Frederick Rousseau

Frederick Rousseau (born 1958 in Paris) is a New Age instrumentalist. His musical research is based on electronic sounds that he mixes with ethnic instruments, classical orchestras, and vocals.

Career After a classical training in piano, Rousseau tried multiple instruments (including bass guitar, drums, electric guitar, and percussions) and finally chose the keyboards.

After completing his studies in electronics, he was hired by the Defense Nationale in 1978 to work on the final tests of the neutronic head, the detonator for the French atomic bomb. After two years of this work, he quit.

In 1980, he met Francis Mandin, a young electronic music fan, who convinced him to become a partner in Music Land, a music store in Paris and a laboratory for future electronic instruments.

In 1981, after working on the finalization of the first polyphonic sequencer (MDB Polysequencer), he met Jean Michel Jarre, who was looking for a musical programmer capable of manipulating this instrument for his China tour that would be seen by 60,000 people. The result was not immediately liked by Dreyfus Records. dedicated to trees, then Abyss (1996), a concept that Rousseau refers to as "non music," an experience realised with neurologists specialised in musicotherapy. In 1997, he released Woods, an electro-wood fusion with voices from forest people and tribal rhythms.

In 1997, Rousseau rejoined Vangelis in Athens for the opening ceremony of the world championship of athletics.

Meanwhile, Rousseau composed the soundtracks for 40 ethnozoological documentary films and released in 1999 the collection of five albums Terres de Légendes.

Vangelis' project Mythodea initiated in 1993, was finally completed in 2001. Rousseau coordinated the electro-orchestral show starring Jessye Norman and Kathleen Battle and performed by the London Metropolitan Orchestra, directed by Blake Neely. This music was chosen by NASA for the 2001 mission "Mars Odyssey."

In 2002, Rousseau released Travels a musical Travelog, and in 2003, Recall an exclusive release by Nature et Découvertes.

2004 was marked by Oliver Stone's Alexander in which Vangelis composed the soundtrack and Rousseau participated as editor. This project lasted over a year.

In 2005, Rousseau signed with Milan-Universal and came out with a new album, Tears.

Since 2008, Frederick has worked as Head of Industrial Relations for IRCAM, the French music institute.

In March 2017, he released the album Edge of Silence which contains a tribute to Vangelis, MR V.

This was rapidly followed in May by the ambient album I.S.S. (Intimate Sound Scapes), also on the Spinnup label.

Compositions

Albums

Music Land (with Jean-Philippe Rykiel) Promo single for the Music instrument shop FR2 (with Francis Rimbert) - April Orchestra vol 48 Earth - April orchestra vol 61 Overview - Koka Media Illustrator series (1990–1992) Mö (1994) Spirit in the Woods (1995) Abyss (1996) Woods (1997) Terres de Légendes series (1999–2000) Travels (2002) Recall (2003) Tears (2005) Edge of Silence (2017) I.S.S. (Intimate Sound Scapes) (2017) Conversation With Aliens (2025)

Compilations

Harmonia (1997) World Voices (1998) Buddha Bar III - IV - V (2000–2004) Private Lounge (2002) Asian I & II (2000–2002)

Collaborations Jean-Michel Jarre Les Chants Magnetiques (1980) China Concert Tour (1981) Concerts en Chine (live album 1982) Musique pour supermarché / Music for supermarket (One copy only LP 1983) Zoolook (1984) Le Défense concert (1990) Vangelis Blade Runner (film by Ridley Scott 1983) Friends of Mr Cairo (1984) Themes (1990) Oceanic (1998) La Peste (film by Luis Puenzo 1991) Rotterdam concert (1992) 1492, Conquest of Paradise (film by Ridley Scott 1992) 1492, (album 1992) Opening Show IAFF (1997) Mythodea (Concert with Jessye Norman 2001) Alexander (film by Oliver Stone 2004) Blade Runner Trilogy (album 2007) El Greco (album 2007) Paris May 1968 (album 2008) Eric Levi Operation Cornet de Beef Les Visiteurs I les Visiteurs II Les Anges Gardien La vengeance d'une blonde Les Filles du Botaniste