Professional activity: Composers, Improvisers, Interpreters
Biography
* 11. 12. 1948.
Jean-François Mathieu was born in Geneva (Switzerland), he is the son of a French father and a mother from Wallis.
1952 - Primary school, High School, College
1963 - Following an initial fascination with graphic design he studied (self-taught) music and various instruments: percussion, guitar, electronic bass and vocals.
1965 - Technical College
1969 - After working for a short period as a civil engineer he promoted himself as a guitarist and singer in almost all musical directions in Europe and Canada. His work encompasses studio music, advertising jingles, composition and arrangement of chansons, music for short films and musical comedies.
1973 - In addition to the development of his eclectic career as composer, arranger and musician he began giving private guitar lessons.
1981 - He founded the atelier 'Bi-NERF!' (blues, soul, rock, funk etc..) and diversified the music directions which were taught at the A.M.R (Music Society of Geneva).
1986 - Co-founder of a society to popularise and support musical informatics
1988 - Founded and realised the project 'Computer-Mediathek' (an interactive system based on musical scores) and developed the 'YETI' (a computer installation assigned to perform chores). Travelled as advisor for IT systems for application in the field of music.
1990 - Founded the guitar quartet 'Le Four'. Experience in the orchestration of all possible combinations of guitar (acoustic, electric, and guitar synthesizer).
1991 - Co-founder of 'Le CoCo', a group for collective improvisation, a lacustric spectacle for eighty musicians or chamber orchestra. A CD with a completely improvised opera 'Notes pour un Opéra' was recorded.
1996 - Composed and produced the CD 'inguitarissable', a guitar piece in the service of the original compositions. Cooperation with ZEP for the cover. Developed his first website.
1999 - First electric guitarist to perform at the 'Fête des Vignerons'. Wrote a piece for horn quartet.
2000 - Founded the spectacle 'Le Grande Fromage', co-author of a composition for forty musicians and musical firework display which included all musical styles simultaneously. Gave a workshop on the music of Frank Zappa.
2001 - Wrote and edited the score for 'Double FM', a horn quartet with electric guitar with which he performed concerts. Developed the concept for the production label 'La Diamanterie Productions'
2002 - Produced the CD 'Voyage dans un coeur brûlant' and performed his composition with acoustic guitar only. Performs solo concerts. Edits and produces scores for various websites.
2003 - Gives solo concerts with the acoustic guitar. Installed a secure payment system on his website.
Endeavours to co-operate with orchestras to have his music played. Homage for the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the death of Frank Zappa. Gave a workshop on the work of Jimi Hendrix.
2004 - Gives solo concerts with the acoustic guitar. Currently writing the music for a theatre piece from the 'Compagnies du Bord'Eau et de Léaz'Arts' (France).
Work list
Dromadaire (1977)
for solo guitar played with a plectrum
The relentless marching of time.
Duration: 7' 08" Manuscript
Jean-François Mathieu: Sainte Croix de la Bretonnerie (1977)
for solo guitar played with a plectrum
The atmosphere of a small, quiet street in Paris.
Duration: 6' 23" Manuscript
Valse Branque (1977)
Instrumentation: for guitar and saxophone
Limping waltz.
Duration: 3' 00" Manuscript
La Rage du Renard Bleu (1980)
Instrumentation: for 4 guitars (acoustic and electric)
An angry fox.
Duration: 7' 00" Manuscript
Jean-François Mathieu: Ombrelle (1980)
Instrumentation: for solo guitar played with a plectrum
Dedicated to the shadow, somewhere in Africa.
Duration: 8' 00" Manuscript
Bricelet Paradise (1983)
Instrumentation: for electric guitar, electric bass, percussion, harmonica, accoustic and electronic pianos, trumpet, trombone, 3 lead voices, choir
Texts: Michel Boillet
A musical comedy in 26 sung, danced and spoken acts.
The rocker Alois Bricelet is electrocuted while playing pinball. He is greeted in paradise but the thought of seeing his Pure Angie again helps him to escape this rather strange place.
Duration: 2h 00" Manuscript
Le Diable aux Cordes (1984)
Instrumentation: for classical guitar
Travel into the innermost of the guitar.
Duration: 5' 00" Manuscript
Question d'optiques (1985)
Instrumentation: for guitar (acoustic, electric, synthesizer), sax, synthesizer, electronic processing
Animation.
Duration: 8' 00" Manuscript
Hänsel et Gretel (1986)
Sound track produced by Jean-François MATHIEU and Eduardo KOHAN.
Authors: The Brothers Grim
A fairytale as a musical spectacle. Two children are lost in a forest and stumble upon the house of a witch who would like to stick them in a casserole pot - they escape relatively unscathed.
