Allain Gaussin was born in Saint Sever (Normandy, France) in 1943. He stopped his studies of mathematics and physics when he was 20 years old to start musical studies. In October 1966, he continued at the "Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique" in Paris, where he studied composition with Olivier Messiaen. There, he won the first prizes in music writing and analysis, and the composition prize. He also studied piano (with Helene Boschi), choir conducting, conducting (with Louis Fourestier), electoacoustics (at the GRM in 1974 and 1975) and music technology (IRCAM in 1984).

1981-1992: he taught composition and orchestration at the Schola-Cantorum (Paris)
Summers 1986 and 1988: he gave conferences and courses of composition in Darmstadt (Germany)
December 1994: conferences at the University of Osaka (Japan)
1998 and 2001: composition seminars at the CNSM in Lyon and Paris
May 2003: conferences in Tokyo and Kyoto Universities
2003 - 2004: he taught composition at the CNSM in Paris
Currently Allain Gaussin teaches composition and orchestration at the Conservatoire of Sevran (93) and at the American Academy in Fontainebleau, He also takes part to the research group on rhythm at IRCAM.
July 2006: senior lecturer in orchestration at the University of Osaka (3rd cycle).


Prizes and residences:
- 1977-1979 : "Academie de France" in Roma (Villa Medicis, Italy)
- 1983 and 1989 : SACEM prizes
- 1985 : DAAD in Berlin (Germany - International Academy of the Arts)
- 1986 : Prize-winner of the "Fondation de France" for his work "Arcane"
- 1991 : sponsorship of Beaumarchais Foundation and in 1992 of the Orcofi Association
- 1994 : Villa Kujoyama in Kyoto (Japan)
- 1995 : "Grand Prix du disque" of the Academy Charles CROS for his CD with "Irisation-Rituel", "Camaïeux" and "Arcane" (Salabert / Harmonia Mundi)
- 1998 : ICONS prize of composition in Torino (Italy) for his work "Mosaïque Céleste"


Ivanka STOIANOVA talks about his music :

"One is strongly attracted to the vital force of his music and the driving energy of sound's movement spreading ever further in a three dimensional space-time unit which cannot be separated into the parameters of formal conventions derived from serial music. The impact of this music seems unavoidable : it has a direct effect on the body, on the expectant sensitivity ; it has a "compelling drive" that explores "the intimate space of the body" linked by its multiple aspects to the "infinite space of the universe". "


Discography :

- Eclipse, Ogive (transcription for flute and clavecin), Eau-Forte (MFA collection, Arpege-Calliope 1983)

- Chakra by Arditti String Quartet (MFA, Disques Montaigne / Auvidis 1991)

- Irisation-Rituel, Camaïeux, Arcane (Salabert / Harmonia Mundi 1995)

- Ogive (transcription for flute and piano) by Triton II ensemble (REM 1996)

- Ogive (transcription for flute and harpsichord) by Triton II ensemble (MFA for the XXth anniversary of the CDMC 1997)

- La chevelure de Berenice by Ivan Bellocq (Galun Records, 2005)


Bibliography :

- Daniel Colonnello : "Entretien avec Allain Gaussin", Roma 1979
- Marc Vignal : "Larousse de la Musique", Paris 1982
- Ivanka Stoïanova : "Klangliche Irisierungen" ein porträt des französischen Komponisten Allain Gaussin, in MusikTexte 16, Köln 1986
- Jean-Noël von der Weid : "La Musique du XXe siècle", Hachette, Paris 1992 and 1997
- Michel Thion : "La Musique Contemporaine en France", AFAA, Paris 1994
- Ivanka Stoïanova : dictionnaire de la musique "Grove", 1999


Principal works :

o SOLO

"Les VOIX de la MÉMOIRE" (1985) for solo voice (Salabert)
"ARIANE" (1987) for cello and tape (2 tracks) (Heugel)
"ARCANE" (1988) for piano (Ricordi, Paris)
"SATORI" (1998) for clarinet (Leduc)
"JARDIN ZEN" (1999) for clarinet and tape (2 pistes) (Leduc)

o CHAMBER MUSIC

"COLOSSEO" (1978) for six percussions (Salabert)
"EAU-FORTE" (1982) for flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano (Leduc)
"CAMAÏEUX" (1983) for electronic ensemble (3 synthesizers, elect. guitar) perc and tape (Salabert)
"CHAKRA" (1984) for string quartet (Salabert)
"OGIVE" (1987) for 12 strings and harpsichord, or for flute and piano, or flute and harpsichord (Ricordi, Paris)
"MOSAÏQUE CÉLESTE" (1997) chamber concerto 11 instruments (Leduc)

o ORCHESTRA

"ECLIPSE" (1979) for 2 pianos and 16 instruments (Ricordi, Paris)
"IRISATION-RITUEL" (1980) for soprano, flute, and orchestra (Salabert)
"ANNEES-LUMIÈRE" (1992-93) for orchestra (Salabert)



Poetry :

TRANSES ET LUMIERE (1976) - prefaced by Olivier Messiaen (unpublished)
L'ATTENTE... L'ABSOLU (2004) Collection Hasta siempre (D'écarts, Paris)