Amy, Gilbert

Amy, Gilbert, French composer, music educator, and conductor; b. Paris, Aug. 29, 1936. He studied with Plé-Caussade, Puig- Roget, Milhaud, and Messiaen at the Paris Cons. From 1967 to 1974 he was director of the Domaine Musical concerts in Paris. In 1976 he founded the Nouvel Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France in Paris, which he served as its first conductor and artistic director until 1981. In 1982 he taught at Yale Univ. From 1984 Amy was director of the Lyons Cons. As a conductor, he appeared with many orchs. in Europe. His compositions have been featured at many contemporary music concerts. In 1979 he was awarded the Grand Prix National de la Musique, in 1983 the Grand Prix de la Sacem, in 1986 the Grand Prix Musical de la Ville de Paris, and in 1988 the Prix de la Critique Musicale. After experimenting with doctrinaire serial procedures, Amy opted for greater freedom in compositional expression.

Works

DRAMATIC: Opera: Le premier cercle (1998). ORCH.: Mouvements (1958); Diaphonies (1962); Antiphonies for 2 Orchs. (1963); Triade (1965); Trajectoires for Violin and Orch. (1966); Chant (1968-69; rev. 1980); Jeux et formes for Oboe and Chamber Orch. (1971); Refrains (1972); 7 Sites for 14 Instruments (1975); Écho XIII for 13 Instruments (1976); Adagio et stretto (1977–78); D’aprèsiÉcrits sur toiles for Chamber Orch. (1984); Orchestrai (1986–89); Trois scènes (1994–95). CHAMBER: Variations for Flute, Clarinet, Cello, and Piano (1956); Inventions for Flute, Vibraphone or Marimbaphone, Harp, and Piano or Celesta (1959–61); Alpha-beth for Wind Sextet (1963–64); Cycle for Percussion Sextet (1964–66); Relais for Brass Quintet (1969); Quasi scherzando for Cello (1981); 3 Interludes for Violin and Percussion (1984); En trio for Clarinet, Violin, and Piano (1985); 5/26 for Flute and Optional Percussion (1986); Posaunen for 4 Trombones (1987); Mémoire for Cello and Piano (1989); 2 string quartets (1992, 1995); Le temps du souffle I for 2 Clarinets and Basset Horn (1993) and II for Violin, Saxophone, and Trombone (1994); Symphonies for Brass (1994); En harmonies for Harp (1995). KEYBOARD: Piano: Sonata (1957–60); Épigrammes (1961; rev. 1967); Cahiers d’Épigrammes (1964); Obliques I-III (1985–90). Organ: 7 Bagatelles (1975); Quasi una toccata (1981); 3 Inventions (1993–95). VOCAL: Oeil de fumée for Soprano and Piano (1955; orchestrated, 1957); Cette étoile enseigne à s’incliner for Men’s Chorus and Instruments (1970); ...d’un désastre obscur for Mezzo-soprano and Clarinet (1970); D’un espace déployé for Soprano, 2 Pianos, and 2 Orch. Groups (1972–76); Sonata pian’e forte for Soprano, Mezzo-soprano, and 12 Instruments (1974); Apres “...d’un désastre obscur” for Mezzosoprano and Small Ensemble (1976); Messe for Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass, Children’s Chorus ad libitum, Chorus, and Orch. (1982–83); Écrits sur toiles for Reciter and Small Ensemble (1983); Choros for Countertenor, Tenor, Bass-baritone, Chorus, and Orch. (1989).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire