Sébastien Gaxie
French composer born 26 June 1977
Sébastien Gaxie was born in France in 1977. He began studying piano with Umberto Guzzo choral singing with the Petits chanteurs de Saint-Christophe de Javel, with whom he toured Europe many times. He went on to study jazz piano with Bojan Z and at the École Arpej in Paris. From 1998 to 2000, he headed the Zhig Band, an eighteen-musician ensemble that played his compositions and were finalists in the Concours National de Jazz de la Défense in 1999.
In 2000, Gaxie participated in the Voix Nouvelles à Royaumont composition session, where he studied with Brian Ferneyhough. After studing music theory with Jean-Michel Bardez, analysis with Bruno Plantard, and composition with Allain Gaussin, Gaxie entered the Conservatoire de Paris (CNSMDP) in 2000. During his time there, he studied composition Emmanuel Nunes and Frédéric Durieux, orchestration with Marc-André Dalbavie, piano with Françoise Buffet-Arsenijevic, analysis with Alain Louvier, and ethnomusicology with Gilles Léothaud.
His album “Lunfardo” was released by the label Chief Inspector in 2005 to critical acclaim (it was named a “Choc” record by the magazine Jazzman). During this period he also wrote scores for both short and feature-length films. He went on to compose for dance, as well, notably Grammar of synchronicity, written for the Compagnie Emio Greco in 2010.
His catalogue includes some thirty opuses, from pieces for solo performers to orchestral works, and frequently includes electronics. His compositions have been conducted by conductors such as Pascal Rophé, Zsolt Nagy, Alain Louvier, Guillaume Bourgogne, and Jean Deroyer, and performed by musicians including Médéric Collignon, Claude Barthélemy, and Ramon Lopez. He has participated in numerous festivals including Radio France’s Présences festival, Banlieues Bleues and Les Détours de Babel. His music has been performed in Europe, Thaïlande, and Japon (Watashi to kotori to suzu to for six woman vocalists premiered in Tokyo in 2008).
From 2007 to 2009, Sébastien Gaxie participated in Cursus (IRCAM’s composition and computer music course) In 2009, the work he composed for Cursus 2, Montagnes russes sur la Pnyx for ensemble and electronics, premiered at IRCAM in a performance by Court-Circuit, conducted by Jean Deroyer. After that IRCAM commissioned several pieces from him, including Le bonheur (2010) for the 1934 Alexandre Medvedkine film for the Louvre, Body and forms (2012) and Continuous Snapshots that premiered at the ManiFeste festival in 2013.
In 2014 and 2017 he created two operas, Céleste ma planète, a children’s opera based on a libretto by Timothée de Fombelle, and Je suis un homme ridicule, loosely based on a short story by Dostoyevsky. For several years, Sébastien Gaxie has been working on rhythmic recitations from South India; Thilannina premiered in 2021 at the Phiharmonie de Paris and Cosmic Dance, a monumental piece premiered at Radio France in 2022 with the Indian percussionist BC. Manjunath as soloist.
That same year, the composer worked with photographer Vincent Fournier on the Auctus Animalis project, which took the form of a book, a sound exhibition and a performance that toured throughout France. In this initiatory tale, Captain Levant, played by actor Denis Lavant, encounters a fantastic bestiary on an uncharted Pacific island that eventually forms a new cosmogony.
Prizes and Awards
- Prix Swiss life à quatre mains with the photographer Vincent Fournier for the project Auctus Animalis, 2022 ;
- Georges Enesco Prize for Cinq maillages pour orchestre, 2013 ;
- Prix Italia for the radio piece A feast for the ears, 2013.
© Ircam-Centre Pompidou, 2013
- Solo (excluding voice)
- L’envol for solo piano (1999), 10 mn, Inédit
- Rencontres for solo bassoon (1999), Inédit
- Puzzle for solo tenor saxophone (2004), 12 mn, Inédit
- elec stage Zéro minute, cinq printemps musical theater, for percussionist, video and electroacoustic device (2006), 11 mn, Inédit
- One again for solo percussion (2007), 5 mn 45 s, Inédit
- elec ircam Ircam cursus Fil Rouge for solo cello and electronic device (2008), 5 mn 48 s, Inédit
- elec ircam Body and forms for piano and video (2012)
- elec ircam Continuous Snapshots for piano and electronics (2013), 15 mn, édition du compositeur [program note]
- New world for solo piano (2020)
- Chamber music
- Promenade d’une Lilliputienne for string quartet (1999), 9 mn 5 s, Inédit
- Ligetactaktouc for reed trio (2000), 6 mn 30 s, Inédit
- Tarentelle for string quartet (2001), 1 mn 17 s, Inédit
- Une ri du zlou sous vert basset horn trio (2002), 6 mn 30 s, Inédit
- Und so weiter… for alto flute, guitar and cello (2007), 7 mn, Inédit
- Quatre états d’âme pour quatuor à cordes (2012), 10 mn, Inédit
- elec In bed with…#1 for violin, piano and tape (2013), 3 mn
- Instrumental ensemble music
- Die lüge for jazz big band (1998), 20 mn, Inédit
- Lomir zich iberbeten for jazz big-band (1998), 9 mn 38 s, Inédit
- Undzer shtetel brennt for jazz big band (1998), 5 mn 5 s, Inédit
- Échos cycliques for ensemble (2002), 8 mn 30 s, Inédit
- Futurisme Zen for orchestra of 35 musicians (2005), 22 mn 19 s, Inédit
- Sculptures for twelve saxophones (2005), 11 mn 11 s, Inédit
- elec ircam Ircam cursus Montagnes russes sur la Pnyx for ensemble and electronics (2009), 22 mn, Inédit [program note]
- Cinq maillages pour orchestre (2011-2012), 10 mn [program note]
- Meeting with god at the north pole for sinfonietta (2014)
- Thilannina for orchestra (2020), 10 mn about
- Concertant music
- Deux cadences pour le concerto en ut de Joseph Haydn for solo cello and small orchestra (2001), 4 mn, Inédit
- Quatre études d’une minute trente trois for small orchestra and solo piano (2004), 6 mn 12 s, Inédit
- Speed for two solo trumpets and small orchestra (2004), 7 mn 32 s, Inédit
- Live sampling for solo cello and ensemble (2009)
- Communication à une académie ballet for solo trombone and ensemble (2009-2010), 11 mn 30 s [program note]
- Vocal music and instrument(s)
- Chercheurs d’ornyx for electroacoustic device, piano, tablas, saxophones and vocals (2003), 17 mn 19 s, Inédit
- stage Lunfardo chamber opera, for voice(s) and ensemble (2004), 1 h 12 mn, Inédit
- elec A feast for the ears a sonic approach to the gastronomy, Pierre Gagnaire's cuisine set to music, for ensemble, jazz quartet, actors, pop singer and sounds of the restaurant, radio play (2013) [program note]
- elec stage Céleste ma planète opera for soprano, baritone, orchestra and electronics (2014)
- stage Je suis un homme ridicule opera after Fiodor Dostoïevski (2016)
- Cosmic Dance for soloist, choir shool, choir, organ and orchestra (2022)
- A cappella vocal music
- Watashi to kotori to suzu to for six female voices (2008), 7 mn 48 s, Inédit
- Electronic music / fixed media / mechanical musical instruments
- elec Jungle rythmique for electroacoustic tape (2003), 2 mn 10 s, Inédit
- elec Cyber punk for electroacoustic tape (2006), 4 mn 40 s, Inédit
- elec Omaggio a Scelsi for electroacoustic tape (2006), 5 mn 5 s, Inédit
- Elephant’s dream for electroacoustic tape (2007), 2 mn 10 s, Inédit
- Happy Christmas Gyorgÿ for electroacoustic tape (2008), 21 mn 46 s, Inédit
- elec Grammar of synchronicity electronic music for dance (2010), 12 mn, Inédit
- elec ircam Le bonheur music for the film by Alexander Medvedkine (USSR, 1934) (2010), 1 h 4 mn, Inédit [program note]
- Unspecified instrumentation
- stage Voyage d’Hiver theatre play (2018), 1 h 20 mn about
- elec Korvai Sainté multimedia show (2019)
- Auctus animalis a fantastic, futuristic bestiary (2022)
- 2022
- Auctus animalis a fantastic, futuristic bestiary
- Cosmic Dance for soloist, choir shool, choir, organ and orchestra
- 2020
- New world for solo piano
- Thilannina for orchestra, 10 mn about
- 2019
- elec Korvai Sainté multimedia show
- 2018
- stage Voyage d’Hiver theatre play, 1 h 20 mn about
- 2016
- stage Je suis un homme ridicule opera after Fiodor Dostoïevski
- 2014
- elec stage Céleste ma planète opera for soprano, baritone, orchestra and electronics
- Meeting with god at the north pole for sinfonietta
- 2013
- elec A feast for the ears a sonic approach to the gastronomy, Pierre Gagnaire's cuisine set to music, for ensemble, jazz quartet, actors, pop singer and sounds of the restaurant, radio play [program note]
