updated 21 June 2023
© Cathy Bistour
© Cathy Bistour
Philippe Hersant
French composer born 21 June 1948 in Rome.
At the Conservatoire de Paris, Philippe Hersant pursued a double-major in composition in André Jolivet’s studio and literature, winning the writing prize. From 1970 to 1972, he was a fellow at the Casa de Velázquez in Madrid and later at the Villa Medici in Rome from 1978 until 1980. A producer at the radio station France Musique from 1973 to 2005, he possesses a knowledge of music that stretches across many genres.
Hersant has been composer-in-residence at the Orchestre National de Lyon (1998-2000), Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire (2007-2009), Orchestre de Bretagne (2008-2010), Festival des Forêts (2015-2018), Besançon International Music Festival (2016-2018), Cité de la Voix in Vézelay (2016-2018), and Aspects des Musiques d’aujourd’hui Festival in Caen (2017).
A lover of literature, Hersant has put many texts to music. These have included works by Jules Verne in Le château des Carpathes (The Carpathian Castle — an opera twice nominated at the Victoires de la Musique awards); Anton Chekhov in Le Moine noir (The Black Monk), with a libretto by his brother, historian Henri Hersant; Jean Echenoz in Éclairs (Lightning); Friedrich Hölderlin in Lebenslauf (Résumé); and Arthur Rimbaud in Allégories and Illuminations.
Since The Carpathian Castle, Hersant expressed a strong interest in voice, which is visible in his large output of pieces for voice and instruments, as well as in pieces such as Niggun, which is historically a genre of Jewish religious music, a hymn of praise without lyrics. In this case the vocal part is performed by a bassoon.
Hersant’s involvement in Festival Ombres et Lumières in Clairvaux from 2011 to 2016 was a key moment in his career. During this period, he worked with inmates from the Clairvaux Prison. From this collaboration came texts written by the inmates, which went toward several choral pieces: Instants limites (Boundary Moments), Métamorphoses (Metamorphoses), and Kitoo. This project was also the subject of the documentary Revenants (Returnees) by Julien Sallé.
Hersant has an excellent aural memory, and he thinks of composition as coming from melodies that arise from memory and naturally lead to quotation. He finds this to be particularly the case with religious music. Himself a non-believer, Hersant’s memories of the genre go back to childhood, and so his experience of composing religious music calls upon collective memory and myth. He is interested, following the words of André Boucourechliev, in themes as they pass through the filter of memory, distorted in the mind’s eye of the composers who remember them, without becoming pastiche. Hersant likens this compositional process to that of Luciano Berio for Voci in which Berio blends Sicilian folk songs with his own language.
In 2004, Hersant was the headliner at the Radio France’s Présence festival. Between 2006 and 2017, he fulfilled three mandates as administrator of the French copyright collective Société des Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques (SACD), where he presided over the music commission on three occasions. He is a board member of the vocal ensemble Aedes, La Tempête vocal and instrumental company, and the Orchestre de Chambre de Paris. He is also Chairman of the Association Jeunes Talents and of the Fondation d’Entreprise Banque Populaire’s Music Jury.
Hersant has also written several film scores, notably for Nicolas Philibert: Un animal, des animaux (Animals and More Animals, 1994), Être et avoir (To Be and to Have, 2001), and Nénette (2009), to name but a few.
Hersant is Commandeur des Arts et Lettres.
Prizes and awards
- Composer of the Year from Victoire de la Musique Classique, 2005, 2010, 2016
- Prix Musique awarded by the SACD, 2014
- Grand Prix Lycéen des Compositeurs, 2012
- Fondation Del Duca awarded by the Académie des Beaux-Arts, 2001
- Grand Prix de la Musique Symphonique awarded by SACEM, 1998
- Maurice Ravel Prize, 1996
- Prix du Syndicat de la Critique Musicale et Dramatique, 1994
- Arthur Honegger Prize, 1994, for the Concerto for Cello and Chamber Orchestra
- SACEM composers prize, 1991
- Grand Prix musical de la Ville de Paris, 1990
- SACEM best contemporary creation prize for String Quartet No. 1, 1986
- Georges Enesco Prize, 1982
- Nadia Boulanger Prize, 1970
© Ircam-Centre Pompidou, 2023
Sources
Site du compositeur ; Le 18e du mois ; Philippe Hersant, Le filtre du souvenir, Cig’art, 2003.
