Guillaume Connesson
Encyclopedia
Guillaume Connesson is a French
composer
born in 1970 in Boulogne-Billancourt
, France
.
and composition by Marcel Landowski
during six years from 1989.
With Dominique Rouits, in Conservatoire National de Région of Paris
, he also studied the orchestral conducting and with Alain Louvier, the orchestration.
As a composer, he asserts influences as various as François Couperin
, Richard Wagner
, Richard Strauss
, Claude Debussy
, Maurice Ravel
, Igor Stravinsky
, Olivier Messiaen
for the Turangalîla-Symphonie
and Saint François d'Assise, Henri Dutilleux
for his Métaboles, Steve Reich
and also John Adams
but also movie composers such as Bernard Herrmann
or John Williams or the funk
style of James Brown
.
From 2001 to 2003, he was composer in residence at Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire, for which he wrote the vocal symphony Liturgies de l'ombre and the symphonic poem L'appel au feu.
He is currently composer associated with Royal Scottish National Orchestra
and played by the American and English orchestras such as Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
, Philadelphia Orchestra
, Houston Symphony Orchestra
and BBC Symphony Orchestra
. From 2009, he is composer in residence at Orchestre de Pau, Pays de Béarn.
Connesson teaches orchestration at the Conservatoire National d'Aubervilliers
-la Courneuve.
Stage music
Orchestral
Concertante
Chamber and instrumental music
Vocal
Choral
Teaching music
Film scores
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
born in 1970 in Boulogne-Billancourt
Boulogne-Billancourt
Boulogne-Billancourt is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. Boulogne-Billancourt is a sub-prefecture of the Hauts-de-Seine department and the seat of the Arrondissement of Boulogne-Billancourt....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Biography
Connesson studied the piano, music theory, music history and choir conducting in Conservatoire National de Région in Boulogne-BillancourtBoulogne-Billancourt
Boulogne-Billancourt is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. Boulogne-Billancourt is a sub-prefecture of the Hauts-de-Seine department and the seat of the Arrondissement of Boulogne-Billancourt....
and composition by Marcel Landowski
Marcel Landowski
Marcel François Paul Landowski was a French composer, biographer and arts administrator.Born at Pont-l'Abbé, Finistère, Brittany, he was the son of French sculptor Paul Landowski and great-grandson of the composer Henri Vieuxtemps.As an infant he showed early musical promise, and studied piano...
during six years from 1989.
With Dominique Rouits, in Conservatoire National de Région of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, he also studied the orchestral conducting and with Alain Louvier, the orchestration.
As a composer, he asserts influences as various as François Couperin
François Couperin
François Couperin was a French Baroque composer, organist and harpsichordist. He was known as Couperin le Grand to distinguish him from other members of the musically talented Couperin family.-Life:Couperin was born in Paris...
, Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
, Richard Strauss
Richard Strauss
Richard Georg Strauss was a leading German composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras. He is known for his operas, which include Der Rosenkavalier and Salome; his Lieder, especially his Four Last Songs; and his tone poems and orchestral works, such as Death and Transfiguration, Till...
, Claude Debussy
Claude Debussy
Claude-Achille Debussy was a French composer. Along with Maurice Ravel, he was one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist music, though he himself intensely disliked the term when applied to his compositions...
, Maurice Ravel
Maurice Ravel
Joseph-Maurice Ravel was a French composer known especially for his melodies, orchestral and instrumental textures and effects...
, Igor Stravinsky
Igor Stravinsky
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ; 6 April 1971) was a Russian, later naturalized French, and then naturalized American composer, pianist, and conductor....
, Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen was a French composer, organist and ornithologist, one of the major composers of the 20th century. His music is rhythmically complex ; harmonically and melodically it is based on modes of limited transposition, which he abstracted from his early compositions and improvisations...
for the Turangalîla-Symphonie
Turangalîla-Symphonie
The Turangalîla-Symphonie is a large-scale piece of orchestral music by Olivier Messiaen. It was written from 1946 to 1948, on a commission by Serge Koussevitzky for the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The premiere was given by that orchestra on December 2, 1949, conducted by Leonard Bernstein in Boston...
and Saint François d'Assise, Henri Dutilleux
Henri Dutilleux
Henri Dutilleux is one of the most important French composers of the second half of the 20th century, producing work in the tradition of Maurice Ravel, Claude Debussy, and Albert Roussel, but in a style distinctly his own...
for his Métaboles, Steve Reich
Steve Reich
Stephen Michael "Steve" Reich is an American composer who together with La Monte Young, Terry Riley, and Philip Glass is a pioneering composer of minimal music...
and also John Adams
John Coolidge Adams
John Coolidge Adams is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer with strong roots in minimalism. His best-known works include Short Ride in a Fast Machine , On the Transmigration of Souls , a choral piece commemorating the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks , and Shaker...
but also movie composers such as Bernard Herrmann
Bernard Herrmann
Bernard Herrmann was an American composer noted for his work in motion pictures.An Academy Award-winner , Herrmann is particularly known for his collaborations with director Alfred Hitchcock, most famously Psycho, North by Northwest, The Man Who Knew Too Much, and Vertigo...
or John Williams or the funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
style of James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
.
