Bio
American composer PIERRE JALBERT has been recognized for his richly colored and superbly crafted scores and “music of fierce and delicate inventiveness [with] kaleidoscope of moods and effects.”(Cleveland Plain Dealer) Painting vibrant and picturesque sonic portraits for the listener, he has developed a musical language that is engaging, expressive, and deeply personal. Among his many honors are the Rome Prize, BBC Masterprize, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s Stoeger Award, given biennially “in recognition of significant contributions to the chamber music repertory,” and an award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
Jalbert’s work has drawn inspiration from a variety of sources ranging from plainchant melodies to natural phenomena, and his French-Canadian heritage, hearing English folk songs and Catholic liturgical music growing up. He has earned a reputation for his mastery of color, in both his chamber and orchestral scores, creating timbres that are vivid yet refined and tonally centered, combining modal, tonal, and dissonant sonorities as it travels new and unusual paths, while retaining a sense of harmonic motion culminating in a completed journey.
His music has been commissioned and performed worldwide, including the St. Paul and Los Angeles Chamber orchestras, the American Composers Orchestra, and the Symphonies of Houston, Vermont, Albany, Budapest, London, Boston and Milwaukee, the National Symphony, Cabrillo and Eastern Festival Orchestras. He received two Meet the Composer grants, including one for its “Magnum Opus Project.” Jalbert served as Composer-in-Residence with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, California Symphony and Chicago’s Music in the Loft.
Hailed as “an acknowledged chamber-music master” by The New Yorker, his chamber music has been performed by Midori, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Emerson, Escher, Ying, Borromeo, and Chiara String Quartets, Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, Music from Copland House, and at the Caramoor Festival. Recent and upcoming are his third commission for the Arizona Friends of Chamber Music, with co-commissioners La Jolla Summerfest, and Chamber Music Society of Fort Worth; a violin concerto for a consortium of the Los Angeles and St. Paul Chamber Orchestras and Milwaukee Symphony; a new work for the Colorado Springs Philharmonic; and a new work for the Cincinnati Symphony.
Jalbert’s orchestral work In Aeternam, which has been performed internationally by the Seattle and London Symphony Orchestras among others, garnered the highly prestigious BBC Masterprize. His discography features recordings by David Finckel and Wu Han, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Ying Quartet, the Pro Arte Quartet and most recently, a disc of his chamber music with the Music from Copland House ensemble. His recordings can be heard on the ArtistLed, Cedille, Albany, New Dynamic, Gasparo, Helicon, Summit Records labels, and most recently an album of his chamber music by the Music from Copland House ensemble on its label Copland House Blend.
Born in Manchester, NH into a family with roots in Quebec, Jalbert grew up in northern Vermont. At age 5, he began piano lessons and immersed himself in the classical repertoire. Following undergraduate studies in piano and composition at Oberlin Conservatory, Jalbert earned a PhD in Composition at the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied with George Crumb. Jalbert is Professor of Composition and Theory at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music in Houston, where he has taught since 1996, and currently serves as Co-Artistic Director of Musiqa, a locally based contemporary chamber ensemble. His music is published by Schott Helicon Music Corporation (BMI), New York. http://www.schott-music.com/
Hailed for his music of “considerable elegance… breathtaking beauty, lyricism and intricacy” (San Francisco Chronicle), composer PIERRE JALBERT’ is highly acclaimed for his richly colored, superbly crafted scores and intense, expressive musical language. His French-Canadian heritage has been highly influential in his work, having heard French and English folk songs and Catholic liturgical music growing up, and gaining a deep respect for music which communicates powerfully with an economy of means. His music has been performed worldwide by the London, Budapest, Boston, Houston, Seattle, Colorado, Vermont, and National Symphonies; the Cabrillo, Eastern Music Festival, and American Composers Orchestras; the Borromeo, Emerson, Chiara, Enso, Jasper, Escher, and Ying Quartets; Music from Copland House ensemble; Arizona Friends of Chamber Music; Los Angeles and St. Paul Chamber Orchestras; Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble; cellist David Finckel; violinist Midori; and countless others. His many honors include the BBC Masterprize, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s Stoeger Award, given biennially “in recognition of significant contributions to the chamber music repertory,” two Copland House Residency Awards, Rome Prize, and Academy Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He was Composer-in-Residence with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and California Symphony, and is Professor of Composition and Theory at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. His music is published by Schott Helicon Music Corporation (BMI).
