A French composer born March 17, 1944 in Paris.
A pianist and oboist, Isabelle Fraisse studied music theory and composition with Michel Philippot. She approached composition through the analysis of all kinds of works, both classical and contemporary, with individual and solitary work, considering the works as her veritable masters. She also took part in the summer schools of Darmstadt and the Centre Acanthes, following the seminars led by Luciano Berio and Franco Donatoni.
Fraisse takes time for reflection, choosing all the component elements (notes, silence, dynamics, modes of play…) to produce works of extreme concentration in which every gesture is supported by an essential necessity. Imbued with both philosophy and poetry, her music oscillates between gravity and joy. She readily incorporates quotations, symbolic references and reminiscences of music that has enriched her, notably that of Bach and Beethoven. Fraisse has written mainly chamber music. Works include Schiste for eight strings, first performed by the Ensemble Forum conducted by Mark Foster at the Musée d'Art Moderne of Saint Étienne (1991); Marben, duet for violin and trombone, first performed by Maryvonne Le Dizès and Benny Sluchin at the Musée d’Art Moderne of Paris (1995); Double Duo for oboe, horn, harp and cello, commissioned by Radio France and first performed by soloists of the Orchestre Philharmonique at the Maison de Radio France (1996); Quatuor avec basson, in memoriam Z., commissioned by the French State and premiered by the Ensemble Fa at the Théâtre de Corbeil-Essonnes (2000); Ici jaillit le creux du ciel, first string quartet, commissioned by Radio France for the programme Alla breve, first performed by the Quatuor Ysaÿe (2002); String Quartet n° 3, Da dämmert eine stille Freude mir, commissioned by the String Quartet Festival of the Pays de Fayence, first performed by the Quatuor Ysaÿe (2008); Un rêve de F.H., a cycle of five pieces for three male voices a cappella, commissioned by Radio France for Alla Breve, first performed by Paul-Antoine Bénos, Kaelig Boché and Guilhem Worms (2016); Trois Moqueries sur une valse de Diabelli, first performed by Yumeto Suenaga at the festival Les Nuits Oxygène à Paris (2016); Quartet n° 5 ‘A la Fresnaye’, for mezzo-soprano, countertenor and string quartet, first performed by Brenda Poupard, Paul-Antoine Benos and the Yako Quartet at the Mozart Festival of Loire-Layon (2019).