From 2001 to 2003, he was composer in residence at Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire, for which he wrote the vocal symphony Liturgies de l'ombre and the symphonic poem L'appel au feu.
He is currently composer associated with Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra is Scotland's national symphony orchestra. Based in Glasgow, the 89-member professional orchestra also regularly performs in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee, and abroad. Formed in 1891 as the Scottish Orchestra, the company has performed full-time since 1950,...
and played by the American and English orchestras such as Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
As the fifth oldest orchestra in the United States, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra has a legacy of fine music making as reflected in its performances in historic Music Hall, recordings, and international tours...
, Philadelphia Orchestra
Philadelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900...
, Houston Symphony Orchestra
Houston Symphony Orchestra
The Houston Symphony is an American orchestra based in Houston, Texas. Since 1966, it has performed at the Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts in downtown Houston....
and BBC Symphony Orchestra
BBC Symphony Orchestra
The BBC Symphony Orchestra is the principal broadcast orchestra of the British Broadcasting Corporation and one of the leading orchestras in Britain.-History:...
. From 2009, he is composer in residence at Orchestre de Pau, Pays de Béarn.
Connesson teaches orchestration at the Conservatoire National d'Aubervilliers
Aubervilliers
Aubervilliers is a commune in the northeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.-Name:In medieval times the name Aubervilliers was recorded as Alberti Villare, meaning "estate of Adalbert"...
-la Courneuve.
Selected works
Guillaume Connesson is published by Éditions Billaudot.Stage music
- Musique pour Oscar, Incidental Music for the play Oscar et la dame roseOscar and the Lady in Pink (novel)Oscar and the Lady in Pink is a novel of Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt, the third chapter of « Cycle de l'Invisible », published in 2002.These are the letters of a boy of ten addressed to God. They are found by 'Mamie Rose', the Lady in Pink of the title, who visits him in hospital in the pink uniform worn...
by Éric-Emmanuel SchmittÉric-Emmanuel SchmittEric-Emmanuel Schmitt is a French dramatist, novelist and fiction writer. His plays have been staged in over fifty countries all over the world.- Life :...
for children's choir, harp and cello (2007) - Lucifer, Ballet in 2 acts (2011); libretto by the composer
Orchestral
- Oniris (1991)
- Night-Club (1996)
- Feux d'artifice (1998)
- Enluminures (1999)
- Scènes Nocturnes for string orchestra (2001)
- Trilogie cosmique
-
- Supernova (1997)
- Une lueur dans l'âge sombre (2005)
- Aleph (2007)
- The Ship of Ishtar for string orchestra (2009)
Concertante
- Yu Yan for erhuErhuThe erhu is a two-stringed bowed musical instrument, more specifically a spike fiddle, which may also be called a "southern fiddle", and sometimes known in the Western world as the "Chinese violin" or a "Chinese two-stringed fiddle". It is used as a solo instrument as well as in small ensembles...
and orchestra (2007) - Concerto for cello and orchestra (2008)
- Constellations, Concerto for viola and orchestra (2009)
- The Shining One, Concerto for piano and orchestra (2009)
Chamber and instrumental music
- Disco-toccata for clarinet and cello (1994)
- Double Quatuor for flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet and string quartet (1994)
- Deux Images antiques for clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, trombone, percussion, violin and double bass (1996)
- Jurassic Trip for flute, clarinette, 2 pianos, percussion and string quintet (1998)
- Sextuor for oboe, clarinet, violin, viola, double bass and piano (1998)
- initials dances for piano solo (2001)
- Le rire de Saraï for flute and piano (2001)
- Techno-parade for flute, clarinet and piano (2002)
- Toccata nocturne for flute and cello (2002)
- Toccata for harp solo (2003)
- Riffs for trumpet solo (2004)
- La Solitaire for viola da gamba solo (2004)
- Constellation de la Couronne boréale for viola and piano (2005)
- L'île de Pâques, Prélude for piano (2006)
- Les Chants de l'Atlantide, 3 Pieces for violin and piano (2007)
- Constellation de la Couronne australe for viola and piano (2008)
- Les Chants de l'Agartha, 3 Pieces for cello and piano (2008)
- String Quartet (2010)
Vocal
- De l'Espérance for soprano and piano (1999); poem of Charles PéguyCharles PéguyCharles Péguy was a noted French poet, essayist, and editor. His two main philosophies were socialism and nationalism, but by 1908 at the latest, after years of uneasy agnosticism, he had become a devout but non-practicing Roman Catholic.From that time, Catholicism strongly influenced his...
