Maurice Le Roux

Maurice Le Roux was born on 6 February 1923 in Paris (France). He came from an influential family of bankers and politicians, but was interested in music from an early age. His first compositions were written at the age of seven. From 1944 Maurice Le Roux studied at the Paris Conservatory under Yves Nat (piano), Louis Fourestier (conducting) and Olivier Messiaen (composition). He also studied composition privately with Rene Leibowitz who introduced him to the twelve-tone technique.

After his studies Maurice Le Roux first worked both as a composer and conductor. As a composer he worked for example with Pierre Schaeffer at the studio for Musique Concrete at the French Radio. But Maurice Le Roux soon focused on conducting and became one of the most important French conductors of his time. He conducted notable performances of operas by Monteverdi, Mozart or Mussorgsky and championed contemporary composers like Schönberg, Varese, or Xenakis. For example Maurice Le Roux conducted the French premiere of Messiaen's "Reveil des oiseaux" and the world premiere recording of the Turangalila-Symphony.

From 1960 to 1968 Maurice Le Roux was director of the Orchestre National de l'ORTF followed by the position of artistic consultant at the Opera de Paris from 1969 to 1973. He then became music representative of the French ministry of culture (1973-1988) and finally artistic consultant of Radio France (1987-1990).

Maurice Le Roux died on 19 October 1992 in Avignon (France).

Due to the fact that Maurice Le Roux quite early focused on conducting there are only few compositions by him. Most of these works date from 1945 to 1955, there are only a handful of compositions from later years. His works include chamber music like a piano sonata, "Cahier d'invention" for piano or "Trois visages" for flute, trumpet and piano, works for larger ensembles like "Deux mimes" for orchestra, the orchestral suite "Accord imparfait" or the late "Un Koan" for orchestra as well as vocal music like "Trois Psaumes de Patrice de La Tour du Pin" for chorus a cappella or "L'Oiseleur" for voice and piano.

2 pieces dodecaphoniques

In my possession is the autograph manuscript of the composition "2 pieces dodecaphoniques, pour piano" by Maurice Le Roux. The work consists of two small piano pieces titled "I. piece pour novembre" and "II. piece pour avril". The pieces are dated at the end: The first piece "24. X. 45" and the second one "17. II. 46".

The work is registered at SACEM, but remained unpublished over the years. With the kind permission of the family of Maurice Le Roux I am allowed to publish the score here for the first time: