Joseph Maris

At a very young age he learned how to read music and play the clarinet at Mirepoix (Ariège) and was a member of the town's band until 1955 when he joined Musique du 5e Génie in Versailles.

He met many great musicians: Guy Dangain (Paris music academy, national orchestra), Jean-Claude Casadessus (Lille Orchestra), Charles Claude (Paris orchestra), Maurice Gabai who later on became a top soloist at the Paris Opera, as well as other prestigious artists with whom he had the chance to play.

In 1955 Jo Maris was admitted to the Versailles National Music Academy where he continued to study the seven keys, as well as theory and harmony. He successively obtained: a medal awarded unanimously, distinction of merit and first prize for the clarinet under the leadership of the great master Henri Dionet, who at that time was a soloist at the Paris Opera.

He was then admitted in a competitive exam to the Musique de la Sûreté Nationale in Paris from which he resigned in 1962 (for family reasons) to settle in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. From 1963 to 1981 he was fully committed to music in his new town taking part in:

• leading the parish choir, which later became the Garazi choir
• leading the Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port harmony
• creating a Big Bang orchestra which for many years performed every Friday during the summer period
• creating and directing the music school in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.

In 1972 Jo Maris accepted helping a group of youths who wanted to sing, NEKEZ ARI, which he led for thirty years. With its secular, religious, musical and a capella programme, Nekez Ari had the privilege of performing throughout France (local and national TV, radio, shows), as well as in Mexico and Cuba. Since it began, the has group made some ten recordings (records, CD, cassettes).

In 1975/76 he took part in Aurillac and Bordeaux in active method courses with the Master Jos Wuytack and subsequently, organised musical initiations in Saint-Palais, Ostabat, Saint-Etienne-de-Baïgorry, and also primary schools on the Basque coast.

In 1981 he was appointed music teacher by the Bordeaux Education Authority to several of the region's high-schools.

In 1984 he requested from the Ministry of Culture – via the A.D.A.M.P.A. (Association for the Dissemination of Music and Musical Events in the Atlantic Pyrenees) – the creation of an intercommunal music school.

In 1989 along with Mikel Erramouspé, at the Bil Etxea high-school in Baigorri where he teaches music, he created and directed a children's choir. This ensemble, IGUZKI LORE, which he led until 2005, took part in the creation of 3 CD's and numerous events (in Bilbao, on French national TV news and other shows in the Paris and Charentes regions). In the meanwhile he also took part in computerised music courses in Lyon and Agen.

In 1995/97 he found the time to direct the mixed ARRAGA choir from Cambo-les-Bains, which also performs nationally on a regular basis.

Afterwards, Jo Maris once again assisted Mikel Erramouspé in creating hisBOST ITURRI choir in Cambo-les-Bains.

In 2006 he helped the group KANTIRUKI to record its first CD. He helps them rehearse and writes most of their harmonisations. This ensemble has furthermore been awarded many prizes for the quality of its songs.

In 2007 he was behind the PERRUKETAK's first album. This group of five young girls from the Aldudes Valley, who have worked under his direction since they joined Iguzki Lore, was a true success.

This year, after a period of work preparing fifteen songs, the groupOZENKI from Saint-Palais called on his services for their second album.

In 2008 GAZTEAK released in first album. This group is made up of three girls, a boy and a very talented guitarist, Xan Idiart. Some of the singers came from Iguzki Lore and were finalists in two Kantu Txapelketas (song contests).

All these records are produced and distributed by AGORILA.

Attempting to adapt the works performed to the possibilities of his choir members, he writes, harmonises and arranges the music of many songs for children's, male and mixed choirs.

Jo Maris is above all an architect of polyphonic song. He has worked with many singers, both young and old alike, to whom he has taught the basics of singing and with performances at numerous concerts.

Jo Maris today has given us a priceless gift by making available on thewww.jo.maris.eke.org website a wide variety of songs which can be consulted and used. These songs for 2, 3 or 4 voices and written in G clef (easy to read), are often accompanied by a base with guitar and other instruments.

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