- Liturgies de l'ombre for soprano and orchestra (2000); poem of Charles PéguyCharles PéguyCharles Péguy was a noted French poet, essayist, and editor. His two main philosophies were socialism and nationalism, but by 1908 at the latest, after years of uneasy agnosticism, he had become a devout but non-practicing Roman Catholic.From that time, Catholicism strongly influenced his...
- Nuit obscure for baritone and piano (2000); poem of Saint-Jean de la CroixJohn of the CrossJohn of the Cross , born Juan de Yepes Álvarez, was a major figure of the Counter-Reformation, a Spanish mystic, Catholic saint, Carmelite friar and priest, born at Fontiveros, Old Castile....
- I'll not weep for alto and piano (2001); poem of Emily BrontëEmily BrontëEmily Jane Brontë 30 July 1818 – 19 December 1848) was an English novelist and poet, best remembered for her only novel, Wuthering Heights, now considered a classic of English literature. Emily was the third eldest of the four surviving Brontë siblings, between the youngest Anne and her brother...
- Le Livre de l'amour for mezzo-soprano and orchestra (2001); poems of Lord Byron, Emily BrontëEmily BrontëEmily Jane Brontë 30 July 1818 – 19 December 1848) was an English novelist and poet, best remembered for her only novel, Wuthering Heights, now considered a classic of English literature. Emily was the third eldest of the four surviving Brontë siblings, between the youngest Anne and her brother...
and Germain NouveauGermain NouveauGermain Marie Bernard Nouveau was born and died in Pourrières, Var, in France . He was a French poet associated with the symbolist movement, and a friend of Rimbaud and Verlaine. In 1874 he traveled to London with Rimbaud. In 1876 he published "Dixains réalistes," a parody of the Parnassians... - My sweet sister for mezzo-soprano and piano (2001); poem of Lord Byron
- Medea for soprano, clarinet, cello and piano (2004); text of Jean Vauthier
- Trois merveilles du monde for baritone and piano (2008); poems of Victor HugoVictor HugoVictor-Marie Hugo was a Frenchpoet, playwright, novelist, essayist, visual artist, statesman, human rights activist and exponent of the Romantic movement in France....
- Timouk, Musical Tale for narrator and five instruments on a booklet of Yun Sun Limet (2010)
- Vivre for soprano and piano (2010); poem of Typhanie Vigouroux
Choral
- Laudate Pueri for mixed chorus a cappella (2002)
- Athanor for soprano, baritone, mixed chorus and ensemble or orchestra (2003)
- Au commencement, for children's chorus and instrumental ensemble (2004)
- Deux chœurs for female chorus a cappella (2005); poems of Olivier Tanguy
- La cathédrale aux étoiles, Cantata in 3 acts for mixed chorus, children chorus and orchestra (2006); text of Valérie de la Rochefoucauld
- Sphaera for chorus and orchestra (2006), or for chorus, piano 4 hands and percussion (chamber version) (2010); Latin text by Richard CrashawRichard CrashawRichard Crashaw , English poet, styled "the divine," was part of the Seventeenth-century Metaphysical School of poets.-Life:...
- Musique pour Oscar, 7 children's choruses a cappella, or with harp and cello (2007)
- Funeratio for mixed chorus a cappella, or with instrumental ensemble (2011)
Teaching music
- Remix for strings orchestra and 6 percussionnists (1998)
- Et un sourire for children's chorus and string orchestra (1998); poem of Paul ÉluardPaul ÉluardPaul Éluard, born Eugène Émile Paul Grindel , was a French poet who was one of the founders of the surrealist movement.-Biography:...
Film scores
- GreedGreed (film)Greed is a 1924 American dramatic silent film. It was directed by Erich von Stroheim and starring Gibson Gowland, Zasu Pitts, Jean Hersholt, Dale Fuller, Tempe Pigott, Sylvia Ashton, Chester Conklin, Joan Standing and Jack Curtis....
, Music for Erich von StroheimErich von StroheimErich von Stroheim was an Austrian-born film star of the silent era, subsequently noted as an auteur for his directorial work.-Background:...
