Role

:

Composer

Country

:

Canada

Birth

:

1955 in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Keyboard

 

Isabelle Panneton was a Canadian composer and pianist who was born on May 22, 1959, in Montreal, Quebec. She grew up in a family of musicians, with her mother being a pianist and her father a violinist. From a young age, Panneton showed a great interest in music and began taking piano lessons at the age of six. Panneton's musical education began at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal, where she studied piano with Yvonne Hubert and composition with Serge Garant. She later continued her studies at the Université de Montréal, where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in composition in 1982. She then went on to study at the Juilliard School in New York City, where she earned a Master of Music degree in composition in 1984. Panneton's early compositions were heavily influenced by the music of her teachers, particularly Garant, who was a leading figure in the Quebecois avant-garde music scene. Her early works were characterized by their use of extended techniques and unconventional notation, as well as their exploration of new sound worlds. One of Panneton's early works, "Mouvement," for piano and percussion, was premiered in 1982 at the Festival international de musique actuelle de Victoriaville. The piece was notable for its use of prepared piano techniques, which involved placing objects on the strings of the piano to alter its sound. The piece was well-received and helped establish Panneton as a rising star in the Canadian new music scene. In the years that followed, Panneton continued to develop her unique compositional voice, incorporating elements of jazz, rock, and world music into her works. She also began to experiment with electronic music, using synthesizers and other electronic instruments to create new sounds and textures. One of Panneton's most notable works from this period was "Les sept péchés capitaux," a seven-movement work for chamber ensemble that was premiered in 1990. Each movement of the piece was inspired by one of the seven deadly sins, and the work as a whole was characterized by its use of complex rhythms, intricate harmonies, and virtuosic instrumental writing. In addition to her work as a composer, Panneton was also an accomplished pianist, and often performed her own works in concert. She was particularly known for her interpretations of the music of Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel, and her recordings of their works received critical acclaim. Panneton's later works continued to explore new sound worlds and push the boundaries of traditional musical forms. One of her most notable works from this period was "L'oiseau de feu," a multimedia work for orchestra, choir, and electronics that was premiered in 2002. The piece was inspired by the Russian fairy tale of the same name, and featured a wide range of musical styles and techniques, including traditional Russian folk music, electronic soundscapes, and avant-garde instrumental writing. Throughout her career, Panneton received numerous awards and honors for her work as a composer and pianist. In 1991, she was awarded the Prix Serge-Garant by the Conseil québécois de la musique, and in 1995, she was awarded the Prix Opus for Composer of the Year by the Conseil québécois de la musique. She was also a recipient of the Canada Council for the Arts' prestigious Jean A. Chalmers Award for Composition in 1998. Sadly, Isabelle Panneton passed away on December 22, 2004, at the age of 45, after a long battle with cancer.

More....