Role

:

Composer Conductor

Country

:

France

Birth

:

August 8, 1905 in Paris, France

Death

:

December 20, 1974 in Paris, France

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

André Jolivet was a French composer who was born on August 8, 1905, in Paris, France. He was the son of a painter and a pianist, and his parents encouraged him to pursue music from a young age. Jolivet began studying the piano at the age of six and later took up the violin and the cello. He also showed an interest in composition and began writing music when he was a teenager. Jolivet studied at the Paris Conservatory, where he was a student of Paul Le Flem and Jean Roger-Ducasse. He also studied with the composer Edgar Varèse, who had a significant influence on his music. Jolivet was interested in exploring new sounds and techniques, and he was drawn to the avant-garde music of the time. Jolivet's early works were influenced by the neoclassical style, but he soon began to experiment with new sounds and techniques. He was particularly interested in the use of percussion instruments, and he incorporated them into many of his compositions. Jolivet also drew inspiration from non-Western music, particularly the music of Africa and Asia. One of Jolivet's most famous works is his Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra, which was written in 1950. The piece features a wide variety of percussion instruments, including timpani, snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, and xylophone. The concerto is known for its complex rhythms and intricate interplay between the percussion instruments and the orchestra. Jolivet also wrote a number of chamber music works, including his Sonata for Flute and Piano, which was written in 1949. The piece is known for its use of extended techniques, such as flutter-tonguing and harmonics, and its exploration of the flute's range and timbre. In addition to his work as a composer, Jolivet was also a music educator. He taught at the Paris Conservatory and was a professor of composition at the École Normale de Musique de Paris. Jolivet was also a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts and was awarded the Grand Prix National de la Musique in 1966. Jolivet's music was often characterized by its use of unconventional sounds and techniques, as well as its exploration of non-Western musical traditions. He was a pioneer of the avant-garde movement in French music and was known for his innovative approach to composition. Jolivet died on December 20, 1974, in Paris, France, but his music continues to be performed and studied today.

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