Jean-Claude Risset

Jean-Claude Raoul Olivier Risset (; 13 March 1938 – 21 November 2016) was a French composer, best known for his pioneering contributions to computer music. He was a former student of André Jolivet and former co-worker of Max Mathews at Bell Labs.

Biography Risset was born in Le Puy-en-Velay, France. Arriving at Bell Labs, New Jersey in 1964, he used Max Mathews' MUSIC IV software to digitally recreate the sounds of brass instruments. He made digital recordings of trumpets and studied their timbral composition using "pitch-synchronous" spectrum analysis tools, revealing that the amplitude and frequency of the harmonics (more correctly, partials) of these instruments would differ depending on frequency, duration and amplitude. He is also credited with performing the first experiments on a range of synthesis techniques including FM synthesis and waveshaping. Risset was the head of the Computer Department at IRCAM (1975–1979). At MIT Media Labs, he composed the first Duet for one pianist (1989). For his work in computer music and his 70 compositions, he received the first Golden Nica (Ars Electronica Prize, 1987), the Giga-Hertz Grand Prize 2009, and the highest French awards in both music (Grand Prix National de la Musique, 1990) and science (Gold Medal, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 1999). and in art (René Dumesnil Prize from the French Academy of Fine Arts, 2011).

Risset died in Marseille on 21 November 2016.

Selected works Vocal music Dérives, for choir and magnetic tape (1985) 15' Inharmonique, for soprano and tape (1977) 15'

Orchestral music Escalas, for large orchestra (2001) 17' Mirages, for 16 musicians and tape (1978) 24'

Chamber music Profils, for 7 instruments and tape (1983) 18' Mutations II for ensemble and electronics (1973) 17'

Solo music Trois études en duo, for pianist (bidirectional MIDI piano with computer interaction) (1991) 10' Huit esquisses en duo, for pianist (bidirectional MIDI piano with computer interaction) (1989) 17' Voilements, for saxophone and tape (1987) 14' Passages for flute and tape (1982) 14' Variants for violin and digital processing (1995) 8'

Music for solo tape Invisible Irène (1995) 12' Sud (1985) 24' Songes (1979) 10' Trois mouvements newtoniens, for tape (1978) 13' Mutations (1969) 10' Computer Suite from Little Boy (1968) 13'