Jacques Guyonnet was born in Geneva and studied literature at the university and composition and directing at the conservatory there. From 1958 until 1961 he participated at the Ferienkursen für Neue Musik in Darmstadt. In 1959 he founded the Studio de Musique Contemporaine in Geneva and began collaborations with Pierre Boulez after 1960. From 1976 until 1981 he was the president of the International Society for Contemporary Music (ISCM). In 1976 he taught composition for electroacoustic music at the Zurich School of Music.
His early compositional work shows an influence by Pierre Boulez. In his later works, Guyonnet becomes increasingly drawn to the large symphonic form and makes attempts at new musical practices (including elements of modern popular and electronic music). Guyonnet has published several novels since 1999.
Elenco delle opere
Monades II (1959-1960)
Strumentazione: pour orchestre (2,2,2,2 - 2,2,3,4 - perc, hpe, pno, cel - cordes)
A Pierre Boulez.
Durata: 14' 00" Manuscritto
Monades III (1961)
Strumentazione: pour orchestre (2,2,2,2 - 2,2,3,1 - hpe, cel, pno, 4 perc - cordes)
A Hans Rosbaud.
Durata: 11' 00" Manuscritto
Polyphonies I, II, III (1959-1962)
Strumentazione: pour alto/flûte/piano, 2 pianos, alto/flute/2 pianos
Strumentazione: Version pour 11 solistes (2 pianos, 2 synthesizers DX7, brass quartet, 1 percussion, voix de soprano, récitant) et grand orchestre à cordes
Durata: 55' 00" Manuscritto
Base/Anabase (1986)
Strumentazione: pour piano solo et grand orchestre de chambre (ou orchestre à cordes)
Manuscritto
Suite Baroque (1986)
Strumentazione: pour clavecin, piano et orchestre à cordes
Vivo
Largo
Finale
Manuscritto
Un soupir pour Aurore (1991)
Strumentazione: pour violoncelle et piano
Manuscritto
Les Angiospermes (2003)
Un opéra parlé
Strumentazione: pour six acteurs et grand orchestre de chambre
Comédie de boulevard sur fond de fin du monde.
Rôles : Josefina, Alma (les Angiospermes) Aline femme de ménage alias Apocaline, Celsius (un amoureux transi) Jacques le prisonnier, Dieu alias Monsieur Borgès.
Manuscritto
Discografia
Geneviève Calame (Grammont Porträt Nr. 28-2, 1991)