Michel Legrand

{{Infobox person

| name = Michel Legrand

| image = Michel Legrand Cabourg 2015.jpg

| image_size = 230px

| caption = Legrand in 2015 at the Cabourg Film Festival

| birth_name = Michel Jean Legrand

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1932|02|24|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Paris, France

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2019|01|26|1932|02|24|df=yes}}

| death_place = Neuilly-sur-Seine, France

| years_active = 1946–2019

| occupation = Film score composer
Jazz pianist

}}

Michel Jean Legrand ({{IPA|fr|miʃɛl ləɡʁɑ̃}}; 24 February 1932 – 26 January 2019) was a French musical composer, arranger, conductor, jazz pianist,{{Cite news |date=26 January 2019 |title=Oscar-crowned French composer Michel Legrand dies at 86 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/oscar-crowned-french-composer-michel-legrand-dies-at-86/article26098965.ece |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509141155/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/oscar-crowned-french-composer-michel-legrand-dies-at-86/article26098965.ece |archive-date=2023-05-09 |access-date=26 January 2019 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X |agency=Reuters}} and singer. Legrand was a prolific composer, having written over 200 film and television scores, in addition to many songs.{{cite news|last=Chinen|first=Nate|title=Music in Review; Michel Legrand|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F00E7D91331F933A25750C0A9619C8B63&ref=michellegrand|access-date=9 December 2011|newspaper=The New York Times|date=10 March 2007}} His scores for two of the films of French New Wave director Jacques Demy, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) and The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967), earned Legrand his first Academy Award nominations. Legrand won his first Oscar for the song "The Windmills of Your Mind" from The Thomas Crown Affair (1968),{{cite web|title=Michel Legrand|url=http://www.songwritershalloffame.org/exhibits/C143|publisher=Songwriters Hall of Fame|access-date=9 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120613013704/http://songwritershalloffame.org/exhibits/C143|archive-date=13 June 2012|url-status=dead}} and additional Oscars for Summer of '42 (1971) and Barbra Streisand's Yentl (1983).

Life and career

Legrand was born in Paris{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-47013214|title=Windmills of Your Mind writer Legrand dies|date=26 January 2019|website=Bbc.com}} to his father, Raymond Legrand, who was himself a conductor and composer,{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-people-legrand-idUSKCN1PK0C1|title=Oscar-crowned French composer Michel Legrand dies at 86|date=26 January 2019|website=Reuters.com}} and his mother, Marcelle Der-Mikaëlian, who was the sister of conductor Jacques Hélian.{{Cite journal|url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2019/0126/1025729-tributes-to-michel-legrand-mark-the-composers-passing/|title=Tributes to Michel Legrand mark the composer's passing|date=26 January 2019|website=Rte.ie}} Raymond and Marcelle were married in 1929. His maternal grandfather was Armenian.{{cite web|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/oscar-winning-umbrellas-of-cherbourg-composer-legrand-dies-1.4270292|title=Oscar-winning 'Umbrellas of Cherbourg' composer Legrand dies|website=Ctvnews.ca|date=26 January 2019}}

Legrand composed more than two hundred film and television scores.{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/oscar-winning-composer-michel-legrand-dies-aged-86/a-47244724|title=Oscar-winning composer Michel Legrand dies aged 86 | DW | 26.01.2019|website=Deutsche Welle}} He won three Oscars{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/jan/26/michel-legrand-oscar-winning-composer-dies-aged-86|title=Michel Legrand, Oscar-winning composer, dies aged 86|agency=Agence France-Presse|date=26 January 2019|website=The Guardian}} and five Grammys.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/michel-legrand-dies-dead-oscar-winning-composer-1203119247/|title=Michel Legrand, Oscar-Winning Composer, Dies at 86|first1=Jon|last1=Burlingame|website=Variety|date=26 January 2019}} He studied music at the Conservatoire de Paris from age 11, working with, among others, Nadia Boulanger and graduated with top honors as both a composer and a pianist. He burst upon the international music scene at 22 when his album I Love Paris (album) became a surprise hit. He established his name in the United States by working with such jazz stars as Miles Davis and Stan Getz. His sister Christiane Legrand was a member of The Swingle Singers and his niece Victoria Legrand is a member of the dream pop band Beach House.{{cite web |url=http://www.pastemagazine.com/action/article/6618/feature/music/band_of_the_week_beach_house |title=Band of the Week: Beach House |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607224636/http://www.pastemagazine.com/action/article/6618/feature/music/band_of_the_week_beach_house |archive-date=7 June 2008}}

