Philippe Ménard

Ménard, Philippe

Ménard, Philippe. Composer, computer technician, teacher, b Trois-Pistoles, Que, 10 Sep 1946. After completing classical music studies at Laval University and the University of Paris VIII, he became involved with electroacoustic composition and computer innovation at the latter university, and also at the Groupe de recherches musicales, the Équipe de mathématique et d'automatique musicales, IRCAM, and, most importantly, the Groupe de recherche musicale de Bourges in which he participated (1974-6).

Defining himself as a multi-media creator, Ménard has composed acoustic instrumental scores as well as electroacoustic works such as multi-media events, performances, installations and commercials; he also does studio improvisations. His aesthetics is concerned with heterogeneous sources (vocal, instrumental, electronic, environmental). As computer technician, his research led him to develop in 1981 a light-operated instrument called Synchoros, that generates sound material and musical structures triggered by the movements of the body. This instrument was introduced officially in 1986 during the Printemps électroacoustique in Montreal.

Among Ménard's other achievements are sound tracks for Nouvelles Frontières and Vu du pôle at the Canadian Pavilion at Expo 86, and his collaborative work with Paul Saint-Jean and l'Écran Humain for the multi-media show Les Années lumières (1988). He was also responsible for the research and concept for the exhibition "From the cylinder to laser" at the Musée de la civilisation in Quebec City (1989), and he has written music for theater productions. In 1987, a recording of his Contes électroniques, composed with Serge Rustin, appeared on the Synchoros label (SCH-001). A founding member of ACREQ, he began teaching audiography at the department of communications of the UQAM in 1976.

Writings

Philippe Ménard, 'La Rentabilité de l'art: une histoire de "premier arrivé, dernier servi",' Possibles, Aug 1988

'Synchoros: towards an interactive and intelligent MIDI-based stage system,' Leonardo, Oct 1988