Charpentier, Jacques

Charpentier, Jacques, French composer and organist; b. Paris, Oct. 18, 1933. He studied piano with Maria Cerati-Boutillier, then lived in Calcutta (1953–54), where he made a study of Indian music. He prepared a valuable thesis, Introduction à l'étude de la musique de Vlnde. Upon his return to Paris, he studied composition with Aubin and analysis with Messiaen at the Cons. In 1954 he was appointed organist at the church of St.-Benoit-dTssy. In 1966 he was named chief inspector of music of the French Ministry of Cultural Affairs, and in 1975 Inspector General of the Secretariat of State for Culture. In 1974 he was named official organist of the Church of St. Nicolas du Chardonnet in Paris. From 1979 to 1981 he was director of music, lyric art, and dance in the French Ministry of Culture. Several of his works are based on Hindu melorhythms.

Works

DRAMATIC: La Femme et son ombre, ballet (1967); Béatrice de Planisoles, opera (Aix en Provence, July 23, 1971). orch.: Violin Concerto (1953); 7 syms.: No. 1, Symphonie breve, for Strings (1958), No. 2, Sinfonia sacra, for Strings (1965), No. 3, Shiva Nataraja (Shiva—the King of the Dance; 1968; Paris, March 2, 1969), No. 4, Brasil, in homage to Villa-Lobos (1973), No. 5, Et l'imaginaire se mit à danser (1977), No. 6 for Orch. and Organ (1979), and No. 7, Acropolis (1985); Ondes Martenot Concerto (1959); Alla francese, concertino for Ondes Martenot, Strings, and Percussion (1959–60); Octuple Concerto for 8 Winds and Strings (1963); Prélude pour la Genèse for Strings (1967); Récitatif for Violin and Orch. (1968); 10 concertos: No. 1 for Organ and Strings (1969), No. 2 for Guitar and Strings (1970), No. 3 for Harpsichord and Strings (1971), No. 4 for Piano and Strings (1971), No. 5 for Saxophone and Strings (1975), No. 6 for Oboe and Strings (1975), No. 7 for Trumpet and Strings (1975), No. 8 for Horn and Strings (1976), No. 9 for Cello and Strings (1976), and No. 10 for Clarinet and Strings (1983); Trumpet Concerto (1976). chamber: 2 string quartets (1955, 1956); Piano Quintet (1955); Ondes Martenot Quartet (1958); Suite karnatique for Ondes Martenot (1958); Prelude and Allegro for Bass Saxophone and Piano (1959); Lalita for Ondes Martenot and Percussion (1961); Pour Diane for Horn and Piano (1962); Pour Syrinx for Flute and Piano (1962); Mouvement for Flute, Cello, and Harp (1965); Gavambodi 2 for Saxophone and Piano (1966); Pour le Kama Soutra for Percussion Ensemble (1969); Pour une Apsara for 2 Harps (1970); Esquisses for Flute and Piano (1972); Tu dors mais mon coeur veille for Violin (1974); Et le jour vint... for 13 Instruments (1977); Vitrail pour un temps de guerre for Winds (1982). keyboard: piano:Toccata (1954); Études karnatiques (4 cycles, 1957-61). organ:Messe (1964); Répons (1968). vocal:4 Psaumes de Toukaram for Soprano and Orch. (1957); Tantum ergo for 4 Voices and Orch. (1962); La Croisade des pastoureaux, oratorio (1964); Musique pour un Zodiaque, oratorio (1971); La Genèse, oratorio (1973); Une Voix pour une autre for 2 Women's Voices, Flute, Clarinet, and Percussion (1974); Te Deum (1978); Prélude pour une nuit étoilée for Chorus and Orch. (1986); Le Miroir de Marie- Madeleine for Soprano, Women's Voices, and Orch. (1988).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire