The aim of this new topic is to celebrate a great composer
Maurice Jarre and at the same time introduce to you a very good friend of mine,
Jacques Hiver.
Jacques Hiver met Jarre for the first time when he was
14 years old and since that time he became a very good close friend of one of
the most French prolific and versatile film music composer.
Jacques is a playwright and a scriptwriter (plays for
the stage, documentaries for radio and TV since 1981). He has produced several
albums of Maurice Jarre. He is Knight of the Order of the Arts and Letters.
In 2005, he made some researches for a book which would
cover the complete discography (1954 to 2005) of Jarre. Many people brought
their friendly cooperation to this book (please refer to the list).The first
edition was released in May 2005 with the personal approval of the composer.
Jarre was so touched and impressed by Jacques’ work
that he thanked him by a very sensitive dedication. Because of the very high
cost of the book, only 10 issues were printed ! Bearing in mind that many fans
could not get the book, Jacques released a second edition in 2011 available on “blurb”
website (see the link) : “MAURICE JARRE - Discographie vinyle illustrée”. It
contains the covers of the LPs discography (1954 to 1991) he could find at the
time (covers and pictures in color and black & white : 116 pages) ! Of
course, Jacques does not pretend to have included all the covers and he is very
eager to get new ones.
Also, the book includes two unreleased interviews of Jarre
on his early years with Jean Vilar and the TNP (Théâtre National Populaire) and
his appointment as composer for “Lawrence of Arabia”. These interviews were first
written for an autobiography of the composer by Jacques Hiver with the help of
Christine Authier (Mars 2002). This book is only available in French but if you
are familiar with the works of the great legendary composer of “Lawrence of
Arabia” and “Doctor Zhivago”, you would not need any translater because the
text is very short and understandable easily. It is a great work and a friendly
tribute to the composer.
In addition to the above books, Jacques Hiver intends
to release two new books. The first will be a revised version of the above one
and the second will contain the complete musicography (theatre, concert works, movies
and television). Later, There will be a third book that will refer to the latest
issues such as CDs, laserdisc, DVD and Blu Ray.
With the friendly permission of Jacques, I have added
a text he wrote for the album “Maurice Jarre, Musiques inédites du cinéma
français” (Disques Cinémusique, 2011) in which he pointed out this great
admiration for his favorite composer and friend.
-----------------
I met Maurice Jarre for the first time in 1985. Steps
from Montmartre. Rue Camille Tahan in Paris. At Mr Leroy’s Home, the copyist of
Maurice Jarre’s orchestra sheets. I was 14 years old. Maurice ? He was 34. A
lucky coincidence since the son of Mr Leroy was a school friend. At this time,
I went regularly to the TNP (Théâtre National Populaire). And I very soon loved
his musical scores, which were so surprisingly atypical. Thanks to director
Jean Vilar and a group of brilliant young actors (Philippe Noiret, Maria
Casarès, Georges Wilson, Daniel Sorano, Jeanne Moreau…), lighting by Saveron
and colorful costumes by Gischia, this musical creation offered the idea and
perfect equation for an unmatched theatre at Chaillot Theatre (Paris) and
Avignon (South East of France).
Since then, I have never ceased following his music
with an undisguised fondness. Catching up with them riding the airwaves, or
finding them sleeping in the shelves of private and state archives. Systematically
buying them when engraved on vinyl grooves and later on compact discs. “Call me
Maurice !” he asked me when, too shy, I dared to call him only “Sir”. It was
1997 and I had to produce, with the friendly participation of Melly and Paul
Puaux (guardian angels of the “Memory Vilar” in the Maison Jean Vilar, Avignon)
and the courageous participation of the Milan Music publisher, his complete
works for the TNP. A second CD box “Les Grandes Heures du TNP”
would follow. Finally, an
American Label specialized in film music released his “Concert Works” after they
were – not so surprisingly – rejected in France. Then Maurice commented,
parodying the Yankee accent with humor and finesse : “It’s the so delicious exception culturelle française ! Ah, ah
!” We had a good laugh.
Today, as Maurice has gone to join David Lean and Jean
Vilar, some crazy music lovers – like Clément Fontaine and yours truly – to not
want to see falling into oblivion the first creations of one of the brightest
stars that ever existed in the film music constellation, in and outside
Hollywood. Rediscovering, thanks to Disques Cinémusique and Robert Lafond, the
world of this remarkable man, is walking around the ponds of Ville d’Avray with
hardy Kruger and Patricia Gozzi on a winter Sunday, in glorious black and
white. With, caressing our ears, the musical touch of Maurice Jarre. Poetic and
sublime.
Jacques Hiver, 2011.
-----------------
People that cooperate to
the book :
Maurice Jarre
Melly & Paul Puaux
(Association
pour une Fondation Jean Vilar)
Gilles
Devincre
(Bibliothèque
Nationale de France / Département de l’Audiovisuel)
Madame
Marie Adès
Eric
Farrant
Gilles
De La Fournière
Serge
et Danièle Champenier
Adilson
José De Aquino (São-Paulo)
Wolfgang
Jahn (Italian Soundtrack)
Tomomichi
(Tokyo)
Institut
Nationale de l’Audiovisuel
Prelight
Films
Jean-Michel
Mart
Thérèse
Le Prat
For those interested in Jarre’s works, please refer to
:
l Websites :
The
Book : « MAURICE JARRE - Discographie vinyle illustrée » :
Jaques Hiver
Websites :
l Music :
Maurice Jarre, Musiques inédites du cinéma
français” (Disques Cinémusique, 2011)
Maurice
Jarre: Concert Works (1951-1961)
Musiques de scène du T.
N. P. ((Théâtre
National Populaire).
Réf. Milan Music : 46831-2 (Coffret 3 CD). 46832-2 (Album simple).
