A French composer born August 20, 1937 in Faverolles.
An organist and harpsichordist by training, Jean-Louis Petit studied at the Rheims Conservatory, and later at the Paris Conservatory (class of Olivier Messiaen). He took advanced classes in conducting with Léon Barzin (Schola Cantorum) and also with Igor Markevitch and Pierre Boulez.
A conductor, he founded the Orchestre Jean-Louis Petit, appearing in many countries and taking part in the rediscovery of the repertory by recording many discs of baroque music. In Ville d’Avray, he directed the École Nationale de Musique and founded the Atelier Musique de Ville d’Avray (1974) with which he issued many commissions.
A prolific composer, he combines, within highly structured material, the melodic modes of Olivier Messiaen and the dodecaphonism of Arnold Schönberg. His works resonate with the most diverse sonorities within varied instrumental and/or vocal groupings: pieces for solo instrument (Mixture 9 rangs for flute, 1977; Dix pensées mêlées for organ, 2004), chamber music (Fragments 04 for ondes Martenot, piano and percussion, 1983), ensemble or orchestral works, at times for unconventional formations (L’âme jetée, ou La mort de soi for 9 horns, 1980; Fragments 06 for 60 guitars, 1990; Étoiles for orchestra, 2002), as well as several operas (Le petit prince, 1985) and oratorios (Te Deum, 2001).
