Today's Music News - 01 April 2009

Jean Michel Jarre tribute

After Maurice Jarre's death his son discusses the Dr Zhivago composer's legacy

01 April 2009 - Electronic musician and performer Jean Michel Jarre has paid tribute to his late father Maurice Jarre.

Aged 84, Maurice won Oscars for his evocative scores of Lawrence Of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago and A Passage To India.

Born in Lyon in 1924, the composer died in Los Angeles last weekend (Sunday 29 March) 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.

"I'm quite moved by starting this world tour and carrying and conveying and spreading his name all around the planet."
Jean Michel Jarre

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.

Adding: "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."

Georgie Rogers
 01 April 2009