Duration: 60' 00" Manuscript
Jean-François Mathieu: Valsendo (1988)
Instrumentation: for orchestra (2tpt(bugle).tsx(ssx,asx).bsx(tsx).tba.pf.claviers.synth.egtr.db.1perc(octopad).eperc controlled by sound technician)
A waltz which is assembled entirely from eloquent silences. It was transformed by Jean-François Mathieu into 27 scenes for pre-programmed electric percussion intertwined with 7 large compositions performed by the whole orchestra.
Duration: 90' 00" Manuscript
La main tendue ne répond plus (1989)
Instrumentation: Sound track
Texts: Pierre Miserez, Nago Humbert
One-man-show by Pierre Miserez who occupies himself with the pressing and ironing out of his daily fears for us.
Duration: 90' 00" Manuscript
HS-13 Geneve (1990)
Instrumentation: for vocal quartet
New Swiss hymn.
Duration: 5' 00" Manuscript
Journey through a burning heart (1990)
Instrumentation: for 14 guitars (acoustic, electric, synthesizer), percussion
A voyage without style barriers.
Duration: 8' 30" Manuscript
Jean-François Mathieu: Viva la Musica (1990)
Instrumentation: for orchestra in acoustic shell: 1cl(pf).cl(asx).ssx(bsx).asx(bsx).asx(tsx).3tsx(ssx).bsx(asx)/2tpt.tpt(bugle).tpt
A lacustrine spectacle with 113 people (musicians, extras, swimmers, pilots, oarsmen, sirens, sharks, washerwomen, lifeguards etc..)and several boats of all forms and all sizes (sailing boat of the player of the solo marimba, old tub of the percussion and the electric guitar etc..). The spectacle evolves inside and around the acoustic shell. A large scene which took place in the Lac de Leman, Geneva.
Duration: 1h 42' 00" Manuscript
Ouvre Feux (1991)
Instrumentation: for large hybrid orchestra
Piece for fireworks.
Duration: 12' 00" Manuscript
Quelle Conque (1991)
Instrumentation: for large haybrid orchestra
Piece for the overture and opening of the accoustic shell.
Duration: 10' 00" Manuscript
La Dame aux Begonias (1992)
Instrumentation: sound track
Texts: Michel Boillet
Musical comedy in 15 sung, danced and spoken acts. The camellia lady swaps her camellias for begonias and the story takes a completely different turn.
Duration: 2h 00" Manuscript
Jean-François Mathieu: Notes pour un opéra (1992)
Instrumentation: for soprano, tenor (plays percussion) cl(cl-b).fl(or eprocessor)/egtr/db(tenor)/1perc(or eprocessor)
Texts: Claude Tabarini
This completely improvised opera in two acts sets a playful text to music. It is a celebration of language, a hide-and-seek with sense and sound.
Duration: 30' 00" Manuscript
La Générale de four (1993)
Instrumentation: for 4 guitars (acoustic, electric, synthesizer)
A extraordinary day for the composer.
Duration: 90' 00" Manuscript
Les Cigognes Boudent à Pest (1993)
Instrumentation: for guitar played with a plectrum
Volatile memories [sic!] of Hungary.
Duration: 7' 00" Manuscript
Locomemory (1993)
Instrumentation: Track music
Two locomotives (Crocodiles), the red arrow and eight other nostalgic parade horses of the Swiss National Railway. This film is a testomony to their cultural and industrial history.
Duration: 82' 00" Manuscript
Ordinaire (1993)
Instrumentation: for 4 horns
Four people get intertwined.
Duration: 3' 00" Manuscript
Pièce de Nuit (1993)
Instrumentation: for four guitars (electric, synthesizer)
Nocturnal evocations.
Duration: 6' 00" Manuscript
The Dreams of t (1993)
Instrumentation: for voice and small orchestra
Texts: Dorothy Cox
Credits of the movie Locomemory.
Duration: 4' 00" Manuscript
Herakles ducks again (1996)
Instrumentation: for 11 guitars (accoustic, electric, synthesizer)
Herakles strikes a pose.
Duration: 7' 30" Manuscript
Inguitarissable (1996)
Instrumentation: for guitar (acoustic, synthesizer), percussion
Guitaristic avalanche! Split into eight pieces which dissolve into different aspects of a musical kaleidoscope 'inguitarissable' finds its coherence in an omnipresent, self-stabalising sensibility. The job of the guitarist is to bring together the incompatible but above all to reconcile that which fears muscial ecumenism.
Duration: 60' 00" Manuscript
Suite pour Scie Musicale et guitare (1999)
Instrumentation: for singing saw and electric guitar or bottleneck
Lament for the death of good music.
Duration: 4' 00" Manuscript
Trois points d’interrogation (1999)
Instrumentation: for 4 horns
A pretext for improvisation.
Duration: 6' 00" Manuscript
Améliorons l’Ordinaire (2000)
Instrumentation: for voice and large hybrid orchestra
The possibilities of the voice (the good and the bad!) are represented.
Duration: 12' 00" Manuscript
Branquevalse (2000)
Instrumentation: for large hybrid orchestra
Orchestral vortex.
