GEORGES DELERUE (1925-1992)

Born on March 12, 1925 in Roubaix, Georges Delerue began his musical studies at the town’s Conservatory with piano, organ, chamber music and harmony classes.

He then entered the Conservatory in Paris where he was taught by Henri Busser, Simone Plé-Caussade, Jean Rivier and Darius Milhaud. In 1949 he won the first prize for musical composition, and the First second grand prix de Rome.

He took his first steps in music for theatre in 1948, while still a pupil at the Conservatory. He was musical director for Jean Vilar, Raymond Hermantier, Jacques Mauclair and Jean-Marie Serreau, and also worked with Jean-Louis Barrault.

He wrote about 140 stage scores, and over 200 film scores for directors such as François Truffaut, Philippe de Broca, Louis Malle, Henri Verneuil, Bernardo Bertolucci, John Huston, Mike Nichols, Fred Zinnemann, George Roy Hill, George Cukor, Oliver Stone, Bruce Beresford.

He also wrote for numerous television programmes, and several «Son et Lumière» shows, including the Pyramids, Strasbourg cathedral, the Temple of Philae, Puy du Fou and the Hospices de Beaune.

His catalogue of classical music includes: chamber music works including 2 strings quartets, 1 symphony, 1 sonata for piano and violin, 6 melodies on poems by Paul Eluard, works for guitar, for clarinet and piano, for oboe and piano, and for brass ensemble; orchestral works including 1 concertino for trumpet and string orchestra, 1 concerto for horn and string orchestra, 1 concerto for trombone and string orchestra, 1 symphonie concertante for piano and orchestra, 1 concerto for violin and orchestra, 1 concerto for four guitars and orchestra, 1 concerted movement for orchestra; as well as Trois Prières pour les Temps de Détresse for mixed choir, solo baritone and instrumental ensemble, and 9 ballets including L’Aboyeur (story by Boris Vian), Conte Cruel (story by Philippe Hériat from the novella by Villiers de l’Isle-Adam), La Leçon (story by Eugène Ionesco), The Three Musketeers (story by Fleming Flindt from the novel by Alexandre Dumas).

He also composed two operas : Le Chevalier de Neige (book by Boris Vian), Médis et Alyssio (book by Micheline Gautron), two chamber operas: Ariane (book by Michel Polac), Une Regrettable Histoire (book by Boris Vian).

He won several awards: an Emmy for «Our World», the first broadcast in Mondovision, 1967; Gemini Award for «Sword of Gideon», 1987; 3 Césars in 1979, 1980 and 1981; 1 Oscar in 1979. He was made a Commandeur des Arts et Lettres.

ELEGIA, for clarinet and piano
Guy Dangain, clarinette
Disque Harmonia Mundi 342

VITRAIL, for brass quintet
Quintette de l’Orchestre National de France
Disque Corelia cc 681 299