conservatory after 35 years she was offered his job but she declined and stated that she was older than Tournier. In 1954 she received the L'gion d'Honneur. She died in 1956 in Paris.

Images
The grave of François Jacob-Desmalter, Jean Émile Renié and Henriette Renié at Père Lachaise, Paris. Picture by Androom (01 Nov 2022)	The grave of François Jacob-Desmalter, Jean Émile Renié and Henriette Renié at Père Lachaise, Paris. Picture by Androom (01 Nov 2022)