(b. 4 April 1935, Clermont-Ferrand).
French composer of mostly orchestral, chamber, choral, vocal, piano, and electroacoustic works that have been performed throughout the world; he is also active as a writer.
Mr. Mâche was born into a family of musicians and began composing at age eight. He studied harmony with Émile Passani at the Conservatoire à rayonnement régional Emmanuel-Chabrier in Clermont-Ferrand and graduated with prizes in piano in 1951 and harmony in 1952. He later studied with Olivier Messiaen at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris, where he earned the Prix de Philosophie de la Musique in 1960. He also studied classical literature at the École Normale Supérieure de Paris from 1955–59 and there earned a diploma in archaeology from Greece in 1957 and the teaching certificate Agrégation de lettres classiques in 1958. He then took classes in ancient art at the Université Paris Sorbonne-Paris IV in 1959 and later studied in Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand in 1972. He received an honorary doctorate from the University of Athens in 2011.
Among his honours are the Prix de la Biennale de Paris (1963, for Safous Mélè, Op. 5), the Grand Prix du Disque from the Académie Charles-Cros (1971, for a recording of Danaé, Op. 21), the Prix Georges Enesco from SACEM (1973), the Prix Italia (1977), the Prix Chartier from the Académie des Beaux-Arts (1984), the Grand Prix National de la Musique from the Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication of France (1988), the Prix Rossini from the Académie des Beaux-Arts (1998), and the Grand Prix de la Musique Symphonique from SACEM (2002). He has been a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts since 2002. In addition, he was named a Docteur d'État ès Lettres et Sciences Humaines in 1980 and a Commandeur de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 1990, both by the government of France. More than 40 portrait concerts have been given in the Americas, Asia and Europe.
As a writer, he served as music critic of the magazine La Nouvelle Revue française from 1969–78. He has written more than 100 articles, mainly on musicological subjects, as well as the book Musique, mythe, nature ou les dauphins d'Arion (1983, Klincksieck; second edition, 1991; Italian translation as Musica, mito, natura, 1992, Cappelli Editore; English translation as Music, Myth, Nature, 1993, Harwood Academic Publishers), the collection of his articles Entre l'observatoire et l'atelier (1998, Éditions Kimé), the book Un Demi-Siècle de Musique (2000, Éditions L'Harmattan), the book Musique au singulier (2001, Éditions Odile Jacob), and the retrospective Cent opus et leurs échos (2012, Éditions L'Harmattan). Moreover, he has made French translations of modern poems from Greece, including works by Odysseas Elytis, and served as editor of the books Music, Society and Imagination in Contemporary France (1993, Harwood Academic Publishers) and Portrait(s) de Xenakis (2002, Bibliothèque Nationale de France).
He is also active in other positions. He produced experimental films for RTF in 1958 and was a member of the Groupe de Recherches Musicales in Paris from 1958–63, during which time he served as a second lieutenant in Algeria from 1960–62. He worked at the studio for electronic music in Gravesano in 1965 and in Warsaw in 1966. He produced a broadcast series for France Musique in 1976 and served as president of the section in France of ISCM from the late 1970s–early 1980s.
He taught literature at the Collège Sévigné in Paris in 1959–60, the Lycée Marceau in Chartres in 1962–63 and the Lycée Pasteur in Neuilly-sur-Seine from 1963–68. He taught at Middlebury College in Vermont and Sarah Lawrence College in Yonkers, New York, both in 1968, and taught classical literature from Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome and France at the Lycée Louis-le-Grand in Paris from 1968–83. He then taught musicology at the Université de Strasbourg from 1983–93, where he founded the Centre Primus in 1987, and served as director of studies at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales in Paris from 1993–97. He has given lectures in 25 countries.
His primary publisher is Éditions Durand-Salabert-Eschig, though recent works are unpublished.