Duration: 10' 00" Manuscript
Hotel du Grand Fromage (2000)
Instrumentation: for voice and large hybrid orchestra
Texts: Pierre Louis Péclat
Propaganda and other cheap tricks.
Duration: 6' 00" Manuscript
Lamenta Scions (2000)
Instrumentation: for singing saw, electric guitar or bottleneck and large hybrid orchestra
Lament.
Duration: 7' 00" Manuscript
Le Grand Fromage (2000)
Instrumentation: for fl.ssx(tsx).asx(tsx).tsx(barsx)/4hn(singing saw).5tpt(tenor voice).4tbn.tba/2vn(eva).va.vlc.db.ebass.egtr
Texts: Pierre Louis Péclat
An orchestra of 35 musicians simultaneously play and sing a piece of presently unheard music. The music of the spectacle of 'Le Grand Fromage' is amongst the most original at the beginning of the third millennium. This music sets at nought styles, regulations and given borders. The music joyfully and wisely integrates the complexity of contemporary music, the energy of rock, the freedom of jazz, the rigour of new classical music and the joy of pop.
Duration: 90' 00" Manuscript
Le Grand Fromage jingle (2000)
Instrumentation: for voice and large hybrid orchestra
Dense music!
Duration: ' 16" Manuscript
Llamas (2000)
Instrumentation: for guitar played with a plectrum
The guitar on fire.
Duration: 9' 00" Manuscript
Jean-François Mathieu: Lyoba (le ranz des vaches) (2000)
Instrumentation: for solo guitar played with a plectrum
An instrumental homage to that lovely song from Gruyère.
Duration: 5' 30" Manuscript
Ouarf (2000)
Instrumentation: for voice and large hybrid orchestra
Texts: Pierre Louis Péclat
Impolite chanson.
Duration: 6' 00" Manuscript
Péteux l’otorhinolaryngastrentérosexe! (2000)
Instrumentation: for voice and large hybrid orchestra
Texts: Pierre Louis Péclat
Further impolite chansons.
Duration: 6' 00" Manuscript
Tournez la Page (2000)
Instrumentation: for percussion, electronic processor and a large hybrid orchestra
The power of rhythm.
Duration: 8' 00" Manuscript
Voyage dans un coeur brûlant (2001)
Instrumentation: for acoustic guitar played with a plectrum
A collection of scores with 9 titles. One of the very few collections of scores for solo guitar played with a plectrum.
Duration: 64' 00" Manuscript
That’s what THEY call freedom (2003)
Instrumentation: for acoustic guitar
Written for the 1st day of the occupation of Iraq by the US army.
Instrumentation: for 2cl(bcl).3asx.tsx/4tpt.cornet a piston.4tbn(vocal rap).tba/pf.epf.synth/3perc/ebass.db/3egtr.gtr/) didjeridoo, 8 voices (m and f), classical-lyrical singing
Texts: Saba Christiane Lidete Imru
After a kaleidoscope of vocal juxtapositions and the irresistible melody of an intense hymn by the choir and the string quartet, the rhythm and the intensity gain power and the orchestra as a whole expresses the relentless advancement of science and the progression of mankind. The music of the third psychedelic movement in a decreased tempo reminds one of several machines, emulates the acceleration of particles and ends in the evocation of the Big Bang.
Duration: 25' 00" Manuscript
Acceleration / Celebration 1er mouvement Birthday (2004)
Instrumentation: for string quartet
By-passing the traditional chanson.
Duration: 6' 00" Manuscript
Acceleration / Celebration 2ème mouvement Anthem (2004)
Instrumentation: for string quartet
Texts: Saba Christiane Lidete Imru, Jean-François Mathieu
Hymn to the glory of intelligence.
Duration: 8' 00" Manuscript
Acceleration / Celebration 3ème mouvement Concern (2004)
Instrumentation: for string quartet
Texts: Saba Christiane Lidete Imru. Jean-François Marthieu
Big Bang musical!
Duration: 11' 00" Manuscript
Feuilleté de Contes... (2004)
Instrumentation: for electric guitar
Poetic music.
Duration: 25' 00" Manuscript
La Fête de Moussa (2004)
Instrumentation: for electric guitar
A party which one would like to continue forever.
Duration: 5' 00" Manuscript
La Guerre du Coton (2004)
Instrumentation: for guitar (acoustic, electric) and MIDI instruments
A comparison of the subventions allowed to African and American producers.
Duration: 15' 00" Manuscript
La Mort Marraine (2004)
Instrumentation: for electric guitar
A little flame extinguished.
Duration: 6' 00" Manuscript
Le Chapon et la Poularde (2004)
Instrumentation: for electric guitar
Author: Voltaire. Pamphlet on the human race.
Duration: 3' 00" Manuscript
De lune à l'autre (2005)
Instrumentation: for electric guitars
Authors: Anouihl, Kafka, Hergé, Shakespeare...
12 poetic and playful pictures.