To hear on Sunday 6 and 13 September 2009,
2 pm - 9 pm:
Focus
by Jean-Claude Risset
Focus is the second movement of the electroacoustic composition "Elementa" by Jean-Claude Risset, commissionned by the French Ministry of Culture for the fiftieth anniversary of musique concrète and realized at INA-GRM (Institut National de l’Audiovisuel - Groupe de Recherches Musicales, Paris (1998).
Jean-Claude Risset on "Focus":
Fire is ambivalent: warm and terrifying, crackling, quick, blazing, consuming and destructive. Atomized sounds, always moving.The wind sets fire in bushes. The crackling excites resonant filters at its own rhythm. The fire grows and seems to flood the flaming vocalizations. At the end, the fire rotates in the direction of the stars - celestial fire balls.
Jean-Claude Risset
Born 1938. Works three years with Max Mathews at Bell Laboratories to develop the musical resources of computer sound synthesis: imitation of real timbres (brass synthesis, 1965; pitch paradoxes, synthesis of new timbres, sonic development processes, 1967-1969). Writes many musical works, most of which resort to computer synthesis in conjonction with instruments or human voice. Publishes a catalog of computer synthesized sounds (1969). Sets up computer sound systems at Orsay (1970-1971), University of Marseille-Luminy (1974), and IRCAM, where Pierre Boulez asks him to head the Computer Department (1975-1979). As a composer in residence at the Media Laboratory, MIT (1987-1989), implements the first real-time interaction between performer and computer with acoustic piano sounds. Works in LMA, Marseille, as CNRS "Directeur de recherche emeritus". He has received the highest French distinctions both in music - Grand Prix National de la Musique 1990 – and science - Gold medal 1999, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. Also recipient of Golden NICA, Ars Electronica, 1987; Grand Prix Musica Nova (Prague, 1995); 1st Prize EAR 97 for mixed and live electroacoustic music (Hungarian radio) ; Prix Magistère de Bourges (1998). Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur, Commandeur des Arts et Lettres.
Jean-Claude Risset