Jean Perrin (composer)
Encyclopedia
Jean Perrin was a Swiss composer
and pianist
. He composed in a neo-classical
style, sometimes approaching polytonality
, and his music shows the influence of Stravinsky and Poulenc.
He began studying piano in Lausanne
, where he was born, and later studied with Franz-Joseph Hirt in Berne
and Edwin Fischer
in Lucerne
. Eventually he went to Paris
to study piano with Yves Nat
. In Paris he also studied composition with Nadia Boulanger
and Darius Milhaud
. After returning to Lausanne he taught piano and also edited program notes for the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra
for over 20 years.
He died in his sleep in Lausanne the night before the worldwide broadcast on French-speaking radio of the world premiere of his string quartet.
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...
and pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
. He composed in a neo-classical
Neoclassicism (music)
Neoclassicism in music was a twentieth-century trend, particularly current in the period between the two World Wars, in which composers sought to return to aesthetic precepts associated with the broadly defined concept of "classicism", namely order, balance, clarity, economy, and emotional restraint...
style, sometimes approaching polytonality
Polytonality
The musical use of more than one key simultaneously is polytonality . Bitonality is the use of only two different keys at the same time...
, and his music shows the influence of Stravinsky and Poulenc.
He began studying piano in Lausanne
Lausanne
Lausanne is a city in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and is the capital of the canton of Vaud. The seat of the district of Lausanne, the city is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva . It faces the French town of Évian-les-Bains, with the Jura mountains to its north-west...
, where he was born, and later studied with Franz-Joseph Hirt in Berne
Berne
The city of Bern or Berne is the Bundesstadt of Switzerland, and, with a population of , the fourth most populous city in Switzerland. The Bern agglomeration, which includes 43 municipalities, has a population of 349,000. The metropolitan area had a population of 660,000 in 2000...
and Edwin Fischer
Edwin Fischer
Edwin Fischer was a Swiss classical pianist and conductor. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century, particularly in the traditional Germanic repertoire of such composers as J. S. Bach, Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert...
in Lucerne
Lucerne
Lucerne is a city in north-central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of that country. Lucerne is the capital of the Canton of Lucerne and the capital of the district of the same name. With a population of about 76,200 people, Lucerne is the most populous city in Central Switzerland, and...
. Eventually he went to 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...
to study piano with Yves Nat
Yves Nat
Yves Nat was a French pianist and composer.-Biography:Yves Nat was born in Béziers and showed an early aptitude for both piano and composition. By the age of seven he was allowed to improvise each Sunday at the organ of Béziers' cathedral during mass...
. In Paris he also studied composition with Nadia Boulanger
Nadia Boulanger
Nadia Boulanger was a French composer, conductor and teacher who taught many composers and performers of the 20th century.From a musical family, she achieved early honours as a student at the Paris Conservatoire, but believing that her talent as a composer was inferior to that of her younger...
and Darius Milhaud
Darius Milhaud
Darius Milhaud was a French composer and teacher. He was a member of Les Six—also known as The Group of Six—and one of the most prolific composers of the 20th century. His compositions are influenced by jazz and make use of polytonality...
. After returning to Lausanne he taught piano and also edited program notes for the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra
Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne
The Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne is a Swiss chamber orchestra based in Lausanne, Switzerland.The violinist and conductor Victor Desarzens founded the orchestra in 1942, and served as its first artistic director for 30 years...
for over 20 years.
He died in his sleep in Lausanne the night before the worldwide broadcast on French-speaking radio of the world premiere of his string quartet.
List of selected works
Perrin wrote over 50 compositions, some of which are listed here:- Concerto grosso for piano and orchestra, op. 6b (1952)
- Sonatas(1953-6):
- for horn and piano, op. 7
- for violin and piano, op. 8
- for piano, op. 10b
- for cello and piano, op. 11
- for flute and piano, op. 12b
- Symphony No. 2, op. 15 (1959)
- Mass for four soloists, chorus, and orchestra, op. 19 (unfinished)
- Piano Quartet, op. 23 (1965)
- Symphony No. 3, op. 24 (1966)
- Drei deutsche Lieder (Bertolt BrechtBertolt BrechtBertolt Brecht was a German poet, playwright, and theatre director.An influential theatre practitioner of the 20th century, Brecht made equally significant contributions to dramaturgy and theatrical production, the latter particularly through the seismic impact of the tours undertaken by the...
, A. Goes, G. Politzer) for altoAltoAlto is a musical term, derived from the Latin word altus, meaning "high" in Italian, that has several possible interpretations.When designating instruments, "alto" frequently refers to a member of an instrumental family that has the second highest range, below that of the treble or soprano. Hence,...
and orchestra (1967-8) - De profundis for four soloists, chorus, and orchestra, op. 26 (1968-70)
- Concerto for cello and orchestra, op. 27 (1972)
- Canticum laudis for 4 violins, flute, oboe, clarinet, 2 bassoons, trumpet, trombone, and double bass, op. 32 (1974)
- Marche funèbre for orchestra, op. 38 (1978)
- Concerto for piano and orchestra, op. 41 (1978)
- Six préludes for piano, op. 45 (1980-81)
- Concerto for violin and orchestra (1986)
- String Quartet (1988)
Selected recording
- De profundis, Cello Concerto • Timişoara Banatul Philharmonic; Jean-François AntonioliJean-François AntonioliJean-François Antonioli is a Swiss pianist, conductor and piano pedagogue.Studied piano at Conservatoire de Lausanne and Conservatoire de Paris . Further studies include those with Bruno Seidlhofer in Vienna and Carlo Zecchi in Rome.Performed solo or with orchestra in many musical centres in...
, conductor. (See Timişoara Banatul Philharmonic for recording details.)