Legrand composed music for Jacques Demy's films The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) (from which Recit de Cassard came and in turn, in English became the standard Watch What Happens) and The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967), from which the relyricized "You Must Believe in Spring" is considered a jazz standard. Legrand appeared and performed in Agnès Varda's Cléo from 5 to 7 (1961). He also composed music for Joseph Losey's Eva (1962), The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) (which features "The Windmills of Your Mind"), Ice Station Zebra (1968), The Picasso Summer (1969), The Lady in the Car with Glasses and a Gun (1970), The Go-Between (1971), Summer of '42 (1971), Clint Eastwood's Breezy (1973), The Three Musketeers (1973), Orson Welles's last-completed film F for Fake (1974), TriStar Pictures 1998 family film Madeline, and would later compose the score for Welles's posthumously released movie The Other Side of the Wind (2018). He also composed the score for Yentl (1983), as well as the film score for Louis Malle's film Atlantic City (1980). His instrumental version of the theme from Brian's Song charted 56th in 1972 on the Billboard's pop chart.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/26/obituaries/michel-legrand-dead.html|title=Michel Legrand, Pianist and Film Composer, Dies at 86|first=John|last=Anderson|date=26 January 2019|work=The New York Times}}

File:Michel Legrand Haymarket 2008.jpg

Legrand died of sepsis,{{cite web|language=fr|title=Mort de Michel Legrand: Le compositeur était hospitalisé, son état s'est « subitement dégradé|url=http://lavdn.lavoixdunord.fr/528633/article/2019-01-28/le-compositeur-etait-hospitalise-son-etat-s-est-subitement-degrade|website=La Voix du Nord.fr |date=28 January 2019|access-date=8 February 2019}}{{cite web

| url = https://www.programme-tv.net/news/musique/224624-michel-legrand-macha-meril-raconte-en-larmes-les-derniers-instants-de-son-mari-video/

| title = Michel Legrand : Macha Méril raconte en larmes les derniers instants de son mari (VIDEO)

| website = programme-tv.net

| date = 30 January 2019 | access-date = 8 February 2019}} during the night of 25–26 January 2019, at the American Hospital of Paris in Neuilly-sur-Seine, where he had been hospitalized for two weeks for a pulmonary infection. His funeral was held in Paris at the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral on 1 February 2019.{{cite web|url=https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1149428/funerailles-michel-legrand-mort-obseques|title=Les funérailles de Michel Legrand seront célébrées vendredi à Paris|first=Zone Arts-|last=ICI.Radio-Canada.ca|website=Radio-Canada.ca|date=28 January 2019 }} He was interred at the Père Lachaise Cemetery.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2019/02/02/stars-flock-to-funeral-of-legendary-film-composer-legrand.html|title=Stars flock to funeral of legendary film composer Legrand|newspaper=The Jakarta Post}} He remained active until his death and had concerts scheduled to take place in the spring.{{Cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/jan/26/michel-legrand-oscar-winning-composer-dies-aged-86 | title=Michel Legrand, Oscar-winning composer, dies aged 86| newspaper=The Guardian| date=26 January 2019| agency=Agence France-Presse}}

Musical theatre

In 1997, Legrand composed the score for the musical Le Passe-muraille, with a book by Didier Van Cauwelaert. It premiered on Broadway in 2002 as Amour and was translated into English by Jeremy Sams and was directed by James Lapine.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/21/theater/theater-review-a-french-milquetoast-s-talent-lights-the-fuse-of-mischief.html |title=THEATER REVIEW; A French Milquetoast's Talent Lights the Fuse of Mischief |newspaper=The New York Times |date=21 October 2002}} This musical was his Broadway debut{{cite web|url=https://www.broadway.com/photos/opening-night-of-legrands-amour/|title=Opening Night of Legrand's Amour|website=Broadway.com}} and he was nominated for a Tony Award in 2003 for Best Score.{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/amour-and-the-umbrellas-of-cherbourg-composer-michel-legrand-dead-at-86|title=Amour and The Umbrellas of Cherbourg Composer Michel Legrand Dead at 86|first=Mark|last=Peikert|date=26 January 2019|website=Playbill.com}} Later he recorded Legrand Affair with Melissa Errico, a 100-piece symphony orchestra that included songs with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman.{{cite news |last=Gans |first=Andrew |url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/155522-Its-a-Legrand-Affair-for-Melissa-Errico-New-CD-Due-in-Stores-Oct-18-Plus-EXCLUSIVE-VIDEO |title=It's a 'Legrand Affair' for Melissa Errico: New CD Due in Stores Oct. 18; Plus EXCLUSIVE Video |website=Tlaybill.com |date=18 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130819173043/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/155522-Its-a-Legrand-Affair-for-Melissa-Errico-New-CD-Due-in-Stores-Oct-18-Plus-EXCLUSIVE-VIDEO |archive-date=19 August 2013}}

