A French composer born June 3, 1952 in Salon-de-Provence who died November 9, 2022.
A violinist by training, Robert Pascal studied mathematics in Paris, obtained a DEA then taught in preparatory classes for high schools, while pursuing his own musical apprenticeship. In addition to the violin, harmony and counterpoint and analysis, he studied conducting with Jean Giardino and practised choral singing. At the Lyons Conservatory he followed the teaching of Raffi Ourgandjian for composition and that of Yvette Grimaud for ethnomusicology. His music bears the imprint of both musicians. When his studies were completed he taught twentieth century music analysis and then composition at the Lyons Conservatory. At the Grame, a ‘national centre for musical creation’, he composed mixed works with real-time transformation. Collaborating closely with performers, Robert Pascal is interested in pedagogical music, as well as medieval and Renaissance music. He has used figures from Roland de Lassus (Au plus profond d’un étrange rêve éveillé, 1989), Marin Marais (Chant d’aubes, 1991), Belà Bartòk (Prisme, 1986) and a Franco-Flemish polyphonic chanson of the Renaissance (Third Quartet “Mille regretz”, 1998). His works also include Atmen (1987), Or (1995), Instants élémentaires (2006), and D’a souffle ardent (2010).
