Jarre pays tribute to late father - 1 April 2009

By Georgie Rogers-  1 April 2009

Jean Michel Jarre embarks on his In-Doors World Arena Tour in May

Electronic musician and performer Jean Michel Jarre has paid tribute to his late father, Maurice Jarre.
 
Jarre, 84, won Oscars for his evocative scores of Lawrence Of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago and A Passage To India.
The celebrated composer died in Los Angeles last weekend after a long battle with cancer.

"I think his legacy is to have been amongst those who really revolutionised the modern soundtracks world," said Jean Michel.

The pioneer of synthesised music told BBC 6 Music: "The specificity of his work and his talent was to create such strong moods and melodies attached to movies forever.

"You can listen to three notes of the soundtrack of Lawrence Of Arabia or Dr Zhivago and it's a very strong reminder of the whole movie."

Recognised particularly for his work on the David Lean epics, Maurice Jarre received an Oscar, six Academy Award nominations, two Bafta Awards, four Golden Globes and a Grammy throughout his career.

He last appeared in public in February, when he was awarded a lifetime award at the Berlin Film Festival.

His other credits include film scores for Ghost and Dead Poets Society

 Jean-Michel explained why his father's soundtracks were so different to those made today.

"It's quite unusual in the soundtrack world, apparently these days, where you have more of a tracklisting of songs but not the exploitation of a theme all through the movie, in a rather hypnotic way.

"He was amongst those who really revolutionised the modern soundtracks world," he said.

Jean Michel believes his In-Doors World Arena Tour, which kicks off in May, is an opportunity to keep the memory of his father alive.

He added: "I must say that I'm quite moved by starting this world tour and carrying and conveying and spreading his name all around the planet, in the next few days and weeks, so it's kind of a continuity."

news.bbc.co.uk