By
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- Solo (excluding voice)
- Mouvement for piano (1979, 1983), 5 mn 30 s, Durand
- Spirales for solo cello (1980-1982), 6 mn, Durand
- Hopi for solo bassoon (1985, 1994), 8 mn, Durand
- Mandala for piano (1985), 8 mn, Durand
- Pavane for solo viola (1987), 6 mn, Durand
- Melancholia four pieces for solo double bass (1989), 7 mn, Durand
- Niggun for bassoon (1993), 8 mn, Durand
- Cinq Miniatures for alto flute (1995), 7 mn, Durand
- Chants du sud for violin (1996), 10 mn, Durand
- Bamyan for harp (2002), 7 mn, Durand
- Éphémères 24 pieces for piano (2003, 1999), 43 mn, Durand
- Le chemin de Jérusalem for viola da gamba (2003), 9 mn, Durand
- Sonate pour violoncelle (2003), Durand
- In the dark for clarinet (2005), 8 mn, Durand
- In black for piano (2007), 16 mn, Durand
- Les ombres de Giverny for cello (2007), 6 mn, Durand
- Folk tunes for trumpet (2008), 7 mn, Durand
- L'ombre d'un doute for viola da gamba (2008), 8 mn
- Chant hassidique for alto saxophone (2009), 6 mn, Durand
- Trois esquisses japonaises for piano (2009), 4 mn, Durand
- Desert song for alto flute (2010), 4 mn, Durand
- Trois petites études pour timbales (2010), 4 mn, Durand
- Steps for piano (2009-2014), 17 mn, Durand
- Tarentelle for accordion (2014), 6 mn, Durand
- Le Carillon d'Orléans for piano (2015)
- Enigme for cello (2016), 3 mn 30 s, Durand
- Shehnaï for oboe (2016), 5 mn, Durand
- Turtle dreaming for bass clarinet (2017), 4 mn 30 s, Durand
- In exitu Israel for organ (2018), 8 mn, Durand
- Les cloches d'Orléans for organ (2019), 13 mn, Durand
- Pascolas for viola da gamba (2019), 6 mn, Durand
- Nocturne en do majeur for cello (2020), 60 s
- Paradise lost for piano (2020), 6 mn, Durand
- Aias for bassoon (2021), 6 mn, Durand
- Archaios for viola (2021)
- Sarabande for cello (2021), 7 mn
- Chamber music
- Quatuor à cordes n°1 (1985), 11 mn 30 s, Durand
- Nachtgesang for clarinet, violin, cello and piano (1988), 10 mn, Durand
- Quatuor à cordes n°2 (1988), 20 mn, Durand
- Elégie for string quartet (1990), 7 mn, Durand
- Duo Sephardim for viola and bassoon (1993), 8 mn, Durand
- Onze Caprices pour deux violons (1994), 13 mn, Durand
- Sextuor (1994), 12 mn, Durand
- Huit duos for viola and bassoon (1995), 10 mn, Durand [program note]
- Trio (Variations sur "la Sonnerie de Sainte Geneviève du Mont" de Marin Marais) for violin, cello and harp (1998), 20 mn, Durand
- In Nomine for seven cellos (or 3 violas and 4 cellos) (2001), 11 mn, Durand
- Trois nocturnes for flute, viola and harp (2001), 12 mn, Durand
- Im Fremden Land for clarinet in B flat, string quartet and piano (2002), 18 mn, Durand
- Onze caprices pour deux violoncelles transcription for cellos of the Onze Caprices for 2 violins (2003), 13 mn, Durand
- Choral for cello and harp (2004), 10 mn, Durand
- Onze haïkus for piano four hands (2005, 2015), 12 mn, Durand
- Tenebrae for viola and piano (2005), 10 mn, Durand
- Apparitions for violin, cello and accordion (2006), 10 mn, Durand
- Héliades for flute, violin, viola and cello (2007), 10 mn, Durand
- Six bagatelles for clarinet in B flat, viola (or violin, or cello) and piano (2007), 8 mn, Durand
- Songlines for flute, clarinet, tenor trombone, cello, double bass, piano and percussion (2007), 10 mn, Durand
- Onze caprices pour deux altos nscription for violas of the Onze Caprices for 2 violins (2008), 14 mn, Durand
- Quatuor à cordes n°3 (2011), 22 mn, Durand
- Strophe En hommage à Henri Dutilleux, for cello and accordion (2011), 3 mn, Durand
- Dix duos pour clarinettes (2012), Durand
- Fantaisies sur le nom de Sacher for string quartet (2012), 12 mn, Durand
- Porque Llorax for violin and cello (2012), 9 mn 30 s, Durand
- Cinq mouvements pour quintette à cordes (2013, 2010), 17 mn, Durand
- Dreaming Tracks for cello and piano (2013), 13 mn, Durand
- Sur la neige for clarinet in B flat adn piano (2013), 6 mn, Durand
- Fantaisie à la manière de Callot (Hommage à Mahler) for eight cellos (2014), 8 mn, Durand
- Quatuor n°4 (2014), 18 mn, Durand
- Hurlevent for two pianos (2015), 25 mn, Durand
- Hypnos for two violas da gamba (2016), 6 mn, Durand