Press
Quotes About Pierre Jalbert
“Sublime music and performance – incredible chemistry with Pierre Jalbert and Music from Copland House.”
“[Secret Alchemy is] a good place to start to become familiar with Jalbert’s fine music…played expertly and the sound is to perfection.”
“Jalbert’s Toccata provides a suitably brilliant finish – flashy, rhythmic, and a sure-fire crowd pleaser. “
“…music of fierce and delicate inventiveness… a kaleidoscope of moods and effects, with a final movement [String Quartet] whose gravely beautiful opening chords lead to tragic pleadings.”
Jalbert’s score (The Invention of the Saxophone) is sublime, with virtuosi turns for the saxophone. It’s a colorful work that pulsates with dramatic exclamations from the saxophone and comforting support from the piano. He redefines the instrument as a powerful voice in classical music, with superbly controlled phrases that don’t wander into jazz’s improvisational waters.
“Pierre Jalbert’s In Aeternam was the most poignant work on the program…and the most beautiful. The work often is dreamy in a melancholy way, sometimes austere, never maudlin and quiet.
“Jalbert is an inspired composer. Everything he writes sounds inevitable.”
“a sprawling, dramatic work [big sky] rippling with colors… As for showing off the orchestra, it did that exceptionally, giving each section (most notably the percussion) a thorough workout.”
“an acknowledged chamber-music master.”
“By turns haunting and menacing in the early going, the Violin Concerto became an absorbing meditation…the orchestra summoning up dark drama…the first movement exploded into a climactic cadenza before Copes articulated a compelling longing atop vaporous, whispering strings…evocative orchestration.”
“rhapsodic, transparent and skillfully written”
“Jalbert is an inspired composer. Everything he writes sounds inevitable.”
“Pierre Jalbert’s “In Aeternam” (Forever) was the most poignant work on the program. And the most beautiful. The work often is dreamy in a melancholy way, sometimes austere, never maudlin and quiet.”
“The American composer Pierre Jalbert writes music of considerable elegance… breathtaking beauty, lyricism and intricacy… he creates a distinctive sound world without turning its back on traditional formal strategies — which is part of what makes the music so alluring.”
Articles About Pierre Jalbert
Fanfare magazine reviewed Pierre Jalbert’s latest Album String Theory and hailed it as “thrilling, enjoyable music. The works for string orchestra are some of the best ones here—string ensembles, keep these in mind for programming!”
Pierre Jalbert’s new violin concerto performed by Margaret Batjer and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and conductor Jeffrey Kahane just released on BIS.
Network for New Music premiered Jalbert’s Light, Line, Shadow at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The Philadelphia Inquirer said it “strikes a smart balance: Specific references are there to be found, but he does nothing to shackle the listener’s imagination…. his piece spoke quite well for itself,” calling the last movement “serious and crushingly beautiful…it sums up a journey, but sends you on your way with something — a mood, the intimation perhaps of something lurking beyond those trees — that you didn’t have on your way there.”
Composer Pierre Jalbert’s Light, Line, Shadow sat down to talk to WRTI about his upcoming premiere at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Written for Network for New Music and written in response to Edward Hopper’s oil painting, Road and Trees, it explores a range of moods and emotions, using flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, doublebass, and percussion.
Philadelphia’s Network for New Music will give the world premiere of award-winning composer, Pierre Jalbert’s Light, Line, Shadow, on July 22d at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The work was created in response to Edward Hopper’s iconic Road and Trees.
