Works
- Music Video
- Albums
- Opera
- Film Music, Multimedia, Electronic Music
- Ensemble
- Chamber Music
- Solo Instrument
- Dance & Music
- Software
Music Video
Agnus Dei, with François Villon's Ballade des pendus, an excerpt from the Missa brevis Abbaye de Thélème
Albums
Missa brevis Abbaye de Thélème (2023, New Flore Music)
with singer Anika Kildegaard
A musical mass and an ode to tolerance in the footsteps of François Rabelais
Jamshid Jam (2022, New Flore Music)
Setār & live electronics, with Ramin Roshandel
Electroclarinet (2018, New Flore Music) Clarinets & live electronics
Opera
Grant Wood in Paris (2018)
Opera in one act, 35'
Commissioned by the Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre
A vision of Grant Wood's life centered around his years in Paris
Première: Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, April 12-13-14, 2019
Film Music, Multimedia, and Electronic Music
The Hunchback of Notre-Dame (1923 movie by Wallace Worsley, starring Lon Chaney) (2023)
Film music, 100’
Commissioned by FilmScene
Co-composed with Nicolas Sidoroff
Première: live concert with the movie, with the composers and Nathan Platte, Creighton Gaynor, Steve Grismore, Joseph Norman, and Ramin Roshandel, FilmScene, Iowa City, Iowa, November 1, 2023
Kino-Pravda No. 5 & No. 6 (1922 newsreels by Dziga Vertov) (2021)
Film music scored for basset-horn, trumpet, live electronics, modular synthesizer, and objects, 15’
Co-composed with Krystian Sarrau and Nicolas Sidoroff
Première: live concert with the movie, Logelloù Artistic Center, Penvénan, France, July 30, 2021
Online: Kino-Pravda No. 5 & 6, Dziga Vertov
A Méliès Voyage (2020)
Film music scored for flute, violin, cello, and guitar, 14’
Co-composed with Nicolas Sidoroff
Commissioned by Red Cedar Chamber Music
Film music with boniments composed and written for a suite of four movies: Le Rosier Miraculeux / Wonderful Rose Tree (Méliès, 1904), Bouquet d’illusions / Triple Headed Lady (Méliès, 1901), Spiritisme abracadabrant / Up-to-date Spiritualism (Méliès, 1900), and Flammes diaboliques / Wonderful Flames (de Chomón, 1907)
Ceramix (2018)
Interactive electronic music & video installation, in collaboration with ceramist Andrew Casto
Première: National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts Conference, Pittsburgh, March 14-17 2018
Live Geometry (2017-2018)
Durational performance, in collaboration with Visual Artist Daniel Fine, Ceramist Andrew Casto, and Engineer Stephen Baek
Première: University of Iowa, April 20, 2018
Underground Echoes (2017)
Live electronics, 1 hour performance
Première: Jean-François Charles, Rieti (Italy), July 2017
The Eleventh Year (1928 movie by Dziga Vertov) (2015-2016)
Film music, 52’
Co-composed, recorded, and produced with Nicolas Sidoroff, Clélia Bobichon, Guillaume Hamet, Krystian Sarrau, and Sébastien Sauvage
A shared collective creation
Metallum (2015)
Interactive installation
A large Swiss cow bell with sonic reactions to visitor’s touch
The Man With the Movie Camera (1929 movie by Dziga Vertov) (2008)
Film music scored for Jazz Orchestra, co-composed with Nicolas Sidoroff, 70’
A poignant soundtrack for an extraordinary movie
Première: live concert with the movie, Dudley House Big Band conducted by Jean-François Charles, sound projection by Nicolas Sidoroff, Harvard University, Paine Hall, April 27, 2008
Plane Mix (2008)
Film music & Video remix, 1'
Bleu 2 (2007)
Electronic music, 8’
Première: Harvard University, Hydra Concert, December 14, 2007
Stay in tune (2006)
Interactive musical game on computer
Première: Harvard University, Dance Center, January 13 & 14, 2006
Dérives (2004)
Soundtrack to Dérives, a short film by Sophie de Quatrebarbes, Élise Launay and Adeline Meilliez, 4'
Première: International Festival Musica, Strasbourg, September 29, 2004
Ensemble
Music From Airports (2018)
Ensemble & data-driven live electronics, 11'
Homage to Brian Eno, created in collaboration with Digital Media Artist Daniel Fine and the Carol Trio
Première: University of Iowa, May 4, 2018
Guitar School (2017)
Guitar ensemble & live electronics, with guitar solo, 9'30
Play with friends, or students play with their teacher!
Première: Steve Gilmore with the Laptop Orchestra at the University of Iowa, May 6, 2017
Modiolus (2016)
For children choir, saxophone & accordion
Commissioned by Ensemble Sillages
Première: Improbable Orchestr'A, Stéphane Sordet & Céline Rivoal, Brest, May 29, 2016
Viola palustris (2009)
Concerto for an improviser and 14 instruments, 7’
A Third Stream composition
Première: Alan Lenarcic, tenor saxophone, and Alea III ensemble conducted by Theodore Antoniou, Tsai Performance Center, Boston, MA, March 23, 2009
Re-creation of Rhapsody in Blue (2009)
Re-creation of Duke Ellington’s 1932 arrangement of Rhapsody in Blue
Reconstruction of missing parts and performance in collaboration with scholar and pianist Ryan Bañagale
Helianthus gryllus (2003)
Crickets, percussion, two violins, two violas, two cellos, double bass, and live electronics, 8’
Première: crickets, students of the Strasbourg Conservatory conducted by Jean-François Charles, Strasbourg, February 11, 2003
Helianthus tipula (2001)
Two trumpets, trombone, percussion, two violins, two violas, two cellos, and double bass, 8’
Première: students of the Strasbourg Conservatory conducted by Jean-François Charles, Strasbourg, Musée d’art moderne et contemporain, May 19, 2001
Helianthus musca (1999)
Flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, french horn, trumpet, trombone, marimba, percussion, two violins, two violas, two cellos, and double bass, 8’
Première: Orchestre lyrique de région Avignon-Provence conducted by Sylvio Gualda, Villeneuve-lez-Avignon (France), Chartreuse, Centre Acanthes with Helmut Lachenmann, July 22, 1999
Sonatine pour des enfants (1997)
Four instrumental groups, 12’
Graphical notation & open instrumentation
Première: Big Band de l’Insa de Lyon & Maurice Merle, conducted by Jean-François Charles, Lyon, Hot Club, April 10, 1997
De l'ombre à la lumière (1997)
Jazz Big Band, 15’
Première: Big Band de l’Insa de Lyon & Maurice Merle, conducted by Jean-François Charles, Lyon, Hot Club, April 10, 1997
New Flore (1994)
Clarinet, trumpet, string quartet, double bass, 6'
Première: Jean-François Charles, Nicolas Sidoroff, Nancy Michel, Cécile Arnal, Xavier Rafaitin, Jean-Yves Gratius, and Claire Lugand, Un Doua de Jazz Festival, Villeurbanne, February 15, 1994
Initiation Blues (1994)
Clarinet, trumpet, string quartet, double bass, 6'
Première: Jean-François Charles, Nicolas Sidoroff, Nancy Michel, Cécile Arnal, Xavier Rafaitin, Jean-Yves Gratius, and Claire Lugand, Un Doua de Jazz Festival, Villeurbanne, February 15, 1994
Chamber Music
Mer de glace (2022)
Bass clarinet & ice, 6'
Première: Jean-François Charles & Dan Moore, Voxman Music Building, University of Iowa, August 9, 2022
Voltaic (2022)
Viola d'amore & live electronics, 8'
Première: Marco Fusi & Jean-François Charles, Voxman Music Building, University of Iowa, April 18, 2022
Buy score
L'écho des armaillis (2021)
Alphorn & live electronics, 8'
When the armailli plays the alphorn, rock faces and fir trees answer with echoes of different characters
Première: Katy Ambrose & Jean-François Charles, Voxman Music Building, University of Iowa, December 8, 2021
Jamshid Jam (2019)
Setar & live electronics, 7'
Co-created with Ramin Roshandel
Première: Ramin Roshandel & Jean-François Charles, Voxman Music Building, University of Iowa, December 14, 2019
Aeris (2019)
Cymbal & live electronics, 5'
Where bronze meets air
Première: Jean-François Charles & Physicist Frederick Skiff, Voxman Music Building, University of Iowa, October 27, 2019
Petrasonic (2019)
Double bass & percussion
Geological initiation
Première: Volkan Orhon & Dan Moore, with Geologist Ryan Clark and Thin Section Technician Matthew Wortel, visual media designed by Will Borich, Voxman Music Building, University of Iowa, October 27, 2019
Flip the Page (2018)
Song for tenor & piano, from the opera Grant Wood in Paris
Grant Wood meets the Spotted Man in Paris
Première: Benjamin Kawsky, Cedar Rapids History Center, October 25, 2018
Nattie's Air, or Air de Nattie (2018)
Soprano, bass clarinet & optional improvised live electronics, from the opera Grant Wood in Paris, 8'30
Grant Wood's mother & sister talk to their son & brother
Première: Ensemble Accroche Note, Strasbourg, June 28, 2018
Buy score
Aqua ignis (2017-2018)
Double-bass, percussion, and live electronics
Time flows, from water to fire
Première: Volkan Orhon & Dan Moore, with Scientific Glassblower Benjamin Revis, Voxman Music Building, University of Iowa, April 2018
Gentiana (2017-2018)
Trumpet, percussion, guitar, violin, cello, with live electronics, 14'
Commissioned by the Nebula Ensemble
The alpine flowering plants used to produce herbal medicine or distilled beverages will take you from Esprit to Vertige to Racines.
