Pierre Schaeffer
Pierre Schaeffer
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Pierre Schaeffer was born on May 14, 1910, in Nancy, France. He is commonly known as the "Father of Musique Concrète," a term he coined to describe his innovative approach to music composition.
Birth and Death Dates
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May 14, 1910 - October 18, 1995
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Schaeffer was French and worked as a radio engineer, composer, and inventor. He is best known for his pioneering work in electronic music and sound design.
Early Life and Background
Pierre Schaeffer grew up in a family of modest means. His father was a musician, which likely influenced his son's early interest in sound and music. After completing his secondary education, Schaeffer attended the École Centrale des Arts et Manufactures in Paris, where he studied radio engineering. During World War II, he worked for the French Resistance and later became involved with the French radio broadcasting company, Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française (RTF).
Major Accomplishments
Schaeffer's work revolutionized the field of music composition. He is credited with creating the first electronic instruments and developing new techniques for manipulating sound. In 1948, he founded the Groupe de Recherches de Musique Concrète at RTF, where he experimented with tape loops, phasing, and other innovative methods.
Notable Works or Actions
Schaeffer's most notable works include "Symphonie pour un homme seul" (1950), a piece that showcases his use of recorded sounds and vocal techniques. He also created the first electronic instrument, the Ondes Martenot, which was later adopted by other composers.
In addition to his musical work, Schaeffer wrote several influential books on music theory and technology, including "Traité des objets musicaux" (1966) and "La musique concrète" (1951).
Impact and Legacy
Pierre Schaeffer's impact on modern music is immeasurable. His innovations in electronic music and sound design paved the way for countless composers and musicians to explore new sonic territories.
Schaeffer's legacy extends beyond the world of classical music. His ideas about sound manipulation and tape looping influenced popular artists such as Karlheinz Stockhausen, Pierre Henry, and Brian Eno, among many others.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Pierre Schaeffer is widely quoted and remembered for his pioneering work in electronic music and sound design. His innovative approaches to manipulating recorded sounds and creating new instruments have inspired generations of musicians and composers.
As a pioneer in the field of Musique Concrète, Schaeffer's ideas about the potential of recorded sounds to create new musical possibilities continue to influence contemporary music, art, and technology.
Quotes by Pierre Schaeffer
I’m very aware of what you’re talking about as I was involved with the radio in Africa in the same period as I was doing Concrete – I was doing both at the same time.
I do not want to heap coals of fire on anyone’s head, but I would like to advise those who keep the living thought of the dead hidden away in cardboard boxes, to pass on as quickly as possibly such explosive material, whose only legitimate heir is the whole world, that is to say, my neighbor.
First, it doesn’t surprise me that traditional music has experienced a kind of exhaustion in the 20th century – not forgetting that many musicians started to look outside the traditional structures of tonality.
It’s ridiculous that time and time again we need a radioactive cloud coming out of a nuclear power-station to remind us that atomic energy is extraordinarily dangerous.
The world changes materially. Science makes advances in technology and understanding. But the world of humanity doesn’t change.
Sound is the vocabulary of nature... noises are as well articulated as the words in a dictionary... Opposing the world of sound is the world of music.
People who try to create a musical revolution do not have a chance, but those who turn their back to music can sometimes find it.
I was horrified by modern 12-tone music. I said to myself, 'Maybe I can find something different... maybe salvation, liberation, is possible.
I do not want to heap coals of fire on anyone's head, but I would like to advise those who keep the living thought of the dead hidden away in cardboard boxes, to pass on as quickly as possibly such explosive material, whose only legitimate heir is the whole world, that is to say, my neighbor.