A French composer born August 20, 1957 in Paris.
Jean-René Combes-Damiens studied musicology at the University of Paris-Sorbonne as well as the piano at the École Normale de Musique in Paris. He trained in composition with Patrice Sciortino at the European Music Conservatory of Paris, as well as by virtue of significant encounters with Antoine Tisné and Henri Dutilleux.
Combes-Damiens borrows the poetry and texts of various writers such as Samuel Beckett, Michel Leiris, David Niemann, Lucien Guérinel and Fabrice Catelain. He composes for all kinds of groups: Ofara for clarinet quintet, first performed by the Ensemble de Clarinettes de Mâcon (1989); Aldabara for nine percussionists, first performance by the Percussions de Treffort (1991); Selon Thomas for female chorus, premiered by the Résonance Contemporaine choir (1991); Dédicace for orchestra, premiered at the Salle Pleyel by the Chorus and Orchestra of the Grandes Écoles (1992); Saisir une ombre for bassoon, first performance by Franck Leblois in Prague (1993); Voyage for violin and double bass, premiered by Françoise Perrin and Pierre Feyler (1993); Antomaur for baritone and eight cellos, first performance at the Cello Festival of Beauvais (1994); Fissures for soprano and piano, premiered by Elisabeth Grard and Nathalie Negro (1996); Qui es-tu que je ne saurais devenir… for soprano, ondes Martenot and guitar, first performance by the Trio 3D (2006); Ces jours si longs… for voice, flute and percussion, first performance by Ivane Bellocq and Anja Thomas (2008); Comme l’écho d’un silence divin, Gregorian suite for soprano, cantor and instrumental ensemble (2013).
Jean-René Combes-Damiens also teaches music and composes pedagogical pieces, including La rose du vent (1992), as well as the music for a show inspired by the story of Peter Pan (2013).