Première: Nebula Ensemble, Denver, June 22, 2018
Crystals (2017)
Reed trio & live electronics, 8’
With dialogs ranging from nervous to mysterious, from hesitant to delicate.
Première: Courtney Miller, Jorge Montilla Moreno, and Benjamin Coelho, International Double Reed Conference, Lawrence University (WI), June 24, 2017
Scratch (2016-2017)
Melodic instrument & live electronics, 8’
Homage to Grand Master Flash & Karlheinz Stockhausen
Scratch for bassoon & live electronics: Benjamin Coelho & Jean-François Charles, 34th Presidential Lecture by Gregory Carmichael, University of Iowa, February 19, 2017
Scratch for flute & live electronics: Margaret Lancaster & Jean-François Charles, NIME conference, Copenhagen, May 16, 2017
Scratch for flute & live electronics, alternate version: Gergely Ittzés, The Lilypad, Cambridge, May 2, 2017
Viostris (2016)
Alto saxophone, accordion, ad lib. percussion, viola, and cello
Commissioned by Ensemble Sillages
Première: Stéphane Sordet, Céline Rivoal, Gilles Deliège, Ingrid Schoenlaub, Henri-Pierre Deroux and Improbable Orchestr'A, Brest, May 29, 2016
Passage (2015-2016)
Percussion & live electronics, 6’
Commissioned by Ensemble Sillages
Première: Maxime Échardour & Jean-François Charles, Electrocution Festival, Brest, April 2, 2016
Rotonde (2015)
Piano & live electronics, 7’
Première: Éric Guérin & Jean-François Charles, Villeurbanne (France), November 20, 2015
Relative (2013)
Mezzo-soprano, tenor, and live electronics, 6’
Première: Axelle Saint-Cirel & Théophile Clerc, Montbéliard (France), 2013
Electro Jazz Dance (2012)
Clarinet, trumpet, saxophone trio, drums, electronic music, and live electronics, 7’
Première: Tao Saxophone Quartet, Nicolas Sidoroff, and Jean-François Charles, Besançon (France), November 29, 2012
Benedictus (2011)
Soprano voice, solo instrument, and electronic music, 6’
Lyrics from the Roman Sanctus and Charles Baudelaire's L'examen de Minuit
Première: Isabelle Jost & Jean-Marc Larché (soprano saxophone), Montbéliard (France), 2011
Acquainted with the night (2010)
Voice, basset-horn, and live electronics, 4’30
After Robert Frost’s poem
Première: Michael Barrett & Jean-François Charles, Dudley House, Cambridge, MA, 2010
Lapalu (2009)
Viola & live electronics, 7’
Première: Garth Knox & Jean-François Charles, Cambridge, MA, February 14, 2009
Bagict (2008)
Clarinet & saxophone, 12’
For creative performers!
Première: Yuji Noguchi & Vincent Daoud, Bienne (Switzerland), August 15, 2008
Buy score
Play-Along 1, 2, 3 (2008)
Two clarinets, 3 '
Play with a friend!
Première: Petra Stump & Heinz-Peter Linshalm, Vienna (Austria), June 13, 2008
Recorded on Petra Stump & Heinz-Peter Linshalm's album ShortCuts
Buy score
Bleu 3 (2007)
Clarinet, violin, cello and piano, 8’
A Messiaen quartet inspired by Juan Miró's triptych Bleu I, II, III
Première: Rane Moore, Gabriela Diaz, Benjamin Schwartz, and Yoko Hagino, conducted by Eric Hewitt, Harvard University, Paine Hall, February 9, 2008
Carlina acaulis (2006-2007)
Contrabass clarinet & string quartet, 9’
Première: Jean-François Charles, Gabriela Diaz, Emily Westell, Sarah Darling, and Benjamin Schwartz, conducted by Eric Hewitt, Harvard University, Paine Hall, April 28, 2007
Risorius (2006)
Six voices (SMzATBarB), 6’
Laughter is a serious matter
Première: Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart, Harvard University, Paine Hall, 2010
Zygomatic (2005)
Voice & live electronics, 10’
You need the muscle to perform the work!
