Sad news: Michel Legrand dies, at 86
mainThe French composer, best known for his song ‘The Windmills of Your Mind’ from the 1968 film The Thomas Crown Affair, has died in Paris.
He won his first Oscar for best original song in this film, followed by two more for Summer of ’42 (1971) and Yentl (1983).
The son of Raymond Legrand, a student of Gabriel Fauré who became a prolific film composer and wrote the soundtrack for Lacombe Lucien, Michel came to Hollywood’s attention in 1964 with the music for Jacques Demy’s film Les parapluies de Cherbourg.
He performed widely as a jazz pianist, attacked Boulez-driven modernism, took a keen interest in minimalism and recorded an album in his 80s with Natalie Dessay.
And a personal favourite:
==attacked Boulez-driven modernism,
Cue Mr Borstlap…
Exactly what I thought when I read it…
Michel Legrand…What’s not to love, basically?
A superb jazz pianist too, by all accounts.
Ah, what a shame. I love Legrand’s music. “What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life” – such a beautiful and touching song. R.I.P., maestro.
An aside: although Legrand had nothing to do with it except to supply the music, “The Thomas Crown Affair” is a terrible movie. Simply awful. Barely watchable. Stiff acting, zero chemistry between McQueen and Dunaway. And who the heck chose the laughable Noel Harrison to sing “Windmills Of Your Mind”? Surely not Legrand….
(I liked Jack Weston, though.)
Yeah, but oooh, that chess game they played !!!!
“From a hollow to a cavern ” is just so English. The great Frenchman.,Michel Legrand knew this that’s why he, the great composer that he is, knew that quintessentially Brit Noel Harrison would deliver. Ps it’s a great film…great connectivity with both both actors. Jack Weston too.
About his cd he made with Natalie Dessay, probably one of his last..
https://basiaconfuoco.com/2016/09/02/entre-elle-et-lui/
Did a live show with him for a week here in NY – thoroughly enjoyable!
The score of Les parapluies de Cherbourg was definitely his masterpiece.
OH that Chanson des Jumelles is SO good!
A life well lived. Vale Michel.
“The Summer Knows” (Summer of ’42) was always my favorite. I don’t think I ever saw the movie.
RIP
The music and songs of (my) youth. Love his music. RIP.
Somebody referred to him as: “une fontaine de musique”. He was exactly that: the music-all kinds of music-just flowed out of him. Rest in peace.
What a loss! One after the other great songs and themes: Summer of ‘42 (title theme music went along perfectly with the very beautiful and heartbreaking Jennifer O’Neill) I Will Wait For You, What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life (sung to perfection by Barbra Streisand) all the songs from Yentl especially the beautiful Papa Can You Hear Me? And The Way He Makes Me Feel. Windmills Of My Mind is lovely as well in how he repeats the rhythm of the opening phrase with different notes and harmonies. May he Rest In Peace and keep writing and playing beautiful music up in heaven.
Not the forget the recent Mikko Franck recording of his classical works, e.g. the Piano Concerto…
An authentic genius. I mourn his passing. Merci, Michel.
The Jessye Norman album of Michel Legrand songs is one of my guilty pleasures.
Check out Thomas Quasthoff singing “what are you doing the rest of your life”
RIP