COMPLETE LIST OF WORKS
STAGE:
Coïncidences (dance music, choreography by Francine Lancelot, instruments by Bernard Baschet, François Baschet), 1966
Canzone V, voice, 3 double basses, theatrical set, Op. 19, 1969
Da capo (spectacle), 10 actors, 3 mediaeval players, positive organ, 2 percussion, sound décor, fixed media, Op. 32, 1976
Rituel pour 'Les Mangeurs d'Ombre' (spectacle, production by Pierre Barrat), 12 mixed voices (all + percussion), percussion, Op. 37, 1979 (incorporates Danaé, Op. 21)
Temboctou (spectacle), 2 sopranos, 2 mezzo-sopranos, tenor, 3 baritones, bass, 2 mediaeval players, clarinet, 2 trombones, guitar, sampler, percussion, fixed media, Op. 47, 1982
Qaraqorum (récit musical), male speaker, string quartet, fixed media, Op. 105, 2013
ORCHESTRAL:
La Peau du silence I (players move around stage), small orchestra (7 winds, 2 pianos, 4 percussion, 17 strings), Op. 7a, 1962 (also shorter versions as La Peau du silence II [players move around stage], large orchestra [110 players], Op. 7b, 1966; La Peau du silence III [players move around stage], large orchestra [82 players], Op. 7c, 1970)
Synergies, small orchestra (21 players), fixed media (2/5 tracks), Op. 8, 1963
Le Son d'une voix, small orchestra (15 players), Op. 11, 1964
Rituel d'oubli, small orchestra (2 flutes, 2 E-flat clarinets, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, bass trombone, 3 percussion), fixed media (2 tracks), Op. 17, 1968
Répliques, birdcalls (played by each member of the audience), orchestra (12 winds, 3 percussion, 31 strings), Op. 18, 1969
Rambaramb, piano, large orchestra (85 players), fixed media (2 tracks), Op. 23, 1972
Le Jonc à trois glumes, Op. 28, 1974
L'Estuaire du temps, sampler, large orchestra (88 players), Op. 71, 1993
Planh (in memoriam Witold Lutosławski), 26 or more strings, Op. 72, 1994
Braises (concerto), amplified harpsichord, small orchestra (27 players), Op. 74, 1994
Résurgence, 12/48 strings, Op. 97, 2009
CHAMBER MUSIC:
Duo, violin, piano, Op. 1, 1956
Canzone I, French horn, trumpet, cornet/trumpet, trombone, tuba, Op. 2a, 1957 (also longer version, Op. 2b, 1960, incorporated into film Conte; also version as Canzone II, French horn, trumpet, cornet/trumpet, trombone, tuba, Op. 9, 1963)
Volumes, 7 trombones, 2 pianos, 2 percussion, fixed media (2/4/12 tracks), Op. 6, 1960 (also version for 4 French horns, 3 trumpets, 2 pianos, 2 percussion, fixed media [2/4/12 tracks], 1960)
Canzone III, 3 trumpets, 4 trombones, Op. 15, 1967
Kemit, tombak (goblet drum from Iran)/darabukka (goblet drum from the Middle East), Op. 20, 1970
Temes Nevinbür, 2 pianos, 2 percussion, fixed media (2 tracks), Op. 26, 1973
Naluan, flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, double bass, piano, percussion/2 percussion, fixed media (2 tracks), Op. 27, 1974
Maraé, 6 amplified percussion, fixed media (2 tracks), Op. 29, 1974
Solstice, positive organ/fixed media, harpsichord, Op. 30, 1975
Kassandra, 2 oboes (2nd + English horn), clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, contrabassoon, trumpet, 2 trombones, 2 pianos, 3 percussion, fixed media, Op. 33, 1977
Octuor, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, Op. 35, 1977
Aera, 6 percussion, Op. 36, 1978
Amorgos, 2 bassoons, 2 trombones, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, piano, 2 percussion (any one + electronic organ), fixed media, Op. 38, 1979
Toïn Theoïn, 2 clarinets, Op. 39, 1979
Sopiana, flute, piano, fixed media ad libitum, Op. 41, 1980
Anaphores, harpsichord, percussion, Op. 45, 1982
Phénix, vibraphone (+ 9 tom-toms), Op. 48, 1982
Aulodie, oboe/E-flat clarinet/soprano saxophone, fixed media, Op. 49, 1983
Iter memor, cello, sampler, Op. 53, 1985
Uncas, 2 samplers, ensemble (flute, clarinet, trombone, 2 violins, viola, cello), fixed media, Op. 56, 1986
Éridan, string quartet, Op. 57, 1986
Tempora, 3 samplers, Op. 60, 1988
Figures, bass clarinet, vibraphone, Op. 63, 1989
Khnoum, sampler, 5 percussion, Op. 65, 1990
Athanor, flute, oboe, clarinet, 2 samplers, 2 violins, viola, 2 cellos, Op. 69, 1991
Hiérogamie, piccolo, percussion, Op. 70, 1993
Moires, string quartet, fixed media, Op. 73, 1994
Ugarit, guitar, Op. 77, 1998
Brûlis, clarinet, cello, piano, Op. 79, 1999
