Pascal Dusapin
Encyclopedia
Pascal Dusapin is a French composer born in Nancy. He is one of France's best-known living composers; his works have been performed worldwide.
He studied fine art, science and aesthetics at the Sorbonne
in Paris. At the suggestion of Franco Donatoni
he attended the seminars of Iannis Xenakis
from 1974 until 1978. Both composers had a deep influence on his early works but he soon developed his own style based on the use of microtonality and the superposition of several atonal lines creating a kind of "atonal heterophony
". Dusapin also uses archaic-sounding scales
consisting of four notes filling in the interval of a perfect fifth
e.g. A - Bb - D- E or C - D - F - G. In these scales, the 2nd and 3rd degrees are often a third
apart which sets them apart from the traditional tetrachord
s. His melodies have a "vocal" quality even in purely instrumental works; hence Dusapin's predilection for instruments that can imitate the human voice (wind instruments and bowed string instruments). It also explains his reluctance to write for the piano
in the early stages of his career.
A prolific composer, he often draws his inspiration from such different artistic disciplines as jazz
, graphic arts
and poetry
.
He studied fine art, science and aesthetics at the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
in Paris. At the suggestion of Franco Donatoni
Franco Donatoni
Franco Donatoni was an Italian composer.Born in Verona, he started studying violin at the age of seven, and frequented the local Music Academy...
he attended the seminars of Iannis Xenakis
Iannis Xenakis
Iannis Xenakis was a Romanian-born Greek ethnic, naturalized French composer, music theorist, and architect-engineer. He is commonly recognized as one of the most important post-war avant-garde composers...
from 1974 until 1978. Both composers had a deep influence on his early works but he soon developed his own style based on the use of microtonality and the superposition of several atonal lines creating a kind of "atonal heterophony
Heterophony
In music, heterophony is a type of texture characterized by the simultaneous variation of a single melodic line. Such a texture can be regarded as a kind of complex monophony in which there is only one basic melody, but realized at the same time in multiple voices, each of which plays the melody...
". Dusapin also uses archaic-sounding scales
Musical scale
In music, a scale is a sequence of musical notes in ascending and descending order. Most commonly, especially in the context of the common practice period, the notes of a scale will belong to a single key, thus providing material for or being used to conveniently represent part or all of a musical...
consisting of four notes filling in the interval of a perfect fifth
Perfect fifth
In classical music from Western culture, a fifth is a musical interval encompassing five staff positions , and the perfect fifth is a fifth spanning seven semitones, or in meantone, four diatonic semitones and three chromatic semitones...
e.g. A - Bb - D- E or C - D - F - G. In these scales, the 2nd and 3rd degrees are often a third
Third
Third may refer to:*3 , such as the 3rd of something -see also Ordinal number *Fraction , such as 1/3*1/60 of a second, or 1/3,600 of a minute *Third World, economically underdeveloped nations...
apart which sets them apart from the traditional tetrachord
Tetrachord
Traditionally, a tetrachord is a series of three intervals filling in the interval of a perfect fourth, a 4:3 frequency proportion. In modern usage a tetrachord is any four-note segment of a scale or tone row. The term tetrachord derives from ancient Greek music theory...
s. His melodies have a "vocal" quality even in purely instrumental works; hence Dusapin's predilection for instruments that can imitate the human voice (wind instruments and bowed string instruments). It also explains his reluctance to write for the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
in the early stages of his career.
A prolific composer, he often draws his inspiration from such different artistic disciplines as jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, graphic arts
Graphic arts
A type of fine art, graphic art covers a broad range of art forms. Graphic art is typically two-dimensional and includes calligraphy, photography, drawing, painting, printmaking, lithography, typography, serigraphy , and bindery. Graphic art also consists of drawn plans and layouts for interior...
and poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
.
