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Composer Performer

 

Marcel Ege was a French composer and pianist who lived from 1903 to 1969. He was born in the city of Strasbourg, which was then part of the German Empire. His father was a music teacher, and Marcel showed an early aptitude for music. He began studying piano at the age of six, and by the time he was a teenager, he was already composing his own music. Ege's family moved to Paris when he was a young man, and he continued his musical studies there. He studied composition with Paul Dukas and piano with Alfred Cortot. He also attended the Paris Conservatory, where he won several prizes for his compositions. Ege's early works were influenced by the Impressionist style of Debussy and Ravel. He wrote several pieces for piano, including a set of preludes and a sonata. He also wrote a ballet, "La Danse des Oiseaux," which was performed by the Ballets Russes. In the 1930s, Ege began to experiment with new forms and techniques. He was particularly interested in the use of electronic instruments, which were just beginning to be developed at that time. He wrote several pieces for the ondes Martenot, an early electronic instrument that was played by moving a metal ring along a wire. Ege's most famous work is his "Concerto for Ondes Martenot and Orchestra," which he wrote in 1937. The concerto is a virtuosic showcase for the ondes Martenot, which is accompanied by a full orchestra. The piece is notable for its use of unusual harmonies and rhythms, as well as its innovative use of electronic sound. During World War II, Ege was forced to flee Paris and go into hiding. He continued to compose during this time, and wrote several pieces for small ensembles that could be performed in secret. After the war, he returned to Paris and resumed his career as a composer and pianist. Ege's later works were more introspective and reflective than his earlier pieces. He wrote several pieces for solo piano, including a set of nocturnes and a sonata. He also wrote several pieces for chamber ensembles, including a string quartet and a trio for piano, violin, and cello. Ege's music was not widely performed during his lifetime, but it has since gained recognition for its originality and innovation. His use of electronic instruments was ahead of its time, and his exploration of new forms and techniques paved the way for later composers. Today, Ege is remembered as one of the most important French composers of the 20th century.

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