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Ferrari was born in Paris, and was trained in music at a very young age. He studied the piano under Alfred Cortot, musical analysis under Olivier Messiaen, and composition under Arthur Honegger. His first works were freely atonal. A case of tuberculosis in his youth interrupted his career as a pianist. From then on he mostly concentrated on musical composition. During this illness he had the opportunity to become acquainted with the radio receiver, with pioneers such as Schönberg, Berg, and Webern.
In 1954, Ferrari went to the United States to meet Edgard Varèse, whose Déserts he had heard on the radio, and had impressed him. This seems to have had a great effect on him, with the tape part in Déserts serving as inspiration for Ferrari to use magnetic tape in his own music. In 1958 he co-founded the Groupe de Recherches Musicales with Pierre Schaeffer and François-Bernard Mâche. He taught in institutions around the world, and worked for film, theatre and radio. By the early 1960, Ferrari had begun work on his Hétérozygote, a piece for magnetic tape which uses ambient environmental sounds to suggest a dramatic narrative. The use of ambient recordings was to become a distinctive part of Ferrari's musical language.
Ferrari's Presque rien No. 1 'Le Lever du jour au bord de la mer (1970) is regarded as a classic of its kind. In it, Ferrari takes a day-long recording of environmental sounds at a Yugoslavian beach and, through editing, makes a piece that lasts just twenty-one minutes. It has been seen as an affirmation of John Cage's idea that music is always going on all around us, and if only we were to stop to listen to it, we would realise this. Ferrari continued to write purely instrumental music as well as his tape pieces. He also made a number of documentary films on contemporary composers in rehearsal, including Olivier Messiaen and Karlheinz Stockhausen.
Ferrari died in Arezzo, Italy on August 22, 2005, at age 76.
Discography
Acousmatrix
Petite symphonie intuitive pour un paysage de printemps (1973–74)Strathoven (1985)Presque rien avec filles (1989)Hétérozygote (1963–64)BVHAAST 9009 Acousmatrix 3 – 1990
Unheimlich schön
Unheimlich schön (1971)Coll. Cinéma pour l'oreilleMetamkine MKCD008 1993
L'Escalier des aveugles
Patajaslotcha (1984)L'Escalier des aveugles (1991)Xavier Legasa / Donatienne Michel-Dansac / Michel Musseau (song)Ensemble Le Banquet, Dir. Olivier DejoursIna-grm ina c 2008/Musidisc 201302 – 1993
Presque rien
Music promenade (1964–69)Presque rien No.1 – le lever du jour au bord de la mer (1967–70)Presque rien No.2 – ainsi continue la nuit dans ma tête multiple (1977)Presque rien avec filles (1989)Ina-grm 245172 – 1995
Piano-piano
Suite pour piano (1952)Antisonate (1953)Suite hétéroclite (1955)Visage I (1956)Fragments du journal intime (1980–82)Comme une fantaisie dite des réminiscences (1989–91)Christine Lagniel / Michel Maurer (Piano)Auvidis Montaigne MO 782110 – 1997
Cellule 75
Cellule 75 (1975)Place des Abbesses (1977)Chris Brown (Piano), William Winant (Perc.)Tzadik USA – TZ 7033 – 1997
Interrupteur / Tautologos III
Interrupteur (1967)Tautologos III (1970)Ensemble de musique vontemporaine de Paris, Dir. Konstantin SimonovitchBlue Chopsticks USA BC1, distrib. France : Chronowax – 1999
Chansons pour le corps – Et si tout entière maintenant
Chansons pour le corpsElise Caron (Song), Carol Mundinger / Sylvain Frydman (Clar.), Christine Lagniel (Perc.), Michel Maurer (Piano.), Michel Musseau (Synthesizer)Et si tout entière maintenant (1986–87)Symphonic story. (Prix Italia 1987) – Text by Colette FellousAnne Sée (Voice), Nouvel Orchestre Philharmonique, Dir. Yves Prin.Mode Records USA MODE 81 – 1999
Far-West news episode No.1 (1998–99)Histoire du plaisir et de la désolation (1979–81)Nouvel orchestre de France, Dir. Michael Luig.Signature, France ASIN : B00005Q4KU – distribution Harmonia Mundi – 1999
Cycle des souvenirs – Exploitation des concepts No.2
