Biography
Pierre Georges Cornil Jansen (28 February 1930 – 13 August 2015 at Saint-Pierre-Saint-Jean) was a French film scores composer. He was in particular the permanent collaborator of Claude Chabrol for whom he composed the music for many films.
Born in Roubaix, Jansen did his first musical studies at the Conservatoire de Roubaix (piano and harmony) under the direction of Alfred Desenclos. He furthered his studies at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels (piano and harmony prizes) and writing studies with André Souris (harmony, counterpoint, fugue and orchestration).
From 1952 onwards, he regularly attended classes with Olivier Messiaen and participated in the Ferienkurse für die neue Musik in Darmstadt. In 1958, a suite for piano and 18 instruments was premiered in Darmstadt, and later performed in Paris during a concert of the Domaine musical.
In 1960, he renounced the achievements of the avant-garde and devoted himself to film music. He collaborated with Claude Chabrol of whom he became the official composer. About Pierre Jansen, the director of the French New Wave said: "I met a brother in music." while the latter described his meeting with Chabrol as "decisive and unexpected.". He then worked with Claude Goretta, Francis Girod and Pierre Schoendoerffer. He also collaborated for television by composing music for Serge Moati and Josée Dayan.
In 1985, he composed for silent cinema, in collaboration with Antoine Duhamel, an extensive score for large orchestra to accompany the images of David Wark Griffith's famous Intolerance. This work was premiered by the Orchestre national d'Île-de-France (Jacques Mercier conducting) and screened live at the Théâtre des Amandiers, then at the Festival d'Avignon.
A version of this film, newly restored, was made in 2007. It required a new adaptation of the score. Rerecorded under the direction of Jean Deroyer, it was broadcast on Arte. This version is available on DVD.
Gradually abandoning film music because he did not want to fall into commercial ease, he then devoted himself to his own work by composing concerts pieces.
He taught orchestration at the École normale de musique de Paris, as well as at the Conservatoire de Paris (CNSMDP).
Source: Article "Pierre Jansen" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.
Filmography
all 55
Movies 55
Frame Up Blues (1990)
Rebelote (1984)
Elective Affinities (1983)
The Big Brother (1982)
The Horse of Pride (1980)
L'Œil du maître (1980)
Violette Nozière (1978)
The Savage State (1978)
Blood Relatives (1978)
The Lacemaker (1977)
Golden Night (1976)
La Limousine (1976)
A Piece of Pleasure (1975)
Monsieur Bébé (1974)
Cry of the Heart (1974)
The Nada Gang (1974)
Wedding in Blood (1973)
Scoundrel in White (1972)
Ten Days' Wonder (1971)
The Savior (1971)
The Breach (1970)
The Butcher (1970)
The Hand (1969)
This Man Must Die (1969)
The Unfaithful Wife (1969)
Happening (1968)
Adriatic Sea of Fire (1968)
Les Biches (1968)
The Champagne Murders (1967)
Line of Demarcation (1966)
The Blue Panther (1965)
The 317th Platoon (1965)
The Straight Line (1964)
Code Name: Tiger (1964)
Ophélia (1963)
Bluebeard (1963)
The Third Lover (1962)
Wise Guys (1961)
The Good Girls (1960)
Information
Known ForSound
GenderMale
Birthday1930-02-28
Deathday2015-08-13 (85 years old)
Birth NamePierre Georges Cornil Jansen
Birth PlaceRoubaix, France
CitizenshipsFrance
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