A Russian composer born April 5, 1929 in Tomsk (Russia) who died November 24, 1996 in Paris.
A pianist by training, Edison Denisov studied both mathematics and music at Tomsk in Siberia. He obtained a doctorate in mathematics and then, in 1952, entered the Moscow Conservatory in the classes of Vissarion Shebalin, Nikolaï Rakov, Viktor Zuckerman and Vladimir Belov. In 1959 he taught the analysis of musical forms, orchestration and later composition at the same conservatory. His path was marked by encounters: Luigi Nono in 1962, Pierre Boulez in Moscow then at Ircam, Gyorgy Ligeti in Hamburg and Henri Dutilleux, in France, in 1976. Edison Denisov directed the Moscow Association of Contemporary Music and became a corresponding member of the fine-arts academies of Bavaria and of Berlin. The style of Edison Denisov is refined, meticulous, both romantic and melancholic. Intemporal ideas of beauty, of good and of light constantly recur throughout his output. He created a style rich in chromatic textures and in micro-polyphonies, with subtle voice leading and tone-colours in a controlled dramaturgy. He freely uses pre-existent techniques and procedures, inserts quotations and writes variations and orchestrations of more classical composers (Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert). He is also inspired by visual artists and writers such as Paul Klee, Boris Birger, Pablo Picasso, Boris Vian, Georges Bataille and Alexander Pushkin. He has collaborated with Yuri Liubimov for the development of stage productions in Russia and has written much film and incidental music. His works include: Le soleil des Incas (1964), Peinture (1970), Concerto for flute and orchestra (1975), Concerto for violin and orchestra (1977), Requiem (1980), L’écume des jours (1981), Au plus haut des Cieux (1987).
