Denis, Didier

Denis, Didier , French composer; b. Paris, Nov. 5, 1947. He studied at the Paris Cons.(1958–71) with Simone Petit (solfege), Henri Challan (harmony), Marcel Bitsch (counterpoint and fugue), and Olivier Messiaen (analysis and composition). In 1969 and 1971 he won the Lili Boulanger Prize, in 1971 the Prix Van Zeeland de TAcademic des beaux arts, and in 1972 the prize of the SACEM. From 1971 to 1973 he was in residence at the Villa Medici in Rome under the auspices of the Academic des beaux arts. From 1982 to 1991 he was an inspector of music for the French Ministry of Culture. After teaching composition at the Toulouse Cons. (1991–95), he was again an inspector of music for the French Ministry of Culture.

Works

DRAMATIC Ubicande, Opéra (1983–98); incidental music. ORCH.: Chants de Tse Yeh for Piano and Chamber Ensemble (1969); Levres, rouge for Viola and Orch. (1973); T’aimer beaucoup, t’aimer d’amour, septfois d’amour forHorn and Large String Orch. (1985); Ivre de t ’aimer beaucoup, ivre de t’aimer d’amour, ivre de t ’aimer trente et une fois d ’amour for Cello and Wind Orch. (19897). CHAMBER : Trio for Flute, Clarinet, and Bassoon (1966); Fugue indoue for 2 Percussion Groups (1968); Triangle au soleil a 7 branches for Jazz Quartet and 11 Players (1969); Levres, rouge for Viola (1972); Lefleuvre, le serpent, le serin et Vepervier for Flutes (1974); Amore stelle for Flute and Viola (1983); L’etat des lieux for Oboe (1992); Chansons obscures for Guitar (1994); Les toiles—I’indiscible du passage for 11 Players (1996); La nuit des aveugles for Violin and Piano (1999); Un regard blesse (par les soleils de la mart) for Clarinet (1999). VOCAL: Sagesse, froce, beaute, I’amour for Soprano and 18 Players (1967); Cinq fois je t’aimes for Reciter, Soprano, and Orch. (1968); Chansons de la plus haute tour for Soprano (1969); Puzzle for Voice, Guitar, and Percussion (1970); C’est pas une raison for Soprano, Tenor, Jazz Ensemble, 10 Players, and Tape (1970); La vieille dame for Soprano and 6 Players (1972); Le coq for 12 Voices (1972); Obscur et fonge comme un oeillet violet for 2 Sopranos, Chorus, and 6 Players (1972); Les herbes folks de la campagne for Soprano, Lute, and 71 Guitars (1975); Khamaileon for Soprano and 3 Clarinets (1986); Les temps sont revolus un carousel sur la rive nord for Voice and Instrument (1991); A la grace de Dieu forSoprano, Children’s Chorus, and 10 Players (1992).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire