Jean-Christophe Rosaz

composer

France

Author

About

Born in the Alps, of a Swiss-French nationality and Italian-Argentinean origin, all this invite him to travel, meeting other cultures. Graduated of the Conservatory of Lyon in classical guitar and writing music (counterpoint, harmony and fugue), he obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Composition at the Conservatoire National de Lyon and then in film music at the Ecole Normale de Musique - Alfred Cortot in Paris .

2015: he is invited composer to the Florilège Vocal de Tours. He has won several composition competitions: 2013 Prayer for peace has been choiced for the Congrès Pueri cantores 2014 Paris. The lads of Monleon is the winner of the 1st Hispasong International Composers Contest (Spain). Diligam te, Domine is the winner of the 7th Concours Amadeus de composition chorale(Spain). Chiaroscuro for double bass solo received the Grand Prize International Society of Bassists David Walter Composition Competition solo division, the premiere performance will be at the 2013 ISB Convention, June 3-8, Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. Concours National Composition and Writing Songs for Choirs (Choirs Creates Re) 2009 chaired by Jean-Claude Vannier (Jury members: Jean-Claude Petit, composer, Patrick Marco, head of choir). Fairies of the Rhine was awarded the prize for composition for choir festival of Swiss children's choirs and youth / 2008-2009. Semifinalist for Frammenti dell 'Paradiso (from a text by Dante Alighieri) to contest composition of sacred music for choir of Fribourg (Switzerland) 2008. Composition Competition for Concert Band of Lambersart 2006. Contest the city of Basel in 2000, for Argizagi: mixed choir. Lutoslawski International Composers Competition: Awarded for Four Indian Songs (soprano, conductor) / 1995. Piano Composition Competition of the city of Vannes: winner for Storm on the Ocean, Under The Sun's Drum / 1990.

His works are created in France, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Portugal, Switzerland, the United States by ensembles and musicians of international fame as Sonia Wieder-Atherthon, Thierry Barbé, Pascale Rouet, Christine Marchais, Marc Sieffert, Francois Veilhan, the Choir Britten cond. Nicole Corti, Suonare e Cantare, Maîtrise de la ville de Paris, cond. Patrick Marco, Maîtrise de la Cathedrale Notre Dame de Paris, cond. D. Rougier ...

He received numerous commissions: the Forestare Ensemble Canada, the Modern South America ensemble, Cantatrix, Amia associtation and the city of Strasbourg for an opera for children's voices, The Quimper Musical Weeks, Orion Ensemble (Switzerland) dir. Jean-Luc Darbellay, The Choir of the Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire (cond. Valérie Fayet), the Festival des Voix du Prieuré, artistic dir. Bernard Tetu, Loïc Pierre and Le Cepravoi, the Argenteuil Estudiantina and Florentino Calvo, Panam 'Trombones… In 2011, he was in residence at the Music Conservatory of Chilly-Mazarin for writing three pieces for instrumental ensembles based on the work of Anne Herbauts. From 2010 to 2012, he continued working with the Master of Autun, dir. Fabien Barxell around the creation of the passions of St Luke, St Matthew and St Mark.

He works with the German poetess Eva-Maria Berg on the particular relation poetry-music

The recordings of the Magnificat from Puy (Bayard Music) as well as extracts from Vespers of Puy appeared in 2009 and 2010.

Soon: O magnum mysterium (Impronta Editions) world premiere by Ensemble Vocapella Limburg (male choir) cond. Tristan Meister programming by Stiftsmusik-Stuttgart 27 March 07.PM Stiftstraße 12, Stuttgart / Germany. Commission & Premiere Ecole de musique du Jura bernois for children voices & Mozart orchestra cond. Philippe Krüttli June 23 Saint-Imier Switzerland.

Sheets

Interview

What does music mean to you personally?

Wide question! So many things that it will be to long to enumerate. The research of beauty, harmony but with enough surprising like in life!

Do you agree that music is all about fantasy?

Yes fantasy is in the heart of art but not only, one of the most important thing is the question of the form, how you are driven by the thought of the composer to this marvelous place (like a good story in a movie, a book)

If you were not a professional musician, what would you have been?

Paleontologist? Something related with nature...

The classical music audience is getting old, are you worried about the future?

No, but we have to ask us the good questions. Open the doors: the classical music is for every age everyone everywhere

What do you envision the role of music to be in the 21st century? Do you see that there is a transformation of this role?

I hate the vision of a music just for entertainment, who is playing faster, louder, higher! That‘s nothing to do with music. Fortunately for many musicians who I met all over the world it‘s a strong, deep and vital thing which don‘t leave us. However I like to laugh!

Do you think that the musician today needs to be more creative? What is the role of creativity in the musical process for you?

As a composer it‘s a question that lives in me night and day! But I think that we have also to be creative imagining meetings with other forms of arts, places to play...

Do you think we as musicians can do something to attract the younger generation to music concerts? How would you do this?

It‘s a fundamental question! Yes we have to! Perhaps imagining some music, stories, staging approachable by young eyes, hears and spirit. The presentation is also fundamental.

Tell us about your creative process. What is your favorite piece (written by you) and how did you start working on it?

It‘s difficult for me to answer. Certainly we are happier about some scores than others but I turn to what will come. I began from the general shape and go more and more step by step to the details. There is also the sensation of an encounter: as if there were something else which whom converse, which even could suggest me some answers...

Can you give some advice for young people who want to discover classical music for themselves?

Go to concerts, meet some musicians at their own home where they will play simply and you will never forget these moments. On the roads, on holidays you can have many occasions to listen to musicians in the streets, the bars… without forgetting the birds, the animals, the song of the nature!

Do you think about the audience when composing?

Yes and no! I think about the musicians. Does this moment will be enough surprising, bewitching? We have to keep our minds sharp.

What projects are coming up? Do you experiment in your projects?

Next pieces are one for tenor solo violin choir and piano on the story of saffron, one for cello solo inspired by paintings and words of a friend… Friendship is also fundamental!