It’s the 1er July that the Ottawa-born musician will turn 80. It has flowed under the bridges since the publication of his first LP in 1964. Having first made himself known as a pianist, François Dompierre has gone down in history above all as a composer of film music, for directors like Denys Arcand, Francis Mankiewicz, Jean Beaudin, Léa Pool and Claude Fournier, in addition to collaborations with many popular singers such as Félix Leclerc, Renée Claude, Louise Forestier, Monique Leyrac and Pauline Julien.
The music appearing on the disc, which we would gladly classify today in the “neoclassical” category (English speakers speak more judiciously ofeasy listening), is of a simplicity that is only apparent. Because Dompierre has earned all his chevrons in “scholarly” music, having studied writing and composition at the Montreal Conservatory with Françoise Aubut and Clermont Pépin. Some of his works have been taken up by Deutsche Grammophon or as compulsory pieces during competitions.
The influences are diverse: romanticism, impressionism, jazz, folklore… The pianist appears there as a chameleon capable of molding himself to each of the styles with an always personal language.
Recorded at Domaine Forget, the album, entirely pianistic (some pieces are arrangements), sometimes takes advantage of the composer in a two-piano formula. Moviegoers will recognize pieces from the Decline of the American Empireof Augustine’s Passion and of Alice Tremblay’s Odyssey. Lovers of Quebec songs will also get their money’s worth. Other pieces testify to friendships with the composer Gilles Tremblay or the violinist Angèle Dubeau.
A contrasting album, testifying to a flawless melodic and harmonic inspiration, which can be listened to with a smile on your face.
Classical music
Tribute to Francois Dompierre
Louise Bessette
Atma