Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

March 1, 1932

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Keyboard

 

Jacques Leduc was a Canadian composer who was born on August 20, 1932, in Montreal, Quebec. He was the son of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. Leduc began his musical education at a young age, studying piano and theory with his mother. He later studied composition with Claude Champagne at the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal. Leduc's early works were influenced by the French school of composition, particularly the music of Olivier Messiaen. He was also interested in the music of the Second Viennese School, including the works of Arnold Schoenberg and Anton Webern. Leduc's music was characterized by its use of serialism and its exploration of new sound textures. In 1957, Leduc won the Prix d'Europe, a prestigious award for young musicians. This allowed him to study in Europe for two years, where he was exposed to the music of the avant-garde. He studied with Karlheinz Stockhausen in Cologne and attended the Darmstadt Summer Courses, where he met other composers who were exploring new musical techniques. Leduc returned to Canada in 1959 and began teaching at the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal. He also became involved in the Canadian music scene, serving as the president of the Canadian League of Composers from 1965 to 1967. Leduc's music continued to evolve throughout the 1960s and 1970s. He began to incorporate electronic music into his compositions, using tape recorders and synthesizers to create new sounds. He also experimented with graphic notation, which allowed him to create complex musical structures that were not possible with traditional notation. One of Leduc's most famous works is his 1968 composition, "Chants et danses du monde inanimé" (Songs and Dances of the Inanimate World). This piece is scored for orchestra and tape and features a collage of sounds, including bird calls, industrial noises, and electronic sounds. The piece was well-received and helped establish Leduc as one of Canada's leading composers. Leduc continued to compose throughout the 1980s and 1990s, although his output slowed down as he focused more on teaching. He retired from the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal in 1997 but continued to be active in the Canadian music scene. Jacques Leduc passed away on June 12, 2017, at the age of 84. He left behind a legacy of innovative and experimental music that helped shape the Canadian music scene. His works continue to be performed and studied by musicians and scholars around the world.

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