Emile Jonas was born March 5, 1827 in Paris and died on May 21, 1905 at Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Jonas entered
the Paris Conservatory in 1841, studying piano and harmonie in the class of Felix Le Couppey, and composition
with Michele Carafa. In 1849, he won the second Grand Prix de Rome with his Cantata Antonio.
In 1847, Jonas became an assistant to the solfege classes at the Paris Conservatory, becoming a full professor in 1857.
In 1859, be was named professor of musical composition and harmony at the Imperial military conservatory. In 1870,
he retired from the Conservatory and took the post of Musical Director of the Garde Imperiale. He was also cantor and
choral director of the Portuguese synagogue in the rue Lamartine in Paris. Jonas was famous in his time for his comic
operas, especially "Le Canard a trois becs". His work "Priere" for saxophone quartet or sextet is one of the first ensemble
pieces ever written for the saxophone. In 1854, he published a collection of Hebrew songs of the Sephardic tradition.
Emile Jonas est ne le 5 Mars 1827 a Paris, et mort le 21 mai 1905 a Saint-Germain-en-Laye Jonas est entre au
Conservatoire de Paris de 1841, dans les classes de piano et d´harmonie avec Felix Le Couppey et la composition avec
Michele Carafa. En 1849, il a gagne le deuxieme Grand Prix de Rome avec sa cantate Antonio.
En 1847, il est nomme assistante des cours de solfege au Conservatoire, et en 1857, il avait nomme professeur de
solfege. En 1859 il est nomme professeur de composition, et harmonie au Conservatoire militaire. En 1870, il se retira
de l´enseignement. Jonas devient directeur musical de la Garde Imperiale et chantre et directeur de la chorale de la
synagogue portugaise dans la rue Lamartine. Jonas etait tres connu dans son temps pour ses operas bouffes, surtout
"le Canard a trois becs". Son oeuvre "Priere" pour quatuor ou sextuor de saxophones est parmi les premieres oeuvres
ecrite pour ensemble de saxophone. En 1854, il a publie un Recueil de chants hebraï,que de tradition sepharade.