Cycle des souvenirs – Exploitation des concepts No.2 (1995–2000)Blue Chopsticks USA BC8, distrib. France : Chronowax – 2002
Tautologos and other early electronic works
Étude aux accidents (1958)Étude aux sons tendus (1958)Visage V (1958/59)Tête et queue du dragon (1959–60)Tautologos I (1961)Tautologos II (1961)Und so weiter for piano and tape (1965–66)(works from 1959 to 1966) EMF and GRMGérard Frémy (Piano)EMF CD 037 – 2003
Comedia dell'amore 224 (1992)
Performers and composers : Jean-Jacques Birgé, Francis Gorgé, Bernard Vitet and Luc FerrariUn Drame musical instantané "Opération Blow up" GRRR 2020 – distrib. France : Orkhêstra / Les Allumés du Jazz – 1992
Impro-micro-acoustique (2001)
Performers and composers : Noël Akchoté, Roland Auzet and Luc FerrariBlue Chopsticks, USA BC12 – distrib. France : Chronowax – 2004
Collection
Collection de petites pièces ou 36 Enfilades pour piano et magnétophone (1985)Jeu du hasard et de la détermination (1999)Michel Maurer (Piano.), Françoise Rivalland (Perc.).Les empreintes digitales, France – distribution Abeille Musique (Nocturne) ED13171 – 2004
Les Anecdotiques
Les Anecdotiques – Exploitation des Concepts No.6 (2002)SUB ROSA SR 207 – 2004Grand Prix 2005 Charles Cros in Memoriam
Archives sauvées des eaux
Archives sauvées des eaux – Exploitation des concepts No.1 (2000)Version for plastic, Milan 2004. By Luc Ferrari and ErikmAngle Records, Italie CD 0008 – 2004Grand Prix 2005 Charles Cros in memoriam
Son mémorisé
Presque Rien No.4 (1990–98)Promenade symphonique dans un paysage musical ou Un jour de fête à El Oued en 1976 : (1976–78)Saliceburry cocktail (2002)Sub Rosa, SR252 – 2006
Far-West news episodes 2 and 3
Far-West news episodes 2 (May 1999)Far-West news episodes 3 (June 1999)Blue Chopsticks BC16 CD September 2006
Et tournent les sons
Et tournent les Sons dans la Garrigue – Réflexion sur l'écriture No.1 (1977)Archives sauvées des eaux – Exploitation des concepts No.3 (2000)By the Ensemble Laborintus and ErikmCésaré 06/03/4/2/1 France septembre 2006. Distr. Metamkine
Les ProtoRythmiques
Les ProtoRythmiques (2007)EriKm (Luc Ferrari) and Thomas LehnRoom40 RM417/ May 2007
Didascalies
Rencontres fortuites (2003) for viola, piano and memorized sounds.Didascalies (2004) for viola and pianoTautologos III (1969)By Vincent Royer and Jean-Philippe Collard-NevenLuc Ferrari facing his tautology – 2 days before the end,a film by Guy Marc Hinant and Dominique LohléSub Rosa SR261 luc ferrari "didascalies" / cd+ dvd / May 2007
Sonopsys
Passage pour mimes (1959)J'ai été coupé (1960–69)Selbstportrait oder Peinture de sons ou bien Tonmalerei (1996–97)Sonopsys 4 – Cahiers musique concrète/acousmatique. May 2007
in OHM: The Early Gurus of Electronic Music / 1943 – 1980
Ellipsis arts...... EA500-4 USA
in Asia – Trio d'argent
Madame de Shanghaï (1996)Michel Boizot / François Daudin Clavaud / Xavier Saint-Bonnet (Flutes)Musique d'Aujourd'hui 9701 MDA M7 847 – 1997
in An anthology of noise & electronic music / vol. #2
Visage V (1958–59)Sub Rosa SR200 – 2003
in Early modulations : vintage volts
Tête et queue du dragon (1959–60)Caipirinha CP219 USA – 2000
in Archives GRM – CD 2/5
Étude aux sons tendus (1958)Étude floue (1958)Étude aux accidents (1958)Ina c 1032(2004) ADD – 750 – 276522
Chantal, or the portrait of a villager (1977–78)
stereo tape.in collaboration with Brunhild Meyer.Digital on-line edition 2008Room 40
for four soloists and sixteen instruments (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, 4 violins, 2 violas, 2 violoncellos, 1 contrabass. Soloists: 1 piano, 3 percussions.) recording from 1968 by the EIMCP dir. Konstantin Simonovich.Robot Records, USA
À la recherche du rythme perdu
for piano and memorized sound. by Wilhem LatchoumiaIn Wilhem Latchoumia – piano & electronic soundsSisyphe 013
Madame de Shanghaï (1996)
for 3 flutes and memorized soundIn Manuel Zurria repeat !Die Schachtel, Zeit C01
Archives sauvées des eaux – Luc Ferrari with Otomo Yoshihide.
