Tribute to Jean-Claude Risset

Jean-Claude Risset (1938-2016) was both a musician, a renowned pianist, composer and researcher in physical acoustics. A computer music pioneer, he took part in the creation of IRCAM alongside Pierre Boulez and ran the Laboratoire de Mécanique et d’Acoustique du CNRS in Marseille where he was awarded with the CNRS’ highest distinction.

In the 1960s, Jean-Claude Risset created a computer-modelled synthesis of the physics and perception of musical sound with symbolic musical thought and writing of the spaces for pitch and timbre. He was a subtle artist and creative scientist, breathing new life into a tradition that finds its roots in Rameau, the Quadrivium, and Pytagoras.

This concert, performed during the event “Rencontres internationales” organized by the Collegium Musicæ, is as much a tribute to the interdisciplinary research on musical sciences and practices that irrigated Risset’s life as an opening towards the future.

Matteo Cesari flute
Clément Himbert saxophone
Jonathan Prager acousmonium

JEAN-CLAUDE RISSET MUTATIONS
JEAN-CLAUDE RISSET PASSAGES
JOHN CHOWNING PHONÉ
JEAN-CLAUDE RISSET SAXATILE
HORACIO VAGGIONE SHIFTING MIRRORS
JEAN-CLAUDE RISSET SUD

Exhibition at the IRCAM Multimedia Library

In complement to this concert, the IRCAM multimedia library will present a selection of documents curated by François-Xavier Féron from Tuesday, April 24 through Friday, May 18.
IRCAM's multimedia library is open Tuesday through Friday, from 2 to 5:30pm.