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Hugues Leclair |
 Biography |
François-Hughes Leclair’s geographical journey began in Montreal on June 5, 1962, continued through Paris (1963-64), Montreal (1964-69), Ottawa (1969-71), Bordeaux (1971-73), Ottawa (1973-78), Quebec City (1978-85), Montreal (1985-87), the Magdalen Islands (1987-90), Strasbourg (1990-94), Paris (1994-98) and Quebec City (1998-…) : changes of continents / changes of perspectives / changes of spaces / changes of histories / changes of human densities…
His education followed the same route : Laval University, University of Montreal, Conservatoire National de Strasbourg, Institut européen de chant choral, Conservatoire National de La Courneuve (Île-de-France). Holder of diplomas in musical analysis, counterpoint and orchestration, he has also studied harmony, choir conducting, singing, piano and composition. Also a Bachelor of Physics, he is currently completing a doctorate in composition at the University of Montreal under Michel Longtin.
He began working professionally as a composer in Strasbourg and later in Paris, thanks to several commissions for various instrumental and vocal ensembles which were performed at thematic concerts, festivals, multimedia exhibitions, recitals, etc.Several of these works are featured on a compact disc (Strasbourg – Paris – Bretagne / 1990-98).
The Quebecois component of his inspiration is apparent in many of his titles : Rêves nordiques, Aurores boréales, Des Confins du Monde, Solstice d’hiver. Literary influences are another feature of his work : poetry (Marie Uguay : Saisons intérieures, Tout s’ouvre sur la mer / Amarrez les maisons; Anne Hébert : Le jour n’a d’égal que la nuit / Amour, Éveil au seuil d’une fontaine; Étienne de La Boétie : Hélas combien de jours…, J’auray la souvenance; Paul Verlaine : Pluie; Robert Desnos : J’ai tant rêvé de toi ; Rainer Maria Rilke : Élégie de Duino ; prose (Christian Bobin : Lettres d’or) ; tales (Inuit oral tradition : Rêves nordiques).
Since 1998, he has been pursuing his composing and teaching career in Quebec City and Montreal, with the same objective as always : to give performers and listeners landmarks which will allow them to enter his imaginary world, through works which do not get rid of music’s main expressive driving forces.
Freedom, balance, self-possession, generosity are his vital means of expression, among others… He was one of the participants in a CBC radio concert featuring musics inspired by Amerindian cultures, which will be released in the Fall of 2001 as a book-recording (Rêves nordiques). The eponymous work is frequently performed in France where it has been published by Notissimo and will be recorded by In / Out, a Lyon-based ensemble. His latest orchestral works, Lettre d’or I and Amour, were performed in the Fall 2000, by the Orchestre symphonique de Laval and the Orchestre symphonique de Trois-Rivières respectively, in the latter case during the Festival de poésie de Trois-Rivières.
March 2001
