Édith Canat de Chizy facts for kids

Edith Canat de Chizy (born March 26, 1950) is a talented French composer. She was born in Lyon and now lives in Paris. She made history by becoming the first female composer to be chosen as a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts, which is a very important group for arts in France.

Life and Career

Edith Canat de Chizy grew up in Lyon. She studied many subjects at the Sorbonne University, including art, history, and philosophy. At the same time, she also studied music at the Paris Conservatoire. Her teachers included famous composers like Maurice Ohana and Ivo Malec. She learned a lot about harmony, counterpoint, and how to arrange music for orchestras. She also explored electronic music. Edith plays the violin and has written many pieces for string instruments.

After finishing her studies, Edith became a music teacher. She even directed a music school in Paris called the Erik Satie conservatory until 2006. After that, she joined the Regional Conservatory of Paris (CRR de Paris). There, she teaches other people how to compose music. In 2005, she was elected to the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris. This is a big honor for artists and musicians.

Many of Edith's musical pieces are "state commissions." This means the French government or big music groups ask her to write new music for them. She has written for famous groups like the French Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and the national orchestras in Paris and Lyon. Her music is published by Editions Henry Lemoine.

Honours and Awards

Edith Canat de Chizy has received many awards for her amazing music. Here are some of them:

• SACEM Great Symphonic Prize (2004)
• Tribune Internationale des Compositeurs Prize (1990)
• SACEM Hervé Dugardin prize (1987)
• Georges Enesco prize (1990)
• Paul-Louis Weiller prize (1992)
• SACD “Jeune talent musique” Prize (1998)
• Exceptional distinction, Prince Pierre de Monaco competition (1999)
• Chevalier des Arts et Lettres (1994)
• Nominated at the Victoires de la Musique (2000)
• Prix du Président de la République (2016), which is a special award for her lifetime achievements in music.

Works

Edith Canat de Chizy has composed a wide variety of music. She writes for different groups of instruments and voices.

Orchestral Works

These are pieces written for a full orchestra, which includes many different instruments.

• Yell (1985)
• Siloël (for string orchestra, 1992)
• Exultet (a violin concerto, meaning a piece for violin and orchestra, 1995)
• Moïra (a cello concerto, 1998)
• Drift (a clarinet concerto, 2013)

Works for Large Ensemble

These pieces are for a smaller group of musicians than a full orchestra, but still a good number.

• Luceat (for 10 violins, 1985)
• La Maison du Miroir (for string ensemble, 2007)

Chamber Music

Chamber music is written for a small group of instruments, usually one player per part.

• Sextuor à cordes (for 6 string instruments, 1982)
• Hallel (for a string trio, 1991)
• Vivere (for a string quartet, 2001)
• Proche invisible (String Quartet no. 3, 2010)

Works for Solo Instrument

These are pieces written for just one instrument.

• Tlaloc (for solo percussion, 1984)
• Mobiles immobiles (for piano, 1997)
• Formes du vent (for cello, 2003)
• En mille éclats (for violin, 2009)

Vocal Works

These pieces involve singers, sometimes with instruments or an orchestra.

• Llama (for a choir, 1986)
• Messe de l'Ascension (for soprano, choir, and ensemble, 1996)
• Exil (for 6 solo voices and 6 cellos, 2000)
• To Gather Paradise (for a choir without instruments, 2001)
• La Chanson des orphelins (for children's choir, 2005)
• A song of joys (for mixed choir and orchestra, 2008)