Works
- Solo Instrumental
- Inside, for viola (1980)
- Incisa, for cello (1982)
- If, for clarinet (1984)
- Item, for cello (1985)
- Itou, for bass clarinet (1985)
- Ici, for flute (1986)
- Iti, for violin (1987)
- Indeed, for trombone (1987)
- I Pesci, for flute (1989)
- In et Out, for double bass (1989)
- Invece, for cello (1991)
- Ipso, for clarinet (1994)
- Immer, for cello (1996)
- In nomine, for viola (2000)
- Sept études for piano (1999–2001)
- Chamber
- Musique fugitive, for string trio (1980)
- Trois Instantanés, for 2 clarinets and 3 cellos (1980)
- Poco a poco (1986)
- Sly, for trombone quartet (1987)
- Laps, for clarinet and double bass (1988)
- Neuf Musiques pour «Le Fusil de chasse», for clarinet, trombone and cello (1989)
- String quartet n°2 Time Zones (1989)
- Attacca, pour 2 trumpets and timpani (1991)
- Stanze, for brass quintet (1991)
- Ohimé, for violin and viola, hommage for Besty Jolas (1992)
- String quartet n°1 (1982–1996)
- String quartet n°3 (1993)
- Ohé, for clarinet and cello (1996)
- String quartet n°4 (1997)
- Trio Rombach, for piano, violin or clarinet and cello (1997)
- String quartet n°5 (2004–2005)
- Various Ensembles
- Souvenir du silence (1976)
- Le Bal (1978)
- Timée (1978)
- La Rivière, for orchestra (1979)
- Musique captive, for 9 wind instruments (1980)
- Tre Scalini, for orchestra (1981–1982)
- Fist (1982)
- Hop' (1983–1984)
- La Conversation (1984)
- Treize Pièces pour Flaubert (1985)
- Assaï, for orchestra (1985)
- Haro (1987)
- Coda (1992)
- Go, solo n°1 for orchestra (1992)
- Khôra, for string orchestra (1993)
- Extenso, solo n°2 for orchestra (1993–1994)
- Apex, solo n° 3 for orchestra (1995)
- Loop, for 2 cello quartets (1996)
- Cascando (1997)
- Clam, solo n° 4 for orchestra (1997–1998)
- Exeo, solo n° 5 for orchestra (2002)
- Perelà Suite, for orchestra (2004)
- Reverso, solo n°6 for orchestra (2005–2006)
- Concertante
- L'Aven, flute concerto (1980–1981)
- Aria, clarinet concerto (1991)
- Watt, trombone concerto (1994)
- Celo, cello concerto (1996)
- Quad, 'In memoriam Gilles Deleuze', for violin and 15 musicians (1996)
- Galim, 'Requies plena oblectationis', for flute and string orchestra (1998)
- A Quia, piano concerto (2002)
- Vocal
- Igitur (1977)
- Lumen (1977)
- L'Homme aux liens, for 2 sopranos and 3 violins (1978)
- Shin'gyo, for soprano and piccolo flute (1981)
- Niobé ou le rocher de Sypile (1982)
- To God, for soprano and clarinet (or saxophone soprano) (1985)
- Mimi for 2 women's voices and ensemble (1986–1987)
- Aks (1987)
- Red Rock, from «Roméo et Juliette» (1987)
- Anacoluthe (1987)
- Roméo et Juliette, opera (1985–1988)
- For O., for 2 women's voices and 2 clarinets (1988)
- So Full of Shapes is Fancy, for soprano and bass clarinet (1990)
- Medeamaterial, opera (1990–1991)
- La Melancholia, operatorio (1991)
- To Be Sung, chamber opera (1992–1993)
- Comoedia (1993)
- Canto, for soprano, clarinet and cello (1994)
- Dona Eis (1998)
- Perelà, uomo di fumoPerelà, uomo di fumoPerelà, uomo di fumo is an opera in ten chapters composed by Pascal Dusapin. Dusapin himself wrote the Italian libretto, based on the novel, Il codice Perelà by the Italian Futurist writer, Aldo Palazzeschi...
, opera (2001) - Momo (2002)
- Faustus, The Last Night, opera (2003–2004)
- Ô Berio, for soprano and 13 instruments (2006)
- A Capella Works
- Semino (1985)
- Il-Li-Ko (1987)
- Two walking (1994)
- Granum sinapis (1992–1997)
- Umbrae mortis, for mixed choir (1997)
Prizes and awards
- 1981-1983 He was a scholarship holder at the Villa Medici in Rome.
- 1993-1994 He was composer-in-residence with the Orchestre National de Lyon.
- 1979 - Hervé Dugardin Prize (SACEM)
- 1993 - Prize of the Académie des Beaux-Arts
- 1993 - Prix du Syndicat de la Critique (Critics' Circle Award)
- 1994 - SACEM Prize for Symphonic Music
- 1995 - French Ministry of Culture awarded him the Grand Prix National de Musique
- 1998 - Victoire de la Musique in 1998 for a CD recorded by the Orchestre National de Lyon, and 'Composer of the Year' in 2002.
- 2007 - Dan David PrizeDan David PrizeThe Dan David Prize annually awards 3 prizes of $1 million each awarded by the Dan David Foundation and Tel Aviv University to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution in the fields of science, technology, culture or social welfare. There are three prize categories - past, present and...
(shared with Zubin MehtaZubin MehtaZubin Mehta is an Indian conductor of western classical music. He is the Music Director for Life of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.-Biography:...
)
External links
- Short biography, the ensemble Sospeso
- Biography and list of works, the Living Composers Project
- Dan David Prize laureate 2007