Pierre Jalbert’s new two-movement concerto for violin and orchestra received a premiere by soloist Frank Almond and co-commissioner Milwaukee Symphony. The Milwaukee Shepherd called the music “sophisticated and episodic, constantly exploring delicately layered textures. Mysterious, shimmering sounds were intricately orchestrated,” saying “Jalbert writes in a way that flatters the solo violin, with unusual tremolos and trills, building in a pleasing natural balance between soloist and orchestra.”
Pierre Jalbert’s new violin concerto gets its Los Angeles premiere with the LA Chamber Orchestra and soloist Margaret Batjer, March 17 & 18.
Andreas Delfs leads the Milwaukee Symphony in the Midwest premiere of Pierre Jalbert’s Violin Concerto with soloist Frank Almond February 16 & 17 .
Photos
Photos by Richard Bowditch. Please contact us for hi-res versions for press, promotion, and concert use.
Media
Pierre Jalbert Secret Alchemy: IV. With Great Energy – Music from Copland House
Music from Copland House performs the fourth movement from Pierre Jalbert's "Secret Alchemy" for violin, viola, cello, and piano on their album "Secret Alchemy: Chamber Works by Pierre Jalbert." Curtis Macomber, violin; Danielle Farina, viola; Alexis Pia Gerlach, cello; and Michael Boriskin, piano.
Music from Copland House – Pierre Jalbert’s “Crossings” at Univ of Louisville
Music from Copland House performs Pierre Jalbert's "Crossings" at the University of Louisville, March 22, 2015. Linda Chesis, flute; Derek Bermel, clarinet; Harumi Rhodes, violin; Alexis Pia Gerlach, cello; Michael Boriskin, piano
Pierre Jalbert Sonata for Cello and Piano World Premiere
David Finckel (cello) and Wu Han (piano) give the world premiere of Pierre Jalbert's Sonata for Cello and Piano live at the Aspen Music Festival, June 25, 2008.
Video produced by Medici.tv.
Pierre Jalbert – Piano Trio No. 1 – Mvt. I – Music from Copland House
Pierre Jalbert's Piano Trio No. 1, Mvt. I "Life Cycle" performed/recorded by Music from Copland House on their disc of chamber works by the composer "Secret Alchemy." Curtis Macomber, violin; Wilhelmina Smith, cello; and Michael Boriskin, piano.
Pierre Jalbert – Visual Abstract III. Dance
The third movement of Pierre Jalbert's Visual Abstract - a film collaboration with Jean Detheux. Music recorded by the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, conducted by Kevin Noe.
Pierre Jalbert’s “Icefield Sonnets” mvt 3 performed by Enso String Quartet
The Enso String Quartet perform Pierre Jalbert's "Icefield Sonnets" for string quartet, III. North is a Notion, recorded at the DiMenna Center, NYC.
Discography
Capping an exhilarating, 15-year association, this release features four stunning works by Pierre Jalbert, “an acknowledged chamber-music master” (The New Yorker) – three in their World Premiere recordings, including a Copland House commission – in performances by the internationally-acclaimed Music from Copland House ensemble.
Pierre Jalbert's Howl for clarinet and string quartet appears on the Pro Arte Quartet's Centennial Commissions: Volume II disc, celebrating the quartet's 100th anniversary.
Pierre Jalbert's Chamber Symphony is paired with Beethoven on this 40th Anniversary disc of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Jeffrey Kahane.
Unique sound worlds through the voice of the remarkable Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble. Pierre Jalbert's Visual Abstract appears on this disc, which is a perfect marriage between technical brilliance and soulful expression.
Pierre Jalbert's Sonata for cello and piano appears on this disc of duos commissioned and performed by David Finckel & Wu Han.
The third volume of the Ying Quartet's LifeMusic series features works newly commissioned from a variety of American composers, including Pierre Jalbert's Icefield Sonnets.
Composers in the Loft, an album from Chicago's acclaimed Music in the Loft series, which showcases chamber music's stars of tomorrow, includes Pierre Jalbert's mysterious Trio for violin, cello, and piano.
The Western Brass Quintet's album For Then & Now features Pierre Jalbert's Brass Quintet and other new works, solidifying their commitment to commissioning and promoting the composition of significant works for the brass quintet.
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