A French composer born February 2, 1925 in Verzy who died July 28, 1996.
After his mathematical studies were interrupted during World War II, Michel Philippot entered the Paris Conservatory and studied composition with René Leibowitz (1946-1950).
Seeking to solve a musical problem with the help of existent or invented mathematical models, he developed a contrapuntal style as well as a procedure of thematic variation based on continuous transformation. Rejecting literary titles and cultivating purely instrumental genres, he composed symphonic pieces (Composition pour double orchestre, 1960; Carrés magiques, 1983), concertante works (Concerto for violin, viola and orchestra, 1984), works for chamber orchestra (Pièce pour 10 instruments, 1961; Passacaille for 12 instruments, 1973; Contrapunctus X for 10 instruments, 1994), string quartet or solo instruments (Sonata for piano, 1947) and some musique concrète (Etude de musique concrète n° 1, 1951).
In parallel with composition Philippot led a career with Radio France. He was, notably, a sound engineer, an assistant of Pierre Schaeffer at the GRM, deputy to Henri Barraud in the direction of France Culture, scientific adviser to the director of the ORTF then of the president of Ina, taking charge himself of the organisation and the direction of advanced training for sound control professions.
The founder of the music department of the University of Sao Paulo (1976), Philippot was also a teacher of musicology and of æsthetics at the universities of Paris-I and Paris-IV, as well as a composition teacher at the Paris Conservatory where he had as pupils notably Denis Cohen, Philippe Manoury and Nicolas Bacri.
