Iris du Pré

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Iris Maud du Pré (née Greep; 3 June 1914 – 27 September 1985) was an English pianist, composer, conductor and educator. She was the mother of cellist Jacqueline du Pré, flautist Hilary du Pré, and Piers du Pré.

Life and career[edit]

Iris Maud Greep was born in Plymouth, Devon, in 1914.[1] She was the daughter of Maud (née Mitchell) and William Greep, a shipbuilder.[2] She started learning the piano at the age of seven. Having acquired a reputation as a gifted pianist, at age eighteen in 1932 she won a scholarship to the London School of Dalcroze Eurhythmics where she studied for two years before winning a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music, where she studied piano and composition.[3]

Her performance career was disrupted by the events of World War II. Du Pré then started teaching and travelling. In 1940, she married Derek du Pré (1908-1990), an assistant editor at The Accountant whom she met by chance in 1938 in Poland where he was travelling and she was attending a summer course given by the pianist Egon Petri.[4] Du Pré's compositions were included in London performances of the Ballet de la jeunesse anglaise in autumn 1941.[5][6]

In 1942 their first daughter, Hilary du Pré, was born, and in 1945 they had a second daughter, Jacqueline du Pré. Their son, Piers, was born in 1948.

As a music teacher, she recognised her two daughters' talents and she started their musical education early with Jacqueline learning the cello from age four.[7] Du Pré taught music in the public sector as well at places like Apsley Grammar School, Hemel Hempstead during the 1970s.

Her daughter Jacqueline became a world-renowned musician until she was struck with multiple sclerosis, which ended her life in 1987.

In the 1998 Oscar-nominated film Hilary and Jackie, Iris du Pré is portrayed by Celia Imrie.

Du Pré died of cancer on 27 September 1985 in Ashmansworth, Hampshire at the age of 71.[8][9]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  2. ^ Easton, Carol (2000). Jacqueline du Pré: A Biography. Cambridge: Da Capo Press. p. 21. ISBN 0-306-80976-1.
  3. ^ Easton, Carol (2000). Jacqueline du Pré: A Biography. Cambridge: Da Capo Press. pp. 22–23. ISBN 0-306-80976-1.
  4. ^ Easton, Carol (2000). Jacqueline du Pré: A Biography. Cambridge: Da Capo Press. p. 24. ISBN 0-306-80976-1.
  5. ^ "Coton Collection". Royal Holloway, University of London. 31 January 2011. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  6. ^ Wilson, Elizabeth A. M. (1999). Jacqueline du Pré: Her Life, Her Music, Her Legend. London: Faber and Faber. ISBN 0-571-20017-6.
  7. ^ Wilson, Elizabeth A. M. (1999). Jacqueline du Pré: Her Life, Her Music, Her Legend. London: Faber and Faber. ISBN 0-571-20017-6.
  8. ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  9. ^ Easton, Carol (2000). Jacqueline du Pré: A Biography. Cambridge: Da Capo Press. p. 212. ISBN 0-306-80976-1.

Further reading[edit]

  • Wilson, Elizabeth A. M. (1999). Jacqueline du Pré: Her Life, Her Music, Her Legend. London: Faber and Faber. ISBN 0-571-20017-6.
  • Easton, Carol (2000). Jacqueline du Pré: A Biography. Cambridge: Da Capo Press. ISBN 0-306-80976-1.
  • Du Pré, Piers; du Pré, Hilary (1997). A Genius in the Family: An Intimate Memoir of Jacqueline du Pré. London: Sinclair-Stevenson. ISBN 1-85619-753-0.
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