A French composer, teacher and conductor born February 18, 1960.
A guitarist by training, and a pupil of Alberto Ponce, Philippe Démier studied at the Paris Conservatory, notably in the classes of Marius Constant, Michel Merlet and Claude Ballif.
He has composed for all genres: chamber music (Passage for viola and piano, 2001), ensemble (La tristesse d’Echo for 8 guitars, 1990), orchestra and children’s opera (Peter Pan, 2003). He has found inspiration in the arts and sciences (Fibonacci sequence, the number pi, the constellations…) and has a particular interest in the voice and in text. He has explored notably the poetry of Shakespeare (Sweet silent thought for soprano and guitar, 2005), Baudelaire (Le chat for soprano and guitar, 2006) and Robert Desnos (Cœur en bouche for mezzo-soprano and piano, 2011).
He has turned his investigations towards improvisation (the cycle Esquisses-Improvisations), the experience of listening, and inner music that is thought and sung silently by the performer (Le chœur des voix intérieures for flute, saxophone and bassoon, 1999; Erysichton for organ, 2001). He also works on the space and depth of sound (Au seuil du rencontre for clarinet quartet, 1993; Dans la nuit for mixed chorus and piano, 2014; Chemins de traverse III for piano and electronics, 2015).
Also an agrégé of music and holder of a DEA diploma in ‘Arts, philosophy and æsthetics’, Philippe Démier teaches harmony and counterpoint at the University of Paris 8.
