Jolas, Betsy (1926– )

French composer. Most of her compositions are for small groups of instruments or voices, and she has experimented with substituting voices for instruments, as in Quatuor II (1964).

She studied at Bennington College, New York, USA, 1940–46, and at the Paris Conservatory with Darius Milhaud and Olivier Messiaen. She also taught at the Conservatory from 1974 and has taught widely in the USA.

Works Opera Le Pavillon au bord de la rivière (1975), Le Cyclope (1986), Schliemann (1989).

Orchestral Musique d'hiver for organ and small orchestra (1971), Trois Rencontres for string trio and orchestra (1973), Stances for piano and orchestra (1978).

Chamber D'un opéra de voyage (1967), États (1969), How Now (1973), and Préludes-Fanfares-Interludes-Sonneries (1983) for ensemble; two string quartets (1973, 1989), string trio (1990).

Other keyboard music and songs.