Vectigal libens, sampler, 5 percussion, Op. 81, 2000
Les 12 Lunes du Serpent, Op. 82, 2001 (its two sections may be performed separately: Le Printemps du Serpent, 12 percussion [any 2 + piano], fixed media, Op. 82a; L'Automne du Serpent, 12 percussion [any 2 + piano], Op. 82b)
Achéron, piano, percussion, Op. 85, 2002
Canopée, 2 samplers, 4 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos, double bass, Op. 87, 2003
Manuel de conversation, clarinet, computer/fixed media, Op. 93, 2007
Râgamalika, viola/cello, piano, Op. 98, 2009
CHORAL:
Safous Mélè (cantata), alto, 8 female voices, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, harp, 4 percussion, Op. 5, 1959
Canzone IV, 5 mixed voices, Op. 16, 1968
Danaé, 12 mixed voices (all + percussion), percussion, Op. 21, 1970 (also incorporated into Rituel pour 'Les Mangeurs d'Ombre', Op. 37)
Andromède, 12 mixed voices, 60 mixed voices, 3 pianos, large orchestra (88 players), Op. 40, 1979
Cassiopée I, 4 mixed voices, 2 percussion, Op. 61, 1988
Cassiopée II, mixed chorus, 2 percussion, Op. 76, 1998
Heol Dall, 12 mixed voices, 2 pianos, Op. 88, 2003
Taranis (text by the composer), mixed chorus, large orchestra, Op. 91, 2005
Largando, 12–24 mixed voices, French horn, Op. 101, 2012
VOCAL:
Nuit blanche (text by Antonin Artaud), male speaker, fixed media (2 tracks), Op. 14, 1966 (also version as Nuit, fixed media [2 tracks], Op. 24)
Aliunde, soprano, clarinet (+ contrabass clarinet), sampler, tablā (+ percussion), Op. 59, 1988
Trois Chants Sacrés, Op. 51, 1982–90 (its three sections may be performed separately: Muwatalli [text from an ancient source of the Hittites], mezzo-soprano/baritone [+ 3 metal plates], Op. 51a, 1984; Rasna [text from an ancient source of the Etruscans], mezzo-soprano, Op. 51b, 1982; Maponos [texts from ancient sources of the Gauls], female voice [+ low tambourine], Op. 51c, 1990)
Kengir, chants d'amour sumériens, mezzo-soprano, sampler, Op. 68, 1991 (its five sections may be performed separately: Inanna, Op. 68a; Enlil, Op. 68b; Shusin, Op. 68c; Kubatum, Op. 68d; Dumuzi, Op. 68e)
Manuel de résurrection, mezzo-soprano, 2 samplers, Op. 75, 1998
Kurunta, mezzo-soprano, tenor recorder, darabukka, Op. 83, 2001
Melanga, female voice, sampler, gamelan (tuned in slendro), Op. 84, 2001
Chikop, soprano, flute (+ piccolo), clarinet (+ bass clarinet), violin, cello, piano, percussion, Op. 89, 2004
Perseus, soprano, small orchestra (harpsichord, percussion, 7 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos, double bass), Op. 94, 2007
Reflets, soprano, clarinet, fixed media, Op. 103, 2012
PIANO:
Areg, piano 4 hands, Op. 34, 1977
Nocturne, piano, fixed media ad libitum, Op. 44, 1981
Styx, 2 pianos 8 hands, Op. 50, 1984
Léthé, 2 pianos 8 hands, Op. 52, 1985
Mesarthim, 2 pianos, Op. 58, 1987
Medusa, Op. 90, 2005
Les Arcadiennes, Op. 92, 2007
Pluie, piano/2 pianos, Op. 104, 2013
ORGAN:
Guntur Sari, Op. 66, 1990
Artémis, organ, fixed media, Op. 95, 2008
HARPSICHORD:
Korwar, harpsichord, fixed media (2 tracks), Op. 25, 1972
Guntur Madu, Op. 64, 1990
Ziggurat, Op. 78, 1998
La Terza Prattica (trois interludes d'après Monteverdi), Op. 86, 2003
Thémis, harpsichord, fixed media, Op. 96, 2009
ELECTROACOUSTIC:
Prélude, fixed media (3 tracks), Op. 3, 1959
Lanterne magique, fixed media (2 tracks), Op. 4, 1959
Terre de Feu, fixed media (2 tracks), Op. 10, 1963
Soleil rugueux, fixed media (2/4 tracks), Op. 13, 1965
Nuit, fixed media (2 tracks), Op. 24, 1971 (version of Nuit blanche, Op. 14)
4 Phonographies de l'eau, fixed media, Op. 42, 1980 (its sections may be performed separately: Regmin, Op. 42a; Ianassa, Op. 42b; Proteus, Op. 42c; Speïô, Op. 42d)
Hypérion, fixed media, Op. 43, 1981
La Traversée de l'Afrique, fixed media, Op. 54, 1985
Tithon, fixed media, Op. 62, 1989
Portrait, fixed media, Op. 80, 2000
Sèma (à la mémoire de Daniel Charles), fixed media, Op. 99, 2009
Le Promeneur solitaire, fixed media, Op. 100, 2010
Le Partage des flots, fixed media, Op. 102, 2012
FILM SCORES (DIRECTOR):
Conte, 1960 (Piotr Kamler; incorporates Canzone I, Op. 2b)
L'Annonce faite à Marie, Op. 67, 1991 (Alain Cuny)
DIDACTIC MUSIC:
Autonomie, 2 harps/piano 4 hands/marimba 4 hands/2 marimbas, Op. 46, 1982