Minerva Scientifica Birthdays – Valentine & Barthélemon
7th July 2021
Jean Valentine
Codebreaker during World War 2
BORN 7th July 1924, Perth, Scotland
Maria Barthélemon
Composer, Singer and Keyboardist
BORN 7th July 1749, Covent Garden, London
Jean Valentine (1924 – 2019) worked in secret at Bletchley Park, so we didn’t hear her story until very recently when the role of women codebreakers was celebrated there. In contrast it is the story of Maria Barthélemon (1749 – 1799) which is itself a secret, we know so little about her except that in her day she was famous!
You can find more about them on their Minerva Scientifica pages
https://minervascientifica.co.uk/jean-valentine/
https://minervascientifica.co.uk/maria-barthelemon/
Or listen below to our Podcast Series Episode 8: Secrets of Bletchley Park
and the recording of “The Lacemakers Prayer”
click the blue arrows to listen
Podcast Episode 8: Secrets of Bletchley Park
“Women of Science & Music: 30 celebrations”
Jean Valentine (1924 – 2019)
SPEAKER:
Science historian – Catherine Booth
Presenter – Frances M Lynch, Artistic Director of electric voice theatre.
MUSIC:
“A Cryptograhers Crossword” by Frances M Lynch for 2 solo voices and the sound of the Bombe machine sampled at Bletchley Park; performed by Margaret Cameron and the composer.
“The Lacemakers Prayer” by Maria Barthélemon
Written c.1790 for Soprano, Violins and Keyboard; Performed by Frances M Lynch and Jenny Miller (sopranos), Margaret Cameron (mezzo), David Sheppard (counter tenor), Julian Stocker (tenor) and Gwion Thomas (baritone)