Première: Isabelle Jost & Jean-François Charles, Montbéliard (France), June 17, 2005
Passage libre (2005)
Drums & live electronics, 7’
Première: Étienne Demange & Jean-François Charles, Besançon (France), June 9, 2005
Birds (2005)
Bass clarinet, saxophone quartet with bird calls, drums and live electronics, 8’
Première: Tao Saxophone Quintet, Daniele Segre Amar, and Jean-François Charles, Besançon (France), June 9, 2005
Aqua (2004)
Solo double bass, clarinet, aquaphone, and live electronics, 15’
Première: Giulio Rubino, Jean-François Charles, Joël Lorcerie, with Véronique Ngo Sach-Hien, stage assistant, Florence (Italy), French Cultural Institute, December 10, 2004
Magma (2003)
Contrabass clarinet, stones, and live electronics, 10’
Commissioned by Ensemble Accroche Note
Première: Ensemble Accroche Note: Armand Angster, Jean-Daniel Hégé, and Jean-François Charles, Dresden, "17. Dresdner Tage der zeitgenössischen Musik" festival, October 5, 2003
Plex (2003)
Solo instrument & live electronics, 6’
Plex for basset horn: Jean-François Charles & Hans Tutschku, Weimar, "16. Tage neuer Musik" festival, October 16, 2003
Plex for alto saxophone: Philippe Gilbert & Jean-François Charles, Lyon, Théâtre des Jeunes Années, Arfi night "Le souffle continue", May 6, 2004
Plex for violin: Hillary Zipper & Jean-François Charles, Harvard University, Dance Center, January 14, 2006
Tilia (2000)
Flute, violin, and cello, 8’
Première: Olivier Class, Olgu Kizilay, and Veronika Gnezdilova, conducted by Jean-François Charles, Strasbourg, May 9, 2001
Nigritella nigra (1998)
Clarinet & string quartet, 8’
Première: Didier Breuque, Delphine Avcioglu, Marc Aidignan, Michel Tiertant, and Alain Avcioglu, conducted by Sylvio Gualda, Villeneuve-lez-Avignon (France), Chartreuse, Centre Acanthes with Sofia Gubaidulina, July 26, 1998
Solo Instrument
Montagne Pelée (2024)
Baritone saxophone
Echo of the catastrophic 1902 eruption of Mount Pelée
Legit (2021)
Trombone & live electronics
Homage to Juan Tizol
Tristis est anima mea (2020)
Contralto clarinet & live electronics
Homage to Carlo Gesualdo
Ecce vidimus eum (2020)
Contralto clarinet solo
Llull (2020)
Tuba, 5'30"
A virtuosic homage to Ramon Llull
Première: David Mercedes, University of Iowa, Voxman Building, September 27, 2020
Buy score
In monte Oliveti (2019-20)
Contralto clarinet & live electronics
Homage to Carlo Gesualdo
Première: Elektronik Musik Fest, Butler University, January 26, 2020
Petrified (2019-20)
Version for baritone saxophone & live electronics, 12'
Première: Stéphane Sordet's youtube channel, May 4, 2020
Buy score & Max patch
Petrified (2019-20)
Version for contrabass clarinet or bass clarinet & live electronics, 12'
Première: T.B.A.
