Biography
Jean-Pascal Chaigne studied composition with Allain Gaussin then Emmanuel Nunes and Stefano Gervasoni at the Paris Conservatory where he obtained first prizes in composition, orchestration, analysis, harmony, counterpoint and 20th century music writing. His works are performed by ensembles such as Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Ensemble Contrechamps, Ensemble Orchestral Contemporain, Musicatreize, L’Itinéraire, Ensemble Aleph, L'Instant Donné, Sound Initiative, Quatuor Béla, Quatuor Leonis and Quatuor Habanera.
Jean-Pascal Chaigne's music illustrates his particular interest for poetry: first, his will to include his works within rigorously developed cycles – Le travail du silence, Mezza Voce, Objets, Hymnes à la nuit, Les chiffres du corps and his Triptych after Kafka – echoes the requirements of Mallarmé in Livre; also, his music is almost always inspired by the work of poets such as Anne-Marie Albiach, Claude Royet-Journoud, Roger Giroux and Danielle Collobert.
Holding a PhD in musicology and author of several analytical articles, Jean-Pascal Chaigne also conducts research activity, thus nourishing his reflexion on musical creation. After teaching harmony, composition and analysis in the universities of Nice and Saint-Etienne, then composition, orchestration and musical writing in the Annecy Regional Conservatory, he is now professor and researcher at the Haute Ecole de Musique de Genève.
Video
Audio
CDs
Trace, for double bass
"Conversation Pieces" (2015) – Florentin Ginot
(Conservatoire de Paris)
Dire I, for two pianos
Duo Soleil-Cerise (2013)
Emmanuelle Bouillot et Vinca Bonnaud
Objets I, for bass clarinet
"Dédicaces" (2010) – Jean-Marc Fessard
(Quantum / Codaex)
Figurations, for string trio and orchestra
"Journées de la composition 2009"
(Conservatoire de Paris)
Figurations I, for viola, cello and orchestra
"Journées de la composition 2007"
(Conservatoire de Paris)
News
June
2019
« Rencontres autour de la création pour théorbe et instruments anciens » (La Courroie, France) :
Cet abîme d'étoiles for theorbo, Caroline Delume
April
2019
« Journées du luth de la Société Française de Luth » (France) :
Cet abîme d'étoiles for theorbo, Caroline Delume
Nov.
2018
« Journées de musiques anciennes » (Vanves, France) :
Cet abîme d'étoiles (world premiere) for theorbo, Caroline Delume
19 Feb.
2018
"Bach père et fils : le trait d'union est ailleurs…", L'Atelier à Musique, Dinan :
L'épaisseur d'un cri for traverso, Claire Marchal
25 Jan.
2018
Haute Ecole de Musique de Genève, 18h :
Master-class
11-12 Dec.
2017
Haute Ecole de Musique de Genève – Neuchâtel :
Master-class
5 Nov.
2017
Saint-Pierre Cathedral , Annecy, Festival Terres d'Empreintes, 17h :
De miroir, d'absence for viola da gamba, Maéva Bouachrine
5 Aug.
2017
"Les Estivales de la Treille", N.-D. de la Treille Cathedral, Lille :
L'épaisseur d'un cri for traverso, Claire Marchal
9 May
2017
France Musique :
Invited by Clément Lebrun in the radio broadcast "Le cri du patchwork"
5 May
2017
Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Lyon :
De miroir, d'absence (CM) for viola da gamba, Louise Bouedo
Works
With the exception of Hymne I (Symétrie Editions), Jean-Pascal Chaigne's scores are published by Mezza-Voce Editions and available for sale
via order form:
on Amazon website:
Solo
Cet abîme d’étoiles [in progress]
Theorbo
De miroir, d’absence (2016) [order score]
Viola da gamba (9’)
Wie ein Toter (2016) [order score]
Cello (13’)
Trace (2014) [order score]
Double bass (10’)
Hymne II (2013) [order score]
Percussion (8’30’’)
Soit donc cela II (2013)
Organ (8’)
Soit donc cela I (2013)
Harpsichord (8’)
L’épaisseur d’un cri (2012) [order score]
Traverso (5’30’’)
L’énigme et son sommeil (2011) [order score]
Soprano (6’30’’), after a poem by Claude Royet-Journoud
Hymne I (2010) [order score]
Flute (6’)
Vertical et blanc III (2009-revised 2011) [order score]
Violin (9’)
Vertical et blanc II (2009) [order score]
Viola (5’30’’)
Objets I (2007) [order score]
Bass clarinet (5’30’’)
Vertical et blanc I (2006-revised 2009)
Cello (6’30’’)
Chamber ensemble
Immer wieder Angst (2016) [order score – parts]
Soprano, flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano (10’), after Franz Kafka
Aux limites sourdes (2015)
Solo violin, percussion and three female voices (13’)
Entaille (2015)
String quartet (17’)
Shlof (2015) [order score]
Vocal sextet (4’), after a Yiddish lullaby; excerpt from the monodrama Der Bau
Reflet (2014) [order score – parts]
Clarinet, violin and cello (8’30’’)
Dire II (2014)
Clarinet, percussion, piano, violin, viola and cello (8’)
Dans la ligne des paupières (2013)
Soprano and string quartet (16’), after a poem by Anne-Marie Albiach
…an die Nacht I (2013)
Solo flute, string trio, piano and percussion (8’)
Dire I (2012)
Two pianos (8’)
L’élaboration du silence (2012)
Three female voices or female chorus (4’), after a poem by Anne-Marie Albiach
L’amant et l’image / Objets III (2012)
Mezzo-soprano, flute, guitar, percussion and violin (8’), after a poem by Claude Royet-Journoud
Objets IV (2011) [order score – parts]
Saxophone quartet (8’30’’)
Strates (2010)
Mezzo-soprano, viola, cello and harpsichord (6’30’’), after a poem by Anne-Marie Albiach
Césure : le corps (2010)
Mezzo-soprano and violin (7’), after a poem by Anne-Marie Albiach
La voix extrême la lumière (2010)
Mezzo-soprano, cello and harpsichord (6’), after a poem by Anne-Marie Albiach
Hymne VI (2010)
Flute, piano and percussion (6’30’’)
Trois mouvements (2009) [order score – parts]
String quartet (2’30’’)
Objets II (2008)
Cello octet (7’)
Répétition (2004-rév. 2010)
Mezzo-soprano, string trio and harpsichord (7’), after a poem by Anne-Marie Albiach
Vocal ensemble
Shlof (2015) [order score]
Vocal sextet (4’), after a Yiddish lullaby ; excerpt from the monodrama Der Bau
…an die Nacht II (2013)
Solo percussionist, four percussionists and mixed choir (9’), after a poem by Novalis
L’élaboration du silence (2012)
Three female voices or female chorus (4’), after a poem by Anne-Marie Albiach
Ma voix te suit (2011)
A cappella choir (SATB) (7’), after a poem by Claude Royet-Journoud
Orchestra
Der Bau (2015)
Monodrama for narrator, vocal sextet and chamber orchestra (50’), from the Kafka novella Der Bau
La trajectoire du souffle (Figuration III) (2011)
Violin and large orchestra (10’)
Figurations (2009)
String trio and chamber orchestra (23’)
Figuration I (2007)
Cello and chamber orchestra (6’)
Cycles
Triptych after Kafka:
Der Bau, for narrator, vocal sextet and chamber orchestra
Immer wieder Angst, for soprano, flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano
Wie ein Toter, for cello
Le travail du silence cycle (after Roger Giroux):
L’épaisseur d’un cri, for traverso (baroque flute)
Soit donc cela I, for harpsichord
Soit donc cela II, for organ
De miroir, d’absence, for viola da gamba
Cet abîme d’étoiles, for theorbo [in progress]
Les chiffres du corps triptych (after Anne-Marie Albiach):
Entaille, for string quartet
Reflet, for clarinet, violin and cello
Trace, for double bass
Objets cycle:
Objets I, for bass clarinet
Objets II, for cello octet
Objets III, for mezzo-soprano, flute, guitar, percussion and violin
Objets IV, for saxophone quartet
Kardia diptych (after Kardia by Claude Royet-Journoud):
L’énigme et son sommeil, for soprano
Ma voix te suit, for a cappella choir (SATB)
Hymnes à la nuit cycle (after Hymnen an die Nacht by Novalis):
Hymne I, for flute
Hymne II, for percussion
Hymne III [in progress], for piano and percussion
Hymne IV [in progress], for piano
Hymne V [in progress], for flute and percussion
Hymne VI, for flute, piano and percussion
Mezza-Voce cycle (after Mezza Voce by Anne-Marie Albiach):
Césure : le corps, for mezzo-soprano and violin
Vertical et blanc I, for cello
La voix extrême la lumière, for mezzo-soprano, cello and harpsichord
Vertical et blanc II, for viola
Strates, for mezzo-soprano, viola, cello and harpsichord
Vertical et blanc III, for violin
Répétition, for mezzo-soprano, string trio and harpsichord
Contact
Professional address :
Jean-Pascal Chaigne
Haute Ecole de Musique de Genève
Rue de l'Arquebuse 12
CH-1204 Genève
+33 (0)6 74 06 35 32
Copyright Editions Mezza-Voce