Role

:

Composer Performer

Country

:

France

Birth

:

March 13, 1938 in Le Puy, France

Death

:

November 21, 2016 in Marseille, France

Genre

:

Keyboard

 

Jean-Claude Risset was a French composer and computer music pioneer who was born on March 18, 1938, in Le Puy-en-Velay, France. He was the son of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. Risset began playing the piano at a young age and showed a talent for music early on. He studied at the Paris Conservatory, where he earned a degree in composition and a diploma in electroacoustic music. Risset's early works were influenced by the serialism of Pierre Boulez and the musique concrète of Pierre Schaeffer. In the 1960s, he began experimenting with computer music, using the IBM 7090 computer at Bell Labs in New Jersey. He created some of the first computer-generated sounds, including a simulation of a bell and a flute. One of Risset's most famous works is "Sud," which he composed in 1985. The piece is a tribute to the sounds of the Mediterranean and features a blend of acoustic and electronic instruments. "Sud" has been performed by orchestras around the world and is considered a masterpiece of contemporary music. Another notable work by Risset is "Inharmonique," which he composed in 1977. The piece features a solo violin accompanied by computer-generated sounds. The sounds are created by manipulating the harmonics of the violin, creating a haunting and otherworldly effect. Risset was also known for his work in the field of psychoacoustics, the study of how humans perceive sound. He conducted research on the perception of pitch and timbre, and his findings have had a significant impact on the field of music cognition. In addition to his work as a composer and researcher, Risset was a professor of computer music at the University of Paris. He mentored many young composers and helped to establish computer music as a legitimate field of study. Risset received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the Grand Prix National de la Musique in 1990 and the Golden Nica at the Ars Electronica festival in 2002. He continued to compose and perform until his death on November 21, 2016, at the age of 78. Jean-Claude Risset's contributions to the field of computer music and his innovative compositions have had a lasting impact on contemporary music. His work continues to inspire and influence composers and researchers around the world.

More....