Bonus-track (CD extra) for the first 2000 copies : « Slow landing » Luc Ferrari with Otomo Yoshihide, Camera: Miyaoka Hideyuki and Nishihara Tazz MiyaokaDisc Callithump CPCD-001
in partnership with La muse en circuit,contains 10 CD Luc Ferrari’s works for memorized sound as well as film music.
Chantal (2009)
stereo tape (1977–78)in collaboration with Brunhild Meyer.Ohm/Avatar – ohm 051
DIDASCALIES 2 ou Trois personnages en quête de notes (2005)
For two pianos and a third very strong instrument capable to uphold a very strong note.Claude Berset and Jean-Philippe Collard-Neven, piano – Vincent Royer, violaRecorded at La Chaux-de-Fonds, SwitzerlandVinyl disc Sub rosa SRV 305- April 2010
TRANQUILLES IMPATIENCES (2010)
by Brunhild Ferrari recomposing tapes from Luc Ferrari called "Exercices d'Improvisation”vinyle disc ALGA MARGHEN – 2010 – plana-MF alga028
EPHÉMÈRE I & II (1974)
for tape and undetermined instrumentationéphémère I – L'ordinateur ça sert à quoi ? Nov ; 1974éphémère II – Lyon 75 Nov. 1975ALGA MARGHEN plana f. 33 NMN 081 – 2010
EXERCICES D'IMPROVISATION (1977)
Suite of exercices (5 to 7 min. each) – can be individual or collective improvisation for any instrument or instrument group (maximum 8). They are intended for amateurs, professionals or students and may take place in concerts.By Gol and Brunhild FerrariVinyl disc ALGA MARGHEN planam 5 (it) – 2010
PIANO & PERCUSSION WORKS
Satoko Inoue piano & Toshiyuki Matsukura percussionCONVERSATION INTIME (October 1987 – March 1988) 19:33
for piano and percussion
VISAGE I (1956) 7:21 for pianoSONATINE ELYB POUR PIANO (1953–54) – 7 :44 for pianoCELLULE 75 – FORCE DU RYTHME ET CADENCE FORCEE (May – November 1975) 32:45for piano, percussions and tapeRecorded in 2004 – Hat(now)ART 165 – Jan. 2011 – harmonia mundi
LUC FERRARI " Madame de Shanghai " – " Après Presque Rien " – " Visage 2 "
VISAGE 2 (1955–56) – 10'02APRES PRESQUE RIEN (2004) – 31'47 (commissioned by Art Zoyd, Musiques Nouvelles and CCMIX)MADAME DE SHANGHAI (1996) – 15'22By the Scottish Flute Trio and Ensemble Musiques Nouvelles, cond. Jean-Paul DessyMode 228 – Feb. 2011
VISITATION (1 avril 2011) – 25'23
eRikm & Luc Ferrari – The night bird, Cap 15 and night bird, Tuchan, in Presque Rien N0 2Vinyle disc Alga Marghen Planam 18 (it) – 2011
Souvenir, Souvenir
SUITE' (1952)SUITE HÉTÉROCLITESONATINE ELYBVISAGE ICOLLECTION DE PETITES PIÈCES OU 36 ENFILADES POUR PIANO ET MAGNÉTOPHONEpiano : Elmar Schrammel – WERGO 67372
JETZTou PROBABLEMENT MON QUOTIDIEN IL EST LA, DANS LA CONFUSION DES LIEUX ET DES MOMENTS – Hörspiel 1982 – 1 h. 45'
Radio composition for Hessischer Rundfunk. .Ferrari (r)écouténew compositions with sound material of Ferrari's JETZT tapes from:Tiziana Bertoncini – Antje Vowinckel – Frank Niehusmann – David Fenech – Neele HülckerCOMPOSER LA RADIO – DAS RADIO KOMPONIERENexcerps from a radio conférence with Luc Ferrari (2000)produced by ZKM, Karlsruhe and WERGO. – WERGO ZKM milestones 2066.2 – 2011
PROGRAMME COMMUN Luc + Brunhild Ferrari
Double CDMUSIQUE SOCIALISTE, or PROGRAMME COMMUN POUR CLAVECIN ET BANDE MAGNETIQUE' – (1972)harpsichord: Elisabeth ChojnackaDIDASCALIES 2 – (2005)for 2 pianos and a third very powerful instrument that can hold a very loud note : violaJean-Philippe Collard-Neven et Claude Berset : piano. Vincent Royer : violaLES EMOIS D’APHRODITE – (1986) Version 1998for clarinet, piano, percussion, 2 samplers and memorized soundby the ensemble MC BAND, dir. Mary Chun, San FranciscoDERIVATIF – (2008)BRUMES DU REVEIL – (2009)TRANQUILLES IMPATIENCES – (2010)Sub Rosa SR363 AB – www.SUBROSA.NET
