| Darius Milhaud |
Article Index for Darius |
Website Links For Darius |
Information AboutDarius Milhaud |
|
Darius Milhaud ( September 4 , 1892 – June 22 , 1974 ) was a French Composer and teacher. He was a member of '' Les Six '' - also known as the ''Groupe des Six'' - and one of the most prolific composers of the 20th Century . Born to a Jewish family in Aix-en-Provence , Milhaud studied in Paris under Charles Widor and Vincent D'Indy . Having befriended Erik Satie many years before the ''Groupe des Six'' existed, he was the only one of that group never to have disagreements with that composer. As a young man he worked for a while in the diplomatic entourage of Paul Claudel , the eminent poet and dramatist, who was serving as ambassador to Brazil. On a trip to the US in 1922, he discovered jazz, which left a great impact on his musical outlook. He left France in 1939 and emigrated to America in 1940 (his Jewish background made it impossible for him to return to his native country until after the Liberation); he secured a teaching post at Mills College in Oakland, California . From 1947 to 1971 he taught alternate years at Mills and the Paris Conservatoire , until poor health, which caused him to use a wheelchair during his later years (beginning sometime before 1947), compelled him to retire. He died in Geneva . Notable students of Milhaud:
His compositions are particularly noted as being influenced by Jazz and for their use of Polytonality (music in more than one Key at once). Milhaud (like his contemporaries Paul Hindemith , Bohuslav Martinu and Heitor Villa-Lobos ) was an extremely rapid creator, for whom the art of writing music seemed almost as natural as breathing. His most significant works include '' Le Boeuf Sur Le Toit '' (ballet), '' La Création Du Monde '' (jazz), '' Scaramouche '' (2-piano suite), and ''Saudades do Brazil'' (dance suite). His autobiography is titled ''Notes Sans Musique'' (''Notes Without Music''), later revised as ''Ma Vie Heureuse'' (''My Happy Life''). COMPOSITIONS Note that the following list represents only a tiny proportion of Milhaud's output; his opus list ended at 443. Orchestra
Wind Instruments
Piano
Stage
Chamber Music
Vocal Music
EXTERNAL LINKS
|
|
|