Musiques de synthèse : la French touch des années 1970

Edit

Content:
It was in 1957 at Bell Labs in New Jersey that Max Mathews developed the first computer sound synthesis software. French composer and researcher Jean-Claude Risset had two separate residencies at this laboratory before playing an active part in the development of this field of research in France at the dawn of the 1970s. But where, how, and by whom was the first synthesized music produced in France? These two days will delve into the history of digital sound through the prism of the pioneering research carried out in the 1970s across various French institutions. From the Paris region—GAIV, GRM, IRCAM, CEMAMu—to Marseilles with LMA and GMEM. Organised by François-Xavier Féron (CNRS - STMS), Vincent Tiffon (Aix-Marseille Université - PRISM) in collaboration with Alain Bonardi (Université Paris 8 - CICM), Pierre Carré, Jean-Louis Giavitto (CNRS - STMS), Laura Zattra (Conservatoire d'Udine) With the participation of Max Ardito (McGill University), Nicolas Donin (University of Geneva), Waël Hindo (University of Strasbourg) Stuart Jackson (McGill University), Philippe Langlois (IRCAM), Carlo Laurenzi (IRCAM), Marco Stroppa (Musikhochschule Stuttgart), Corsin Vogel (ENS Louis-Lumière) and, as major witnesses, Jacques Arveiller, Marc Battier, Jérôme Chailloux, Andrew Gerzso, Yann Geslin, Guy Médigue, Michel Redolfi, Xavier Rodet. <img src="/media/uploads/lignejaune-100x2.png" alt="" width="100" height="3" /> <h2>Program of the Thursday, June 3</h2> <h3><img src="/media/uploads/carre-jaune.png" alt="" width="18" height="17" /> Colloquium "Boulez et l’électronique"</h3> Amphithéâtre - 14h-17h30 <h3><img src="/media/uploads/carre-jaune.png" alt="" width="18" height="17" /> Concert "Re-jouer Boulez"</h3> Auditorium - 18h30 Length: approximately 1 hour Stuart Jackson vibraphone Max Ardito electronics Pierre Boulez Deux études de musique concrète Symphonie mécanique …explosante-fixe... version for vibraphone and electronics <h2>Program of the Wednesday, June 4</h2> <h3><img src="/media/uploads/carre-jaune.png" alt="" width="18" height="17" /> Colloquium "Fabriques du son numérique"</h3> Amphithéâtre - 10h-18h <h3><img src="/media/uploads/carre-jaune.png" alt="" width="18" height="17" /> Concert "1978-1979 : Le tournant numérique"</h3> Auditorium - 18h30 Length: approximately 1 hour 45 minutes Daniel Arfib Le souffle du doux Marc Battier Géométrie d’hiver François Bayle La fin du bruit Gilbert Dalmasso Nomades Jean-Claude Risset Songes Michel Redolfi Pacific tubular waves Iannis Xenakis Mycènes Alpha

It was in 1957 at Bell Labs in New Jersey that Max Mathews developed the first computer sound synthesis software. French composer and researcher Jean-Claude Risset had two separate residencies at this laboratory before playing an active part in the development of this field of research in France at the dawn of the 1970s. But where, how, and by whom was the first synthesized music produced in France? These two days will delve into the history of digital sound through the prism of the pioneering research carried out in the 1970s across various French institutions. From the Paris region—GAIV, GRM, IRCAM, CEMAMu—to Marseilles with LMA and GMEM.

Organised by
François-Xavier Féron (CNRS - STMS), Vincent Tiffon (Aix-Marseille Université - PRISM) in collaboration with Alain Bonardi (Université Paris 8 - CICM), Pierre Carré, Jean-Louis Giavitto (CNRS - STMS), Laura Zattra (Conservatoire d'Udine)

With the participation of
Max Ardito (McGill University), Nicolas Donin (University of Geneva), Waël Hindo (University of Strasbourg) Stuart Jackson (McGill University), Philippe Langlois (IRCAM), Carlo Laurenzi (IRCAM), Marco Stroppa (Musikhochschule Stuttgart), Corsin Vogel (ENS Louis-Lumière) and, as major witnesses, Jacques Arveiller, Marc Battier, Jérôme Chailloux, Andrew Gerzso, Yann Geslin, Guy Médigue, Michel Redolfi, Xavier Rodet.

Program of the Thursday, June 3

Colloquium "Boulez et l’électronique"

Amphithéâtre - 14h-17h30

Concert "Re-jouer Boulez"

Auditorium - 18h30

Length: approximately 1 hour

Stuart Jackson vibraphone
Max Ardito electronics

Pierre Boulez
Deux études de musique concrète
Symphonie mécanique
…explosante-fixe... version for vibraphone and electronics

Program of the Wednesday, June 4

Colloquium "Fabriques du son numérique"

Amphithéâtre - 10h-18h

Concert "1978-1979 : Le tournant numérique"

Auditorium - 18h30

Length: approximately 1 hour 45 minutes

Daniel Arfib Le souffle du doux
Marc Battier Géométrie d’hiver
François Bayle La fin du bruit
Gilbert Dalmasso Nomades
Jean-Claude Risset Songes
Michel Redolfi Pacific tubular waves
Iannis Xenakis Mycènes Alpha

Edit

Musiques de synthèse - site ManiFeste 2025

Event organised as part of the RAMHO project (Recherche et acoustique musicales en France: une histoire orale) supported by MSH Paris Nord and the Association Francophone d'Informatique Musicale.—