French musicians who were born in 1908
Here are 7 famous musicians from France were born in 1908:
Jean-Yves Daniel-Lesur
Jean-Yves Daniel-Lesur (November 19, 1908 Paris-July 2, 2002 Paris) also known as Daniel-Lesur was a French film score composer, actor, organist and composer.
He was raised in a family of musicians and began studying music at a young age. He attended the Paris Conservatoire where he studied under some of the leading composers of the time including Charles-Marie Widor and Maurice Emmanuel.
In addition to his work in film score composition, Daniel-Lesur was known for his contributions to vocal, orchestral, and chamber music. He was heavily influenced by the works of Debussy and Ravel and his music often incorporated elements of the Impressionist style.
Daniel-Lesur was also an accomplished organist and served as the organist at the church of St. Germain-des-Prés for over 50 years. In addition, he founded and conducted the Paris chamber choir, which gained international renown for its performances of choral works by contemporary French composers.
Throughout his life, Daniel-Lesur was celebrated for his contributions to the French cultural scene and was honored with numerous awards and accolades, including being made a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in 1984.
Daniel-Lesur's career spanned several decades and he composed music for over 40 films. Some of his most notable works in film include scores for "Le Corbeau" (The Raven) and "Les Enfants Terribles" (The Strange Ones). He was also a prominent member of the Group of Six, a group of French composers who sought to break free from the traditionalism of the time and create new forms of music. The group included other notable composers such as Francis Poulenc and Arthur Honegger.
In addition to his composing and performing, Daniel-Lesur was also a respected educator. He taught composition at the Conservatoire de Paris and was known for his generous and supportive approach to teaching his students. Many of his former pupils went on to have successful careers in music.
Daniel-Lesur's legacy continues to be celebrated in France and beyond. His music remains a beloved part of the classical repertoire and his contributions to French music and culture continue to be appreciated and recognized.
In addition to his impressive musical career, Daniel-Lesur was also a talented actor. He appeared in several films, often in small roles as a musician or composer. He also performed in plays and was a member of the prestigious Comédie-Française for several years. As an actor, he brought a unique perspective to his film score composition, as he understood firsthand the importance of music in enhancing the emotional impact of a scene.
Throughout his life, Daniel-Lesur remained committed to promoting contemporary French music. He founded the Society of Contemporary Music, which organized concerts and promoted the works of young composers. He also served as the director of the Conservatoire Américain in Fontainebleau, a program that brought American students to France to study music.
Despite his many achievements, Daniel-Lesur remained modest and dedicated to his craft. He once said, "I have never sought success, but only the joy of creating." His dedication to his art and passion for music ensured his lasting legacy in French culture.
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Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen (December 10, 1908 Avignon-April 27, 1992 Clichy) otherwise known as Messiaen, Oliver Messiaen or Messiaen, Olivier was a French organist, ornithologist and composer.
His albums include Catalogue d'oiseaux / Petites esquisses d'oiseaux, Saint François d'Assise (Choeurs et Orchestre de l'Opéra de Paris feat. conductor: Seiji Ozawa), La Transfiguration De Jésus Christ (NDR-Chor/Rundfunkchor Berlin & Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin feat. conductor: Karl Anton Rickenbacher), Turangalîla / L'ascension (Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra feat. conductor: Antoni Wit, piano: François Weigel, ondes martenot: Thomas Bloch), Quartet for the End of Time (Amici Ensemble), Chronochromie / La Ville d'en Haut / Et Exspecto (The Cleveland Orchestra feat. conductor: Pierre Boulez), Madeline Forte Plays Piano Music Of Messiaen, Turangalila-Symphonie (Orchestre de l'Opera Bastille feat. Jeanne Loriod; Yvonne Loriod; conductor: Myung-Whun Chung), Mystic - The Musical Visions of Olivier Messiaen and Méditations Sur le Mystère de la Sainte Trinité. Genres he performed include 20th-century classical music, French opera, Musique concrète and Classical music.
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Ray Ventura
Ray Ventura (April 16, 1908 Paris-March 30, 1979 Palma, Majorca) a.k.a. Raymond V. Ventura or Raymond Ventura was a French film producer, actor, film score composer and musician.
His albums include , , , and .
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Raoul Kraushaar
Raoul Kraushaar (August 20, 1908 Paris-October 13, 2001 Pompano Beach) also known as Ralph Kraushaar or Ralph Stanley was a French film score composer and composer.
Kraushaar composed music for more than 60 films, many of which were produced in Belgium and France, where he spent most of his career. Some of his most notable scores were for films such as "Douce" (1943), "The Battle of the Rails" (1946), and "The Living Dead" (1948). In addition to his film work, Kraushaar also wrote music for television and theater productions. He was a highly respected composer in his field and received numerous awards and accolades throughout his career. Kraushaar passed away in 2001 at the age of 93 in Pompano Beach, Florida.
