Friends and colleagues praised Elizabeth Bartlet, who died early Sunday morning at Hillcrest Center of abdominal cancer, as a dedicated, ethical and generous scholar. The 57-year-old native of Ontario, Canada, was a renowned musicologist and lover of France and French opera. She had been a professor at Duke for the past 23 years.
Bartlet was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago and remained a part of the faculty of the music department while undergoing chemotherapy. Doctors informed Bartlet in May that she had only a week left to live, said long-time friend and colleague Alexander Silbiger, who retired from the department of music three years ago. Despite the news, Bartlet made a list of several projects she wanted to complete before she died and diligently worked toward accomplishing her goals.
"One would think that with what little time she had left she would want to do other things," Silbiger said. "She was hoping to be able to teach this year."
One of Bartlet's major scholarly accomplishments was her critical edition of Gioacchino Rossini's score of Guillaume Tell, a French opera. Bartlet's edition has been used for performances in San Francisco and Geneva and at La Scala, Covent Garden and the International Rossini Festival in Pesaro, Italy.
"Her definitive edition, I'm sure, will be used from now on," Silbiger said.
Bartlet completed her latest piece of work-a critical edition of Jean-Philippe Rameau's Platee-earlier this summer. A published copy of the composition was delivered to her only a few days ago.
"She struggled very hard to finish this," Silbiger said.
He also said Bartlet was very helpful and generous with her time.
"She's the type of person that when you asked for help would provide it in a very detailed way-she was special in that way," Silbiger said.
Others praised her commitment to teaching.
"When she nominated a student for a prize or award, she would make sure the student had everything he or she needed to win the prize," said Jonathan Bagg, associate professor of the practice and director of undergraduate studies for the music department.
Susan Dunn, professor of the practice in the music department, remembered Bartlet as a longtime supporter of the shows sponsored by the department.
"She was an extremely loyal person to come to all of the ensemble recitals and performances. She was a generous person in that way," Dunn said. "The performance faculty will remember that in particular."
Bartlet began her career as an oboist. She graduated from the University of Toronto with honors in music in 1970, earning a master's degree and a Ph.D. in musicology in 1972 and 1982, respectively.
Bartlet also served as the chair of the Southeast Chapter of the American Musicological Society from 1992 until 1995 and had acted as secretary to the National Council of AMS since 1993.
She was a member of the editorial committee for the Opera Omnia de Jean-Philippe Rameau, Paris.
The Society for Textual Scholarship recently awarded her Honorable Mention for the Fredson Bowers Memorial Prize.
Bartlet is survived by her mother, two sisters, her brother and a cat.
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