LUC FERRARI « PRESQUE RIEN »
double vinyl discsPRESQUE RIEN No.1PRESQUE RIEN No. 2PRESQUE RIEN AVEC FILLESPRESQUE RIEN No. 4 – La remontée du VillageRecollectio GRM 2012 – REGRM 005 et éditions MEGO – INA GRM
L. FERRARI
UND SO WEITER for electric piano and tapeGérard Frémy, PianoMUSIC PROMENADE original mixre-issue of the vinyl disc by WERGO from 1969 – WER 67752 – 2012
CD and DVD releases
Didascalies
Rencontres Fortuites (2003) pour alto, piano et SM.Didascalies (2004) pour alto et pianoTautologos 3 (1969)by Vincent Royer, viola and Jean-Philippe Collard-Neven, piano+ DVDLuc Ferrari face à sa tautologie – 2 jours avant la finFilm by Guy-Marc Hinant and Dominique LohléFrench version, with English sub-titles, recorded while the rehearsal of Tautologos III."that would be Luc’s last one in this beginning of July 2005.Sub Rosa SR261 luc ferrari "didascalies" / cd+ dvd / mai 2007This Box was rewarded with the « Coup de Coeur Charles Cros – musique contemporaine printemps 2008 » and the Grand Prix from the festival "Filmer à tout prix", Brussels in 2008
Presque rien avec Luc Ferrari
Film by Jacqueline Caux and Olivier Pascal – with Elise Caron – eRikm – Christof Schläger . 2004.ELICA VPO-4290Robot Records 2008Forced Exposure; Métamkine, Fr.; Die Schachtel, It.; Mimaroglu Music Sales; Die Stadt, Germ.; A-Musik, Cologne, Germ.; Empreintes Digitales, Montreal Can.; Disk Union, Tokyo, Jap.
Les Archives sauvées des Eaux
Luc Ferrari with Otomo Yoshihide.« Slow Landing » Luc Ferrari with Otomo Yoshihide, Camera: Miyaoka Hideyuki and Nishihara Tazz MiyaokaDisc Callithump CPCD-001
Recent book releases
Presque Rien avec Luc Ferrari
book by Jacqueline Caux. Discussion with Luc Ferrari.Editions Main d’œuvre, Nice – January 2001translation into Japanese by Ryosuke Shiina (Tokyo, 2006)Luc Ferrari to hotondo nanimo nai.Editions Gendaishichô-shinsha (2006), Tokyo, Japan.translation into English by Jérôme Hansen.Almost Nothing with Luc Ferrari. Editions Errant Bodies (2013)
Sonopsys No. 4 Luc Ferrari
Cahiers Musique Concrète / Acousmatique, published by Licences (French – English) – 2007by Alexandre Yterce and Florence Gonot
in Sound Commitments (Oxford University Press, 2009).P. 145-166. Pdf to download on the website on “bibliography” 2009 page 9
Luc Ferrari in: In the Blink of an Ear:
Toward a Non-Cochlear Sonic Artby Seth Kim- Cohen. (Continuum, 2009). "Sound-Out-Of-Itself" p. 175-185.Pdf to download on the website on “bibliography” 2009 page 9
Luc Ferrari in : Silence, les couleurs du prisme & la mécanique du temps qui passe. Les Presque Rien – Et Tournent les sons Dans la Garrique by Daniel Caux
Editions de l’Eclat, Paris. Pages 333–337 (2009)
Syntone News and Critique of the Radio-Art
the Radio of Luc (and his listeners)Chantal Dumas – François Parra – Irvic Oliver – José Iges – Götz Naleppa – Lucien Bertolina.Contributions collected and conducted by Etienne Noiseau. Edited by Etienne Noiseau
The Bells Angels No. 2
Magazine TBA No 2 July 2010-07-03 containing the score ofMonologos (for solo voice and électroacoustic device) – 1970 – as well asConcepts (3 excerpts of Jacqueline Caux’ book: Presque Rien avec Luc Ferrariéditions nuitdencre galerie 64 rue jean-pierre timbaud – 75011 paris
The Bells Angels
Magazine TBA No 3 – 201110 photoengraving-works by Luc Ferrari