's 1924 film for clarinet, violin, viola, cello and piano (1995) - L'Aurore, Music for Friedrich Wilhelm MurnauFriedrich Wilhelm MurnauFriedrich Wilhelm "F. W." Murnau was one of the most influential German film directors of the silent era, and a prominent figure in the expressionist movement in German cinema during the 1920s...
's 1927 silent film Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans for large symphonic orchestra (1999)
Discography
- Cosmic Trilogy - The Shining One - With Éric Le Sage, Stéphane DenèveStéphane DenèveStéphane Denève is a French conductor. Born in Tourcoing, France, and a graduate of the Paris Conservatoire, Denève has worked as conducting assistant to Sir Georg Solti with the Orchestre de Paris, Georges Prêtre at the Opéra National de Paris, and Seiji Ozawa at the Saito Kinen Festival...
and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (Chandos) - Athanor-Supernova - Monograph of orchestral music and choral (Densité 21)
- Laudate pueri - Motet for mixed chorus with six voices a capella (Accord)
- Techno Parade (CD + DVD) - Monograph of chamber music - With Mathieu Dufour, Paul MeyerPaul MeyerMarie-Paul-Hyacinthe Meyer , was a French philologist.-Biography:Meyer was born in Paris and educated at the Lycée Louis le Grand and the École des Chartes, specializing in the Romance languages....
, Éric Le Sage... (BMG - RCA)
Interpreters
Principal musicians or orchestral formations which interpret regularly the music of Guillaume Connesson:- Lise Berthaud, viola
- Stéphane DenèveStéphane DenèveStéphane Denève is a French conductor. Born in Tourcoing, France, and a graduate of the Paris Conservatoire, Denève has worked as conducting assistant to Sir Georg Solti with the Orchestre de Paris, Georges Prêtre at the Opéra National de Paris, and Seiji Ozawa at the Saito Kinen Festival...
, conductor - Jérome Ducros, piano
- Fayçal KarouiFayçal KarouiFayçal Karoui has been New York City Ballet's music director from December 2006, the fifth since its inception in 1948.He won a prize at the 1991 Besançon International Young Conductors Competition and first prize in conducting at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Paris in 1997...
, conductor - Florent Héau, clarinet
- Eric Le Sage, piano
- Paul MeyerPaul MeyerMarie-Paul-Hyacinthe Meyer , was a French philologist.-Biography:Meyer was born in Paris and educated at the Lycée Louis le Grand and the École des Chartes, specializing in the Romance languages....
, clarinet - Jérôme Pernoo, cello
- Jean-Yves ThibaudetJean-Yves Thibaudet-Early life:Jean-Yves Thibaudet was born in Lyon, France, to non-professional musical parents. His father played the violin, and his mother, of German origin and a somewhat accomplished pianist herself, introduced the instrument to Jean-Yves....
, piano - Philadelphia OrchestraPhiladelphia OrchestraThe Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900...
- BBC Symphony OrchestraBBC Symphony OrchestraThe BBC Symphony Orchestra is the principal broadcast orchestra of the British Broadcasting Corporation and one of the leading orchestras in Britain.-History:...
- National Symphony OrchestraNational Symphony OrchestraThe National Symphony Orchestra , founded in 1931, is an American symphony orchestra that performs at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.-History:...
- Cincinnati Symphony OrchestraCincinnati Symphony OrchestraAs the fifth oldest orchestra in the United States, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra has a legacy of fine music making as reflected in its performances in historic Music Hall, recordings, and international tours...
- Houston Symphony OrchestraHouston Symphony OrchestraThe Houston Symphony is an American orchestra based in Houston, Texas. Since 1966, it has performed at the Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts in downtown Houston....
...
Awards and distinctions
- 2006 - Grand Prix Lycéen des Compositeurs
- 2005 Choc du Monde de la Musique and 10 de Classica for the CD Techno Parade
- 2001 - Bourse de la Fondation Natexis
- 2000 - Prix de la SACEMSACEMSACEM may refer to:* The Société des auteurs, compositeurs et éditeurs de musique is a French professional association collecting payments of artists’ rights and distributing the rights to the original authors, composers and publishers...
- 1999 - Prix Nadia et Lili Boulanger
- 1998 - Prix Cardin de l'Institut de FranceInstitut de FranceThe Institut de France is a French learned society, grouping five académies, the most famous of which is the Académie française.The institute, located in Paris, manages approximately 1,000 foundations, as well as museums and chateaux open for visit. It also awards prizes and subsidies, which...
pour Supernova