- Sept miniatures for two saxophones (2016), 9 mn, Durand
- Usher for harp and string quartet (2016), 12 mn, Durand
- Huit esquisses pour 4 clarinettes (2017), 10 mn, Durand
- Lully Lullay for viola da gamba and accordion (2017), 7 mn, Durand
- Pax In Nomine Domini for flute, clarinet, harp and string quartet (2017), 8 mn, Durand
- Un sogno di Gioseffo Zarlino for flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano (2017), 4 mn, Durand
- Quatuor à cordes n°5 (2018), 20 mn, Durand
- Regenlied for violin and piano (2018), 15 mn, Durand
- Sefarad for four bassoons (2018), 10 mn, Durand
- La harpe de David for baroque flute, violin, viola da gamba and harpsichord (2019), 10 mn, Durand
- Quatuor à cordes n°6 (2019), 12 mn, Durand
- Rondeau for baroque flute, viola da gamba and harpsichord (2019), 7 mn, Durand
- Chant de résurrection for flute and piano (2021), 8 mn, Durand
- For Roger for two violas (2022), 7 mn, Durand
- Instrumental ensemble music
- Stances for orchestra (1978, 1992), 13 mn, Durand
- Spirales for large orchestra (1980), 13 mn, Inédit
- Aztlan for large orchestra (1983), 16 mn, Durand
- Cinq pièces pour orchestre (1997), 18 mn, Durand
- stage Wuthering Heights two-act ballet (2000-2001), 1 h 45 mn, Inédit
- Heathcliff orchestral suite from the ballet Wuthering Heights (2005), 35 mn, Durand
- Patmos for string orchestra (2007), 11 mn, Durand
- Les âmes du purgatoire for orchestra (2008), Durand
- Fantaisies sur le nom de Sacher transcription for string orchestra (2012), 12 mn, Durand
- Au temps du rêve for orchestral ensemble (2014), 14 mn, Durand
- La lumière et l'ombre for orchestra, mixed choir and children's choir (2016), 13 mn, Durand
- Le jardin étoilé for orchestra (2017), 13 mn, Durand
- Pygmalion reduced version for narrator and instrumental ensemble (2017), Durand
- Rondes de nuit (Musiques nocturnes dans les rues de Madrid) for instrumental ensemble (2018), 14 mn, Durand
- Concertant music
- Méandres for violin and orchestra (1981), 12 mn, Durand
- Concerto pour violoncelle et orchestre de chambre (1989), 16 mn, Durand
- Huit pièces for bassoon and instrumental ensemble (1995), 19 mn, Durand
- Concerto n°2 pour violoncelle et orchestre (1997), 35 mn, Durand
- Streams for piano and orchestra (2000), 30 mn, Durand
- Concerto pour violon (2003), 23 mn, Durand
- Musical humors for viola and string orchestra (2003), 18 mn, Durand
- Le tombeau de Virgile for harp and orchestra (2006), Durand
- Concerto pour piano (2009), 19 mn, Durand
- Concerto pour clarinette (2011), 22 mn, Durand
- Dreamtime for flute and orchestra (2013), 20 mn, Durand
- Le chant de l'Isole triple concerto for violin, cello and piano, string orchesta and percussion (2014), 17 mn, Durand
- Sous la pluie de feu for violin, cello and orchestra (2018), 22 mn, Durand
- Une vision d'Hildegarde for violin and small string orchestra (2018), 15 mn, Durand
- Le Carillon d'Orléans for piano and wind ensemble (2019), 15 mn, Durand
- Vocal music and instrument(s)
- Calliopé for voice and celtic harp (1985), 3 mn, Durand
- Missa brevis for 12 mixed voices and orchestra (1986), 21 mn, Durand
- Le Château des Carpathes opera in a prologue and two scenes, for soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, bass-baritone, actor and orchestra (1989, 1991), 1 h 28 mn, Durand
- Landschaft mit Argonauten cantata for alto, narrator, mixed choir and trombones (1991, 1994), 30 mn, Durand
- Lebenslauf six melodies on poems by Hölderlin, for soprano and instrumental ensemble (1992), 16 mn, Durand
- Psaume 130 (Aus Tiefer Not) for chamber choir, positive organ and viola da gamba (1994), 16 mn, Durand
- Paroles peintes melody on a poem by Paul Eluard, for baritone and piano (1995), 10 mn, Durand
- Wanderung for bassoon and women's choir (1998), 8 mn, Durand
- Léo et Marie for narrator and orchestra (1999), Durand
- Paysage avec ruines for mezzo-soprano and orchestra (1999), 21 mn, Durand
- Illuminations for four horns and eight male voices (2000), 15 mn, Durand
- Der Wanderer for male choir and chamber orchestra or piano (2002), 10 mn, Durand
- Desert for male choir and alto flute (2002), 8 mn, Durand
