Claude Ledoux (composer)
Claude Ledoux is a Belgian composer, born in 1960.
For many years now, the composer has explored the idea of "musical crossing borders" as he attempts to reflect our fragmented world in his musical processes. As a result, his works has been marked by interactions between contemporary sounds and popular musics, non-European idioms and technology. His recent works, accordingly, demonstrate this interest in the "cultural porosity" in which emotion arises from geographical and historical encounters, linking spirituality to the most sensual aspects of our material existence.
Biography - early years
Passionated by science and art, Ledoux began at 17 y.o. his studies in painting and graphic Art at the Fine Arts School, coupled with music at the Conservatoire de Liège. There, he met Jean-Louis Robert, Philippe Boesmans, Frederic Rzewski, Henri Pousseur and decided for a musical career. He also carried out research into electronic music at the CRFMW studio where he met Tristan Murail at the occasion of seminars.Afterwards, Ledoux pursued his education abroad, notably in Hungary, in Italy where he participated in seminars by György Ligeti, and finally in Paris where he lived for few years on the occasion of IRCAM courses. At the same time, he studied composition with Iannis Xenakis at the University of Paris I.
Competitions won
As a composer he won several competitions, Turkey Ankara Radio Symphony orchestra), in [Ukraine and Russia, more recently at the ISCM Ljublijana and Asia. Latterly, Claude Ledoux has been composer in residence at the Ensemble Musiques Nouvelles, subsequently at the Castello of Umbria, the Brussels Bozar, Kitara Hall, and in Ars Musica.Asian researches
Due to his passion for Asian sounds, he travelled in several eastern countries in order to undertake researches and to learn the traditional art of music. In 1992, he first went through India where he learned traditional musics from the Himalayan slopes to the Rajasthan desert. In 1996, he received a grant from the SPES Foundation to pursue his studies about oriental music in Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia. Afterwards, he travelled many times in Japan where he went deeper into the knowledge of traditional musical practices and instruments of that country which counts as one of the most important for the composer. More recently he made also researches in China.Main musical activities
In 2009, Claude Ledoux composed the compulsory work for the semi-final of the Queen Elisabeth Competition. Later, in 2012, he served as artistic director of the Ars Musica Festival. in that framework, he composed "Ayl" for Clarinet and orchestra, based on an Armenian traditional tune. Afterwards, he wrote an important number of works with an Eastern dimension : "Crossing Edges" for erhu and orchestra, "Echoes of Crossing Edges" for the Shanghai Sinfonietta, "Eurydice effacée", commissioned by the Muromachi Ensemble, a Shakuhachi concerto for Reison Kuroda. In 2016 he composed the compulsory concerto for the Final of the Queen Elisabeth Competition, piano, "A Butterfly's Dream" - based on the Chinese Zhuangzi (book) - and his "Trois Itinérances" was premiered at Tokyo. Recently, "Noema" - Saxophone concerto - was premiered at the Saxophone International Contest of Dinant 2019. Moreover, "Tomoe", a fifty minutes "Rappresentatione" for Soprano, Baryton, Japanese Biwa/singer and baroque ensemble, was performed at the Festival de Wallonie.Some of his works are recorded on the labels Cyprès, Paraty, Harmonia Mundi, Sub Rosa, WBM.
beside composition
Claude Ledoux earned a Master in "Art and Sciences of Music" from the University of Liège. Artistic Director of LAPS, a new ensemble that combines laptops with acoustic instruments, the composer has also written numerous articles on composition, analysis and contemporary music. Nowadays he also works as a musical journalist as well as a Musical Analysis professor at the CNSMDP - Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris and Composition professor at Arts2 - Visual/Music Art School, Music Conservatory of Mons. He also taught these subjects at the Universities of São Paulo and Campinas and at the Shanghai Conservatory.He is also member of The Royal Academies for Science and the Arts of Belgium since 2005.
List of principal works
Orchestra :Desert Song and Dance for String orchestra - 2025Noema for alto saxophone and chamber orchestra - 2019Shakuhachi Konzert for shakuhachi and orchestra - 2016A Butterfly's Dream for piano and orchestra - 2016Crossing Edges for erhu and orchestra - 2014Spazio dei Sospiri - 2011Les Levants de Tiwanaku - 2008De memoire et d'oubli - 2005Adagio for strings - 2005Frissons d'Ailes for violin and orchestra - 2004Le Cercle de Rangda for piano and orchestra - 1999Musique concertante pour l'embarquement de Cythere for clarinet, tuba, piano and orchestra - 1986Evanescence for large orchestra - 1985Chamber ensemble :LAPS Upgrade for amplified instruments and three laptops - 2015LAPS Init & PLS Ap Download for amplified instruments and three laptops - 2015A terra Sem Mal for amplified ensemble and electronics - 2011Sanaalijal for flute and ensemble - 2006Bell...s for piano and ensemble - 2004Punch for 13 players - 2002Chat experiment for 7 players and electronics - 1998Torrent for cello and ensemble - 1995Etude aux Levants de Tiahuanaco for 7 players - 1992Liaisons pour Synonymes for sax and 9 players - 1986Liaisons for oboe/ English horn and 9 players - 1985
Chamber Music :FujiDaiko Echo for Noh voice and string quartet - 2021Erotique-Lancinante for fl, cl, vl, cello and piano - 2018Heavy Funk for four hands piano - 2011Suoni delicati - Harp septet - 2010Mensagem Ao Mar for piano trio - 2009V... for violin and piano - 2008Las Lagrimas de un Angel - 3rd string quartet - 2008Canto a due for B♭ clarinet and cello - 2007Piano quintet - 2005Play Time - 2nd string quartet - 2004Kyoko's Dance for violin and piano - 2002Bribes for soprano, alto flute, cello, piano - 2000Les Ruptures d'Icare L - 1st string quartet - 1993Miroirs de la transparence for violin, trombone and piano - 1993Un ciel fait d'herbes II for clarinet, violin, cello and piano - 1990Et le reve s'en fut... for clarinet, violin, percussion and piano - 1982
Solo instrument :Entre-vagues for accordion - 2021Deux regards croisés for piano solo - 2020Japanese e-mails - 2015 /...Dance with Rihanna for piano solo - 2012Album to the Youth - piano pieces for young pianist - 2012Zap's INIT for electric guitar - 2008Vertical Study for piano - 2007O Loli's dream for 5 strings viola - 2006Courbes d'etoiles I-V for piano - 1996–2004Shinjuku's blues for piano and live electronics - 2003Dolphin tribute for bass clarinet and live electronics - 2002L'aimer for violin - 1995Le Songe trouble de l'orchidee for cello - 199412 Studies for cello - 1994Les Ephemerides ininterrompues for piano - 1984
Vocal music :FujiDaiko Echo for Noh voice and string quartet - 2021Tomoe for voice/biwa, Soprano, baryton, baroque ensemble - 20203 Itinérances for soprano, alto saxophone and piano - 2016/2020Eurydice Effacée for Japanese instruments, baroque instruments and tenor - 2014Notizen-Fragment I & II for voice and organ - 2013Passio secundum Lucam for soprano, mixed choir, organ and electronics - 2007Cri de blog for 5 singers - 2007Un ciel fait d'herbes I for alto, clarinet and piano - 1990Ricciolina'', chamber opera - 1985