In addition to his work as a composer, Raoul Kraushaar was also a talented pianist, arranger, and conductor. He began his musical studies at a young age and later went on to study at the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris, where he received a degree in composition. After completing his studies, Kraushaar began his career as a composer and quickly gained recognition for his innovative and expressive style.
Throughout his career, Kraushaar collaborated with many of the leading filmmakers and directors of his time, including Henri-Georges Clouzot, Marcel Carné, and Jean-Pierre Melville. His music was known for its emotional depth and sensitivity, and he was considered a master of using music to enhance the emotional impact of a film.
In addition to his film and television work, Kraushaar was also a respected teacher and mentor, and his students included some of the most successful composers and arrangers of the next generation. He also remained active as a composer and arranger well into his 80s, and his music continued to be performed and celebrated long after his death.
Despite spending most of his career in France and Belgium, Raoul Kraushaar was fluent in multiple languages including English and German, which allowed him to work with a diverse range of artists and composers from around the world. He also had a keen interest in jazz music and regularly incorporated elements of jazz into his compositions.
During World War II, Kraushaar served in the French Army and was later captured by the Germans and held as a prisoner of war for several years. Despite the difficult conditions of his captivity, Kraushaar continued to compose music and even wrote a ballet while in the POW camp.
Kraushaar was also an accomplished author and wrote several books on music theory and composition, including "The Evolution of Music" and "Principles of Orchestration". His contributions to the field of music continue to be celebrated and his legacy lives on through his music and teachings.
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Paul Misraki
Paul Misraki (January 28, 1908 Constantinople-October 29, 1998 Paris) also known as Paul Misrachi, Mr. Misraki or Paul Thomas was a French film score composer, composer, pianist, music arranger and author.
Discography: Et Dieu... créa la femme. Genres related to him: Film score.
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Louis Gasté
Louis Gasté (March 18, 1908 Paris-January 8, 1995 Rueil-Malmaison) also known as Loulou Gasté, Gasté, Louis or Louis "Loulou" Gasté was a French film score composer and actor.
Louis Gasté began his career in the music industry in the 1930s as a composer and songwriter, writing for some of France's most famous singers such as Edith Piaf and Charles Trenet. He also worked extensively in the film industry, composing the scores for over 200 films throughout his career. Gasté was also an accomplished actor, appearing in over 50 films and television shows. He was awarded the Legion of Honour by the French government in recognition of his contribution to the arts. Gasté passed away in 1995 at the age of 86.
In addition to his work in the music and film industries, Louis Gasté was also a talented painter and sculptor. He frequently exhibited his artwork in Parisian galleries and was known for his abstract and surrealist style. Gasté was married to several famous French actresses throughout his life, including Paulette Dubost, Renée Saint-Cyr, and Line Renaud. He was also involved in politics and ran as a candidate for the French National Assembly in 1946. Despite not winning the election, Gasté remained active in politics throughout his life, supporting various causes and campaigns. He was widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in French music and film during the 20th century.
Throughout his career, Louis Gasté worked with many famous French icons, including the legendary Edith Piaf, for whom he composed the music for some of her most famous songs, including "La Vie en rose," "Padam... Padam," and "Mon dieu." He also worked with Charles Trenet, Juliette Gréco, and Yves Montand, among many others.
In addition to his talents as a composer and actor, Gasté was also a successful businessman. He founded his own record label, Les Industries Musicales et Electriques Pathé Marconi, which went on to become one of the largest music labels in France.
Gasté's artistic legacy continued after his death, with many of his songs and film scores becoming timeless classics in French culture. His works have been covered by countless musicians and used in numerous films and television shows.
Today, Gasté is remembered as a pioneer in French music and film, and his contributions to the arts continue to inspire new generations of artists and musicians in France and beyond.
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Stéphane Grappelli
Stéphane Grappelli (January 26, 1908 Paris-December 1, 1997 Paris) also known as Stephanie Grappelli, Stephane Grapelli, Stepane Grappelli, Stephane Grappelli, Stephanie Grapelli, Stéphane Grappelly or Stéfano Grappelli was a French jazz musician, jazz violinist, film score composer and actor.
His most recognized albums: Star Eyes, Grappelli Story, Priceless Jazz, Satin Doll, Stephane Grappelli, Live at the Blue Note, Stardust, My Other Love, Jazz in Paris: Django and Fine and Dandy. Genres he performed: Jazz, Gypsy jazz, Swing music, Continental jazz and Jazz fusion.
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