- Poèmes chinois for chamber choir and piano (2002), 20 mn, Durand
- Stabat Mater for ten voices and viola da gamba (2002), 14 mn, Durand
- Il était une feuille for baritone and piano (2004), 2 mn, Inédit
- Falling star for 8 mixed voices and viola da gamba (2005), 10 mn, Durand
- stage Le moine noir opera in eight scenes for soprano, tenor, baritone, basse, male choir and orchestra (2003-2005), 1 h 30 mn, Durand
- Sept poèmes d'Emily Dickinson for children's choir and piano (2006), 10 mn, Durand
- Clair obscur for chamber choir and viola da gamba (2008), 23 mn, Durand
- Nostalgia for chamber choir and violin (2008), 10 mn, Durand
- Cinq poèmes de Trakl for baritone and orchestra (2009), 19 mn, Durand
- L'inconnue for solo soprano, male choir and piano (2010), 8 mn, Durand
- In die Ferne for eight lieder for baritone and piano (2011), 20 mn, Durand
- Les rêveries for eight mixed voices, clarinet, violin, cello and piano (2011), 30 mn, Durand
- Instants limites for mixed choir and instruments ad libitum (2012), 15 mn, Durand
- Nachtlied for high voice and piano (2012), 3 mn, Durand
- Métamorphoses for mixed choir and cello (2013), 13 mn, Durand
- Vêpres de la Vierge Marie for mixed choir, children's choir, solo baritone, two organs, bells, two cornets and three sackbuts (2013), 1 h 10 mn, Durand
- Blake songs for tenor and piano (2014), Durand
- Cantique des trois enfants dans la fournaise for three solo children's voices, quadruple choir & orchestra of baroque instruments (2014), 25 mn, Durand
- Chants séfarades for alto, flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano (2014), 18 mn, Durand
- D'où nul n'est revenu for baritone, flute, clarinet in B flat, violin, viola, cello and piano (2014), 10 mn, Durand
- Kitoo for mixed choir and bassoon (2014), 12 mn, Durand
- Blake songs transcription for tenor and harp (2015), Durand
- Paradiso for mixed choir and archlute (2015), 15 mn, Durand
- Stele for alto, solo viola, harp and string orchestra (2015), 9 mn, Durand
- stage Tristia choral opera for mixed choir and a few instruments (2015), 1 h 15 mn, Durand
- Pygmalion melologue on a ballad by Goethe, for narrator and orchestra (2017), 15 mn, Durand
- Réversibilité for baritone and piano (2017), 5 mn, Durand
- Purgatorio for soprano, clarinet, violin, viola, cello and accordion (2018), 4 mn, Durand
- Nun Komm cantata on Martin Luther's canticle Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland, for chamber choir and small baroque ensemble (2019), 15 mn, Durand
- Trois hymnes primitifs for soprano, harp and string ensemble (2019), 12 mn
- Trois répons de la Semaine sainte for six voices, cello and viola da gamba (2019), 11 mn, Durand [program note]
- stage Les éclairs three-act opera for soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, three baritones, mixed choir and orchestra (2020-2021), 1 h 50 mn, Durand
- Psaume 25 for soprano, alto, tenor, bass, recorder, violin, viola da gamba and clavicymbalum (or harpsichord) (2022), 9 mn, Durand
- A cappella vocal music
- Khayal for voice and bowed vielle (1984), 6 mn, Durand
- Planctus for voice and organ (1988), 5 mn, Inédit
- L'Infinito for twelve mixed voices a cappella, to a poem by Giacomo Leopardi (1993), 12 mn, Durand
- Allégories for mixed choir (1998), 9 mn, Durand
- Trois poèmes d'Eichendorff for chamber choir a cappella (2007), 5 mn, Durand
- Les prophéties des Sibylles for five female voices (2010), 15 mn, Durand
- Chanson de Guillaume d'Aquitaine for 5 female voices (2015), 8 mn, Durand
- Viderunt omnes for large choir a cappella (2017), 10 mn, Durand
Catalog sources and details
Compositions pour la scène
- Le chercheur de traces dImre Kertesz (mise en scène de Bernard Bloch, Théâtre de Dijon, 2011)
- Les Paravents de Jean Genet (mise en scène de Bernard Bloch, Théâtre des Amandiers, Nanterre / La Comédie de Genève, 2000)
- Un Faust, histoire naturelle (mise en scène de Jean-François Peyret, TNB Rennes, MC93 Bobigny, 1998)
- Traité des Passions III (mise en scène de Jean-François Peyret, MC93 Bobigny, 1996)
- Traité des Passions I (mise en scène de Jean-François Peyret, MC93 Bobigny, 1995)
