San Francisco County
Biographies
ALOIS
FRANCIS LEJEAL
ALOIS FRANCIS LEJEAL,
one of the best known and most accomplished musicians on the pacific coast, was
born in Alsace, France, in 1840 and was reared and educated in his native
country. His uncle, Ignatz Garner, who was
prominent in the musical profession, gave him his first instructions, which he
continued under Ig. Trueg,
and studied counter point with M. E. Sachs. Upon completing his musical
course Mr. Lejeal came to New York, and later founded
the New York Conservatory of Music, in conjunction with the well-known violin
virtuoso, Edward Mollenhauer, and S. N. Griswold, in
1867. In the following year Mr. Lejeal assumed
the sole musical direction of the conservatory, then numbering about 1,500
students. He taught the advanced classes on the piano, and also took an
active part as pianist in the concerts of the conservatory, given under his
directions. On account of ill health, resulting from over-work, he came to
the land of golden promise, and in 1875 became a resident of San Francisco, and
since then, for the past sixteen years, he has been successfully engaged in
giving instructions in piano and harmony. Professor Lejeal
has done much in composition and as musical author, and among his works the
Modern School of Piano Technics is deserving of
special mention. It comprises over 150 quarto pages, and is well
calculated to prepare the hands of all requirements of modern
virtuosity. Chromatic progression through all the keys is a predominent feature of the work, and all the triads and
chords of the sevenths with their resulting arpeggios are treated in an
exhaustive manner. Among his piano solos are Atalanta
Fantaisie, Minuet de la Princesse,
Twilight Reverie, a suite in five numbers for piano and violin, etc. Among
his vocal compositions are four Masses, a Requiem, Vespers, Episcopal morning
and evening services, Te Deums, duets, etc.
Professor Lejeal has had a long and successful experience in teaching
and enjoys an enviable reputation in the profession in New York, Boston,
Philadelphia and other Eastern cities, and with the most eminent musicians of
the musical centers of Europe. He takes yearly vacation visits in New
York, Boston, Philadelphia and other Eastern cities. Professor Lejeal has an elegant and attractive home on Clay street in this city.
Transcribed
by 10-23-06 Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: "The Bay of San
Francisco," Vol. 2, Page 163, Lewis
Publishing Co, 1892.
©
2006 Marilyn R. Pankey.