François de Roubaix
Lesson 1 of the French Cultural Education Series
François de Roubaix is probably one of my favourite composers and a first rate musical genius of the 20th century. Famous for his soundtrack compositions to such films as Le Vieux Fusil or La Scoumone, his music often incorporates diverse instrumentation with completely addictive melodies. He was one of the first to use early electronic sounds and the variation on themes owes much to de Roubaix’s early love of jazz. A self-taught musician, de Roubaix’s curiosity led his drawing from a wide range of musical styles. He’s known not only for his melodic prowess, but also for fusing mind-boggling genres in a three pop minute song, such as the theme to Dernier Domicile Connu which features Las Incas, a pan pipe Peruvian duo.
Unfortunately he died quite early from a diving accident in the Canary Islands, and was awarded a posthumous Cesar that year for his work. De Roubaix continues to influence a new young generation of french musicians, and his influence can be felt in Sebastien Tellier (the most interesting French musician at work right now) and Air’s work.
Here he sets the music to kid’s show Chapi Chapo, another endearing French institution. I not only love the Chapi Chapo characters and their adventures, I think de Roubaix’s music does an excellent job complementing the feel of the animation. I highly recommend watching L’homme Orchestre just for the rehearsal scene which surely is one the most sinfully pleasurable pairings of music and dance in film.