- Pouchkine (mise en scène de Sophie Loucachevsky, Festival d’Avignon, 1993)
- Fantaisies de Kafka (mise en scène de Jean Jourdheuil et Jean-François Peyret, MC93 Bobigny, 1993)
- Landschaft mit Argonauten de Heiner Müller (mise en scène de Jean Jourdheuil et Jean-François Peyret, Festival d’Avignon, 1991)
- De la nature des choses de Lucrèce (mise en scène de Jean Jourdheuil et Jean-François Peyret, MC93 Bobigny, 1990)
- Shakespeare, les Sonnets (mise en scène de Jean Jourdheuil et Jean-François Peyret, Théâtre de la Bastille, 1989)
- Paysage sous surveillance de Heiner Müller (mise en scène de Jean Jourdheuil et Jean-François Peyret, MC93 Bobigny, 1988)
- La route des Chars de Heiner Müller (mise en scène de Jean Jourdheuil et Jean-François Peyret, MC93 Bobigny, 1988)
- Pietro Aretino (mise en scène de Jean Jourdheuil et Jean-François Peyret, 1986)
- Vermeer et Spinoza de Gilles Aillaud (mise en scène de Jean Jourdheuil et Jean-François Peyret, Théâtre de la Bastille - Festival d’Automne 1984, 1984)
Compositions pour le cinéma
- Nénette (Nicolas Philibert, 2009)
- Être et avoir Nicolas Philibert, 2001)
- Qui sait ? (Nicolas Philibert, 1998)
- La restitution (Catherine Zins, 1995)
- Un animal, des animaux (Nicolas Philibert, 1994)
- Lettre pour L… (Romain Goupil, 1993)
- La Ville Louvre (Nicolas Philibert, 1990)
- Les montagnes de la lune (Paulo Rocha, 1987)
- 2022
- 2021
- Aias for bassoon, 6 mn, Durand
- Archaios for viola
- Chant de résurrection for flute and piano, 8 mn, Durand
- stage Les éclairs three-act opera for soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, three baritones, mixed choir and orchestra, 1 h 50 mn, Durand
- Sarabande for cello, 7 mn
- 2020
- Nocturne en do majeur for cello, 60 s
- Paradise lost for piano, 6 mn, Durand
- 2019
- La harpe de David for baroque flute, violin, viola da gamba and harpsichord, 10 mn, Durand
- Le Carillon d'Orléans for piano and wind ensemble, 15 mn, Durand
- Les cloches d'Orléans for organ, 13 mn, Durand
- Nun Komm cantata on Martin Luther's canticle Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland, for chamber choir and small baroque ensemble, 15 mn, Durand
- Pascolas for viola da gamba, 6 mn, Durand
- Quatuor à cordes n°6, 12 mn, Durand
- Rondeau for baroque flute, viola da gamba and harpsichord, 7 mn, Durand
- Trois hymnes primitifs for soprano, harp and string ensemble, 12 mn
- Trois répons de la Semaine sainte for six voices, cello and viola da gamba, 11 mn, Durand [program note]
- 2018
- In exitu Israel for organ, 8 mn, Durand
- Purgatorio for soprano, clarinet, violin, viola, cello and accordion, 4 mn, Durand
- Quatuor à cordes n°5, 20 mn, Durand
- Regenlied for violin and piano, 15 mn, Durand
- Rondes de nuit (Musiques nocturnes dans les rues de Madrid) for instrumental ensemble, 14 mn, Durand
- Sefarad for four bassoons, 10 mn, Durand
- Sous la pluie de feu for violin, cello and orchestra, 22 mn, Durand
- Une vision d'Hildegarde for violin and small string orchestra, 15 mn, Durand
- 2017
- Huit esquisses pour 4 clarinettes, 10 mn, Durand
- Le jardin étoilé for orchestra, 13 mn, Durand
- Lully Lullay for viola da gamba and accordion, 7 mn, Durand
- Pax In Nomine Domini for flute, clarinet, harp and string quartet, 8 mn, Durand
- Pygmalion reduced version for narrator and instrumental ensemble, Durand
- Pygmalion melologue on a ballad by Goethe, for narrator and orchestra, 15 mn, Durand
- Réversibilité for baritone and piano, 5 mn, Durand
- Turtle dreaming for bass clarinet, 4 mn 30 s, Durand
- Un sogno di Gioseffo Zarlino for flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano, 4 mn, Durand
- Viderunt omnes for large choir a cappella, 10 mn, Durand
- 2016
- Enigme for cello, 3 mn 30 s, Durand
- Hypnos for two violas da gamba, 6 mn, Durand
- La lumière et l'ombre for orchestra, mixed choir and children's choir, 13 mn, Durand
- Sept miniatures for two saxophones, 9 mn, Durand
- Shehnaï for oboe, 5 mn, Durand
- Usher for harp and string quartet, 12 mn, Durand
- 2015
- Blake songs transcription for tenor and harp, Durand
- Chanson de Guillaume d'Aquitaine for 5 female voices, 8 mn, Durand
- Hurlevent for two pianos, 25 mn, Durand
- Le Carillon d'Orléans for piano
- Paradiso for mixed choir and archlute, 15 mn, Durand
- Stele for alto, solo viola, harp and string orchestra, 9 mn, Durand
- stage Tristia choral opera for mixed choir and a few instruments, 1 h 15 mn, Durand
- 2014
- Au temps du rêve for orchestral ensemble, 14 mn, Durand
- Blake songs for tenor and piano, Durand
- Cantique des trois enfants dans la fournaise for three solo children's voices, quadruple choir & orchestra of baroque instruments, 25 mn, Durand
- Chants séfarades for alto, flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano, 18 mn, Durand
- D'où nul n'est revenu for baritone, flute, clarinet in B flat, violin, viola, cello and piano, 10 mn, Durand
- Fantaisie à la manière de Callot (Hommage à Mahler) for eight cellos, 8 mn, Durand
- Kitoo for mixed choir and bassoon, 12 mn, Durand
- Le chant de l'Isole triple concerto for violin, cello and piano, string orchesta and percussion, 17 mn, Durand
- Quatuor n°4, 18 mn, Durand
- Steps for piano, 17 mn, Durand
- Tarentelle for accordion, 6 mn, Durand
- 2013
- Cinq mouvements pour quintette à cordes, 17 mn, Durand
- Dreaming Tracks for cello and piano, 13 mn, Durand
- Dreamtime for flute and orchestra, 20 mn, Durand
- Métamorphoses for mixed choir and cello, 13 mn, Durand
- Sur la neige for clarinet in B flat adn piano, 6 mn, Durand
- Vêpres de la Vierge Marie for mixed choir, children's choir, solo baritone, two organs, bells, two cornets and three sackbuts, 1 h 10 mn, Durand
- 2012
- Dix duos pour clarinettes, Durand
- Fantaisies sur le nom de Sacher for string quartet, 12 mn, Durand
- Fantaisies sur le nom de Sacher transcription for string orchestra, 12 mn, Durand
- Instants limites for mixed choir and instruments ad libitum, 15 mn, Durand
- Nachtlied for high voice and piano, 3 mn, Durand
- Porque Llorax for violin and cello, 9 mn 30 s, Durand
- 2011
- Concerto pour clarinette, 22 mn, Durand
- In die Ferne for eight lieder for baritone and piano, 20 mn, Durand
- Les rêveries for eight mixed voices, clarinet, violin, cello and piano, 30 mn, Durand
- Quatuor à cordes n°3, 22 mn, Durand
- Strophe En hommage à Henri Dutilleux, for cello and accordion, 3 mn, Durand
- 2010
- Desert song for alto flute, 4 mn, Durand
- L'inconnue for solo soprano, male choir and piano, 8 mn, Durand
- Les prophéties des Sibylles for five female voices, 15 mn, Durand
- Trois petites études pour timbales, 4 mn, Durand
- 2009
- Chant hassidique for alto saxophone, 6 mn, Durand
- Cinq poèmes de Trakl for baritone and orchestra, 19 mn, Durand
- Concerto pour piano, 19 mn, Durand
- Trois esquisses japonaises for piano, 4 mn, Durand
- 2008
- Clair obscur for chamber choir and viola da gamba, 23 mn, Durand
- Folk tunes for trumpet, 7 mn, Durand
- L'ombre d'un doute for viola da gamba, 8 mn
- Les âmes du purgatoire for orchestra, Durand
- Nostalgia for chamber choir and violin, 10 mn, Durand
- Onze caprices pour deux altos nscription for violas of the Onze Caprices for 2 violins, 14 mn, Durand
- 2007
- Héliades for flute, violin, viola and cello, 10 mn, Durand
- In black for piano, 16 mn, Durand
- Les ombres de Giverny for cello, 6 mn, Durand
- Patmos for string orchestra, 11 mn, Durand
- Six bagatelles for clarinet in B flat, viola (or violin, or cello) and piano, 8 mn, Durand
- Songlines for flute, clarinet, tenor trombone, cello, double bass, piano and percussion, 10 mn, Durand
- Trois poèmes d'Eichendorff for chamber choir a cappella, 5 mn, Durand
- 2006
- Apparitions for violin, cello and accordion, 10 mn, Durand
- Le tombeau de Virgile for harp and orchestra, Durand
- Sept poèmes d'Emily Dickinson for children's choir and piano, 10 mn, Durand
- 2005
- Falling star for 8 mixed voices and viola da gamba, 10 mn, Durand
- Heathcliff orchestral suite from the ballet Wuthering Heights, 35 mn, Durand
- In the dark for clarinet, 8 mn, Durand
- stage Le moine noir opera in eight scenes for soprano, tenor, baritone, basse, male choir and orchestra, 1 h 30 mn, Durand
- Onze haïkus for piano four hands, 12 mn, Durand
- Tenebrae for viola and piano, 10 mn, Durand
- 2004
- Choral for cello and harp, 10 mn, Durand
