Jeanne Loriod; Virtuoso of the Ondes Martenot

Jeanne Loriod, the leading performer on an electronic instrument used in film scores from “Lawrence of Arabia” to “Mars Attacks!” and in many symphonic works to produce mysterious glassy tones and glissandi, has died in southern France. She was 73.

Loriod, who played the ondes martenot--invented by the French musician Maurice Martenot--died of a stroke in Juan-les-Pins on Aug. 3, Le Monde newspaper reported.

She was the younger sister of pianist Yvonne Loriod, who was married to composer Olivier Messiaen. The three musicians often collaborated.

Born in 1928, Loriod came to be as closely associated with the unusual instrument as Andres Segovia was with the guitar, and London’s Independent newspaper noted at her death that “the history of the ondes martenot is almost exactly that of Loriod’s involvement with it.”

The ondes martenot--which translates as “Martenot waves”--produces electronic waves from a system of transistors, a keyboard, and a ribbon attached to a ring on the performer’s forefinger.

Loriod also taught ondes martenot and chamber music and wrote a textbook. In 1970, she began teaching at the Paris Conservatory.