Petrified (2019/2022)
Version for cello & live electronics, 12'
Première: Craig Hultgren, Iowa Composers Forum Summer Festival, Decorah, Iowa, June 4, 2022
Buy score & Max patch
Petrified (2019)
Double bass & live electronics, 12'
A reflection on the plastic nature of stones and rocks
Première: Will Yager, Voxman Music Building, Iowa City, April 19, 2019
Buy score & Max patch
Masse pétrie (2019)
Cello & Sampo (live electronics), 11'
Commissioned by Musinfo
Première: Marie Ythier, Journées Art & Science, Saint-Étienne, May 17, 2019
Absalon Crash (2018)
Cymbal & live electronics, 6'
Homage to Søren Absalon Larsen
Première: Jean-François Charles, Virginia Tech, NIME Conference, June 3, 2018
Electroclarinet 4 (2017)
Eb clarinet & live electronics, 5'
Homage to Olivier Messiaen
Première: Jean-François Charles & Andrew Bentley, Iowa City, Voxman Recital Hall, December 1, 2017
Recorded on Jean-François Charles's album Electroclarinet
Electroclarinet 6 (2014)
Bass clarinet & live electronics, 12’
Première: Jean-François Charles, Helsinki (Finland), MuTeFest’14, November 17, 2014
Recorded on Jean-François Charles's album Electroclarinet
Electroclarinet 5 (2014)
A clarinet & live electronics, 8’
Homage to Igor Stravinsky
Première: Jean-François Charles, Brest (France), June 21, 2014
Recorded on Jean-François Charles's album Electroclarinet
Buy score & Max patch
Electroclarinet 3 (2011)
Basset horn & live electronics, 7’
Homage to Carl Maria von Weber
Première: Jean-François Charles, Montbéliard (France), Hôtel de Sponeck, February 17, 2011
Recorded on Jean-François Charles's album Electroclarinet
Electroclarinet 2 (2009)
Contrabass clarinet & live electronics, 7’
Homage to Claude Debussy
Première: Jean-François Charles, Harvard University, Hydra Concert, December 10, 2009
Recorded on Jean-François Charles's album Electroclarinet
Electroclarinet 1 (2009)
Clarinet & live electronics, 7’, 2009
Première: Jean-François Charles, Shanghai Electroacoustic Music Festival, October 20, 2009
Recorded on Jean-François Charles's album Electroclarinet
Live Saturation (2008)
Flute & electronic music, 5’
In collaboration with Cambridge-based poet Ruth Lepson around her poem Saturation
Première: Mario Caroli, Harvard University, Paine Hall, May 24, 2008
Buy score & fixed media
Lina (2006)
Contrabass clarinet, 3'15"
A wild and colorful solo, an ideal encore!
Première: Jean-François Charles, Boston, Bayridge Residence and Cultural Center, February 24, 2007
Recorded on Jean-François Charles's album Electroclarinet
Buy score
Aqua solo (2004/2008)
Double bass, 6’30
Première: Alex Tarbert, Harvard University, Paine Hall, April 26, 2009
L’herbe qui chante (2003)
Crickets & live electronics, 5’
Première: crickets & Jean-François Charles, Montbéliard (France), Le Palot, June 5, 2003
Dance & Music
Cage Lingers (2019)
Tenor sax & analog synth, electric guitar, live electronics, 18'
Created with Joseph Norman and Jonathan Wilson as part of (dis)APPEAR(d)ances, a collaborative piece with Choreographer Jennifer Kayle and Digital Media Designer Daniel Fine.
Inspired by and infused with John Cage, Igor Stravinsky, Claude Debussy, and Duke Ellington
Première: Dance Gala In Motion, Hancher Auditorium, Iowa City, November 15 & 16, 2019
Volumes of Worlds (2017)
In collaboration with Choreographer George De La Peña
Première: 50th anniversary of the International Writing Program, Laptop Orchestra at the University of Iowa, October 11, 2017
Cœur brisé - In memoriam M.J. (2010)
Dancing clarinetist, electronic music, and electric guitar, 6’
Première: Jean-François Charles & Jonathan Buonocore, Harvard University, Arts First Dance Festival, 2010
PPP - Puppet, Perpetuum mobile, Pipo (2007/2009)
Three études for dancing clarinetist, 6’
Première: Jean-François Charles, Harvard University, Lowell Hall, Arts First Dance Festival, May 2, 2009
Ballade (2008)
Dancing clarinetist, 4’
In the tradition of works for solo dancing clarinetist
Première: Jean-François Charles, Harvard University, Dance Center, May 7, 2008
Rêver (2004)
Dancing clarinetist & singing dancer, 7’
Choreography Jean-François Charles & Alice Gervais-Ragu
Homage to Johann Sebastian Bach
Première: Jean-François Charles & Alice Gervais-Ragu, Bouxwiller (France), October 29, 2004
Délicat (2004)
Dance & live electronics, 6’
Première: Alice Gervais-Ragu & Jean-François Charles, Villeurbanne (France), March 1, 2004
Wu jú sè (2002)
Clarinet, percussion, double bass, and dance, 11’
Choreography Jean-François Charles
An orange dance
Première: Ensemble New Flore: Jean-François Charles, Édith Le Rôle, Franck Cottet-Dumoulin, and Alice Gervais-Ragu, Strasbourg, ARES, March 1, 2002
Software
Spectral Freeze Pro (2020)
Max for live device
Use as a live audio freeze plugin or to create ambient sonic landscapes
Buy Spectral Freeze Pro Max for Live Device
Spectral Stretch (2020)
Max for live device
A faux, but live, Paulstretch
Buy Spectral Stretch Max for Live Device
Shepard Risset Synth (2020)
Max for live device
Play Shepard Tones & Risset Glissandi
Buy Shepard Risset Synth Max for Live Device
Sonic Print (2020)
Max for live device
Timbre Classification with Live Training
Buy Sonic Print Max for Live Device