- Il était une feuille for baritone and piano, 2 mn, Inédit
- 2003
- Concerto pour violon, 23 mn, Durand
- Le chemin de Jérusalem for viola da gamba, 9 mn, Durand
- Musical humors for viola and string orchestra, 18 mn, Durand
- Onze caprices pour deux violoncelles transcription for cellos of the Onze Caprices for 2 violins, 13 mn, Durand
- Sonate pour violoncelle, Durand
- Éphémères 24 pieces for piano, 43 mn, Durand
- 2002
- Bamyan for harp, 7 mn, Durand
- Der Wanderer for male choir and chamber orchestra or piano, 10 mn, Durand
- Desert for male choir and alto flute, 8 mn, Durand
- Im Fremden Land for clarinet in B flat, string quartet and piano, 18 mn, Durand
- Poèmes chinois for chamber choir and piano, 20 mn, Durand
- Stabat Mater for ten voices and viola da gamba, 14 mn, Durand
- 2001
- In Nomine for seven cellos (or 3 violas and 4 cellos), 11 mn, Durand
- Trois nocturnes for flute, viola and harp, 12 mn, Durand
- stage Wuthering Heights two-act ballet, 1 h 45 mn, Inédit
- 2000
- Illuminations for four horns and eight male voices, 15 mn, Durand
- Streams for piano and orchestra, 30 mn, Durand
- 1999
- Léo et Marie for narrator and orchestra, Durand
- Paysage avec ruines for mezzo-soprano and orchestra, 21 mn, Durand
- 1998
- Allégories for mixed choir, 9 mn, Durand
- Trio (Variations sur "la Sonnerie de Sainte Geneviève du Mont" de Marin Marais) for violin, cello and harp, 20 mn, Durand
- Wanderung for bassoon and women's choir, 8 mn, Durand
- 1997
- Cinq pièces pour orchestre, 18 mn, Durand
- Concerto n°2 pour violoncelle et orchestre, 35 mn, Durand
- 1996
- Chants du sud for violin, 10 mn, Durand
- 1995
- Cinq Miniatures for alto flute, 7 mn, Durand
- Huit duos for viola and bassoon, 10 mn, Durand [program note]
- Huit pièces for bassoon and instrumental ensemble, 19 mn, Durand
- Paroles peintes melody on a poem by Paul Eluard, for baritone and piano, 10 mn, Durand
- 1994
- Onze Caprices pour deux violons, 13 mn, Durand
- Psaume 130 (Aus Tiefer Not) for chamber choir, positive organ and viola da gamba, 16 mn, Durand
- Sextuor, 12 mn, Durand
- 1993
- Duo Sephardim for viola and bassoon, 8 mn, Durand
- L'Infinito for twelve mixed voices a cappella, to a poem by Giacomo Leopardi, 12 mn, Durand
- Niggun for bassoon, 8 mn, Durand
- 1992
- Lebenslauf six melodies on poems by Hölderlin, for soprano and instrumental ensemble, 16 mn, Durand
- 1991
- Landschaft mit Argonauten cantata for alto, narrator, mixed choir and trombones, 30 mn, Durand
- 1990
- Elégie for string quartet, 7 mn, Durand
- 1989
- Concerto pour violoncelle et orchestre de chambre, 16 mn, Durand
- Le Château des Carpathes opera in a prologue and two scenes, for soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, bass-baritone, actor and orchestra, 1 h 28 mn, Durand
- Melancholia four pieces for solo double bass, 7 mn, Durand
- 1988
- Nachtgesang for clarinet, violin, cello and piano, 10 mn, Durand
- Planctus for voice and organ, 5 mn, Inédit
- Quatuor à cordes n°2, 20 mn, Durand
- 1987
- Pavane for solo viola, 6 mn, Durand
- 1986
- Missa brevis for 12 mixed voices and orchestra, 21 mn, Durand
- 1985
- Calliopé for voice and celtic harp, 3 mn, Durand
- Hopi for solo bassoon, 8 mn, Durand
- Mandala for piano, 8 mn, Durand
- Quatuor à cordes n°1, 11 mn 30 s, Durand
- 1984
- Khayal for voice and bowed vielle, 6 mn, Durand
- 1983
- Aztlan for large orchestra, 16 mn, Durand
- 1982
- Spirales for solo cello, 6 mn, Durand
- 1981
- Méandres for violin and orchestra, 12 mn, Durand
- 1980
- Spirales for large orchestra, 13 mn, Inédit
- 1979
- Mouvement for piano, 5 mn 30 s, Durand
- 1978
- Stances for orchestra, 13 mn, Durand
Catalog source(s)
Compositions pour la scène
- Le chercheur de traces dImre Kertesz (mise en scène de Bernard Bloch, Théâtre de Dijon, 2011)
- Les Paravents de Jean Genet (mise en scène de Bernard Bloch, Théâtre des Amandiers, Nanterre / La Comédie de Genève, 2000)
- Un Faust, histoire naturelle (mise en scène de Jean-François Peyret, TNB Rennes, MC93 Bobigny, 1998)
- Traité des Passions III (mise en scène de Jean-François Peyret, MC93 Bobigny, 1996)
- Traité des Passions I (mise en scène de Jean-François Peyret, MC93 Bobigny, 1995)
- Pouchkine (mise en scène de Sophie Loucachevsky, Festival d’Avignon, 1993)
- Fantaisies de Kafka (mise en scène de Jean Jourdheuil et Jean-François Peyret, MC93 Bobigny, 1993)
- Landschaft mit Argonauten de Heiner Müller (mise en scène de Jean Jourdheuil et Jean-François Peyret, Festival d’Avignon, 1991)
- De la nature des choses de Lucrèce (mise en scène de Jean Jourdheuil et Jean-François Peyret, MC93 Bobigny, 1990)
- Shakespeare, les Sonnets (mise en scène de Jean Jourdheuil et Jean-François Peyret, Théâtre de la Bastille, 1989)
- Paysage sous surveillance de Heiner Müller (mise en scène de Jean Jourdheuil et Jean-François Peyret, MC93 Bobigny, 1988)
- La route des Chars de Heiner Müller (mise en scène de Jean Jourdheuil et Jean-François Peyret, MC93 Bobigny, 1988)
- Pietro Aretino (mise en scène de Jean Jourdheuil et Jean-François Peyret, 1986)
- Vermeer et Spinoza de Gilles Aillaud (mise en scène de Jean Jourdheuil et Jean-François Peyret, Théâtre de la Bastille - Festival d’Automne 1984, 1984)
Compositions pour le cinéma
- Nénette (Nicolas Philibert, 2009)
- Être et avoir Nicolas Philibert, 2001)
- Qui sait ? (Nicolas Philibert, 1998)
- La restitution (Catherine Zins, 1995)
- Un animal, des animaux (Nicolas Philibert, 1994)
- Lettre pour L… (Romain Goupil, 1993)
- La Ville Louvre (Nicolas Philibert, 1990)
- Les montagnes de la lune (Paulo Rocha, 1987)
Liens Internet
- Site du compositeur : www.philippehersant.fr
- Durand : www.durand-salabert-eschig.com
- Philippe Hersant dans À voix nue sur France Culture du 25 au 29 juin 2018 (5 épisodes).
- Philippe Hersant dans Les Grands Entretiens sur France Musique du 22 au 26 mars 2021 (5 épisodes. Voir toutes les archives Radio France du compositeur ici).
(liens vérifiés en juin 2023).
Bibliographie
- Jean-Marc BARDOT, Philippe Hersant : le filtre du souvenir, Paris, Cig’art, 2003.
- Béatrice RAMAUT, « La musique religieuse de Philippe Hersant », in Les Cahiers du CIREM, n°44-45-46, 1999, p. 110-118.
Discographie sélective
- Philippe HERSANT, Héliades ; Desert song ; Désert ; Cinq miniatures ; Trois nocturnes, dans « Mnaomai », 1 CD Stradivarius, 2020, STR 37153.
- Philippe HERSANT, Songlines ; Sonate pour violoncelle ; Six bagatelles ; In die Ferne, dans « Songlines », 1 CD Megadisc Classics, 2017, MDC 7872.
- Philippe HERSANT, Onze caprices ; Quatuor à cordes n°2 ; Fantaisies sur le nom de Sacher ; Cinq mouvements pour quintette à cordes, dans « Fantaisies Pour Cordes », 1 CD Megadisc Classics, 2016, MDC 7873.
- Philippe HERSANT, 8 duos ; Hopi ; 8 pieces for bassoon and instrumental ensemble ; Duo Sephardim ; Niggun ; Wanderung, dans « Hersant - Music For Bassoon », 1 CD Brilliant Classics B. V., 2016, 95211.
- Philippe HERSANT, Stabat Mater ; Psaume CXXX (Aus Tiefer Not) ; Falling Star ; Clair Obscur, dans « Clair Obscur », 1 CD Decca, 2013, 481 0486.
- Philippe HERSANT, Wanderung ; Désert ; Nostalgia ; Niggun ; Instants limites, dans « Clairvaux - Instants Limites », 1 CD æon, 2013, AECD 1334.
- Philippe HERSANT, Trio ; Huit duos ; In the dark ; Six bagatelles ; Pavane ; Apparitions, dans « Musiques À Un, Deux Ou Trois », 1 CD Triton, 2007, TRI331152.
- Philippe HERSANT, Onze caprices pour deux violoncelles ; Choral pour violoncelle et harpe ; Sonate pour violoncelle seul ; Onze caprices pour deux violons ; In Nomine pour violoncelle principal et six violoncelles, dans « Musiques Pour Cordes », 1 CD Triton, 2006, TRI331146.
- Philippe HERSANT, Poèmes chinois ; Der Wanderer ; Le Chemin de Jérusalem ; Choral “Aus Tiefer Not” ; Psaume CXXX (Aus Tiefer Not), dans « Der Wanderer (Œuvres Chorales) », 1 CD Virgin Classics, 2004, 7243 5 45636 2 1.
- Philippe HERSANT, « Ephémères - Musiques Pour Les Films de Nicolas Philibert : Etre Et Avoir / La Ville Louvre / Un Animal Des Animaux », 1 CD Cezame, 2003, CEZ 4032.
- Philippe HERSANT, Concerto pour violoncelle et orchestre ; Nachtgesang ; Mouvement ; Pavane ; Lebenslauf, dans « Concerto Pour Violoncelle / Lebenslauf », 1 CD Harmonia Mundi, 1994, 905216.
- Philippe HERSANT, « Le Chateau Des Carpathes », 2 CD Adès, 1992, 202272.