The French composer Jacques Boisgallais died last week at the age of 94 in Clarens (Switzerland). He was a student of Darius Milhaud and Jean Rivier and started composing in 1949. Musicologists have noted that at that time Albert Roussel, Igor Stravinsky and Bartók inspired him more than Debussy or Ravel.
He was also titular organist of the church Notre-Dame Auxiliatrice in Clichy (Hauts-de-Seine).
Winner of several major composition prizes, Jacques Boisgallais was appointed in 1957 as production-director at the French Radio. Throughout his radio career, Jacques Boisgallais never stopped composing. His Symphony No. 2 (Les Ombres), written in 1970, was premiered the following year by the Orchestre National de France, and earned him the Grand Prix musical de la Ville de Paris.
Jacques Boisgallais is the author of about fifty works for large orchestra, instrumental ensemble and chamber music.