- elec ircam Continuous Snapshots for piano and electronics, 15 mn, édition du compositeur [program note]
- elec In bed with…#1 for violin, piano and tape, 3 mn
- 2012
- elec ircam Body and forms for piano and video
- Cinq maillages pour orchestre, 10 mn [program note]
- Quatre états d’âme pour quatuor à cordes, 10 mn, Inédit
- 2010
- Communication à une académie ballet for solo trombone and ensemble, 11 mn 30 s [program note]
- elec Grammar of synchronicity electronic music for dance, 12 mn, Inédit
- elec ircam Le bonheur music for the film by Alexander Medvedkine (USSR, 1934), 1 h 4 mn, Inédit [program note]
- 2009
- Live sampling for solo cello and ensemble
- elec ircam Ircam cursus Montagnes russes sur la Pnyx for ensemble and electronics, 22 mn, Inédit [program note]
- 2008
- elec ircam Ircam cursus Fil Rouge for solo cello and electronic device, 5 mn 48 s, Inédit
- Happy Christmas Gyorgÿ for electroacoustic tape, 21 mn 46 s, Inédit
- Watashi to kotori to suzu to for six female voices, 7 mn 48 s, Inédit
- 2007
- Elephant’s dream for electroacoustic tape, 2 mn 10 s, Inédit
- One again for solo percussion, 5 mn 45 s, Inédit
- Und so weiter… for alto flute, guitar and cello, 7 mn, Inédit
- 2006
- elec Cyber punk for electroacoustic tape, 4 mn 40 s, Inédit
- elec Omaggio a Scelsi for electroacoustic tape, 5 mn 5 s, Inédit
- elec stage Zéro minute, cinq printemps musical theater, for percussionist, video and electroacoustic device, 11 mn, Inédit
- 2005
- Futurisme Zen for orchestra of 35 musicians, 22 mn 19 s, Inédit
- Sculptures for twelve saxophones, 11 mn 11 s, Inédit
- 2004
- stage Lunfardo chamber opera, for voice(s) and ensemble, 1 h 12 mn, Inédit
- Puzzle for solo tenor saxophone, 12 mn, Inédit
- Quatre études d’une minute trente trois for small orchestra and solo piano, 6 mn 12 s, Inédit
- Speed for two solo trumpets and small orchestra, 7 mn 32 s, Inédit
- 2003
- Chercheurs d’ornyx for electroacoustic device, piano, tablas, saxophones and vocals, 17 mn 19 s, Inédit
- elec Jungle rythmique for electroacoustic tape, 2 mn 10 s, Inédit
- 2002
- Une ri du zlou sous vert basset horn trio, 6 mn 30 s, Inédit
- Échos cycliques for ensemble, 8 mn 30 s, Inédit
- 2001
- Deux cadences pour le concerto en ut de Joseph Haydn for solo cello and small orchestra, 4 mn, Inédit
- Tarentelle for string quartet, 1 mn 17 s, Inédit
- 2000
- Ligetactaktouc for reed trio, 6 mn 30 s, Inédit
- 1999
- L’envol for solo piano, 10 mn, Inédit
- Promenade d’une Lilliputienne for string quartet, 9 mn 5 s, Inédit
- Rencontres for solo bassoon, Inédit
- 1998
- Die lüge for jazz big band, 20 mn, Inédit
- Lomir zich iberbeten for jazz big-band, 9 mn 38 s, Inédit
- Undzer shtetel brennt for jazz big band, 5 mn 5 s, Inédit
Liens Internet
- SoundCloud : www.soundcloud.com
- « Cinq maillages pour orchestre de Sébastien Gaxie » dans Alla breve d’Anne Montaron sur France Musique le 22 novembre 2015.
- « Créativité et design sonore : étude de cas », conférence à l’Ircam en compagnie d’Andrea Cera et Nicolas Misdariis, 8 octobre 2015.
- « Sébastien Gaxie : écrire pour le piano aujourd’hui » entretien avec Franck Madlener à l’Ircam, 12 mars 2013.
(liens vérifiés en octobre 2023).
Discographie
- Sébastien GAXIE, Timothée DE FOMBELLE, « Céleste ma planète », 1 livre + 1 livret + 1 CD Gallimard jeunesse, 2014.
- Sébastien GAXIE, Entra libra e y Escorpio, avec des œuvres de Philippe Hurel, Iannis Xenakis, José Manuel López López…, Elisa Humanes, 1 cd Ministro de Cultura/Colegio de Espana, 2006.
- Sébastien GAXIE, Lunfardo, Médéric Collignon : voix, cornet de poche, trompette, Maxime Delpierre : guitare, Frédéric Deville : violoncelle, Sébastien Gaxie : piano, Guillaume Humery : clarinettes, Ramon Lopez : batterie, Manuel Peskine : piano, orgue positif, Sylvain Rifflet : saxophones, clarinettes, Gérard Tempia : violon, direction : Sébastien Gaxie, 1 cd Chief Inspector, 2005.
- Sébastien GAXIE, Futurisme Zen, dans « Journées de la composition 2005 », avec des œuvres d’Yves Chauris et Francesco Filidei, orchestre des lauréats du conservatoire, direction : Zsolt Nagy, 1 cd Centre de recherche et d’édition du conservatoire, 2005 [concert du vendredi 14 octobre 2005 au conservatoire de Paris, espace Maurice Fleuret].
- Sébastien GAXIE, Quatre études d’une minute trente-trois, dans « Journées de la composition 2003 », avec des œuvres de Lionel Bord, Yves Chauris, Luis Fernando Rizo Salom, orchestre des lauréats du conservatoire, direction : Guillaume Bourgogne et François-Xavier Roth, 1 cd Centre de recherche et d’édition du conservatoire, 2003 [concert enregistré en octobre 2003 au conservatoire de Paris, espace Maurice Fleuret].