The world premiere of the new musical Marguerite from Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, the creators of Les Misérables and Miss Saigon, included music by Michel Legrand and lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer. Marguerite is set during World War II in occupied Paris, and was inspired by the romantic novel La Dame aux Camélias by Alexandre Dumas fils. It premiered in May 2008 at the Haymarket Theatre, London and was directed by Jonathan Kent.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/10/theater/10arts-NEWMUSICALFR_BRF.html |title=New Musical From 'Les Miz' Team |newspaper=The New York Times |date=10 July 2007}}

Discography

Awards

Legrand won three Oscars (from 13 nominations), five Grammys, and was nominated for an Emmy. His first Academy Award win was in 1969 for the song "The Windmills of Your Mind", followed with the Academy Award for his music for Summer of ’42 in 1972 and for Yentl in 1984.

Following are a selection of the awards and nominations with which Legrand's works have been honored:

=Academy Award awards and nominations=

Source: AllMovie[https://www.allmovie.com/artist/michel-legrand-p99035/awards "Legrand Awards"], AllMovie.com, retrieved 30 January 2019

Best Original Score, Substantially Original Score: The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1965) - nominated[https://www.infoplease.com/arts-entertainment/academy-awards/1965-academy-awards "1965 Academy Awards"], Infoplease.com, retrieved 29 January 2019
Best Original Score for a Motion Picture (not a Musical): The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) - nominated[https://www.infoplease.com/arts-entertainment/academy-awards/1968-academy-awards "1968 Academy Awards"], Infoplease.com, retrieved 29 January 2019
Best Original Song Score and Its Adaptation or Best Adaptation Score: The Young Girls of Rochefort (1968) - nominated
Best Original Dramatic Score: Summer of '42 (1971) - won
Best Original Song Score and Its Adaptation or Best Adaptation Score: Yentl (1983) - won
Best Original Song:
"I Will Wait for You" from The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1965) - nominated
"The Windmills of Your Mind" from The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) - won
"What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?" from The Happy Ending (1969) - nominated
"Pieces of Dreams" from Pieces of Dreams (1970) - nominated[https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/17269/pieces-of-dreams#awards "'Pieces of Dreams' Awards"], Tcm.com, retrieved 30 January 2019
"How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" from Best Friends (1982) - nominated
"Papa, Can You Hear Me?" from Yentl (1983) - nominated
"The Way He Makes Me Feel" from Yentl (1983) - nominated

=Golden Globe awards and nominations=

Source: All Movie

Original Score:
The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)[https://www.goldenglobes.com/film/thomas-crown-affair " 'The Thomas Crown Affair' Golden Globe Winners and Nominees"], Goldenglobes.com, retrieved 30 January 2019
The Happy Ending (1969)
Wuthering Heights (1970)
Le Mans (1971)
Summer of '42 (1971)
Lady Sings the Blues (1972)
Breezy (1973)
Yentl (1983)[https://www.goldenglobes.com/film/yentl " 'Yentl' Golden Globe Winners and Nominees"] goldenglobes.com, retrieved 30 January 2019
Original Song:
"The Windmills of Your Mind" from The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) (won)
"What are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?" from The Happy Ending (1969)
"Pieces of Dreams" from Pieces of Dreams (1970)
"Breezy's Song" from Breezy (1973)
"Yesterday's Dreams" from Falling in Love Again (1980)
"The Way He Makes Me Feel" from Yentl (1983)

=Grammy Award awards and nominations=

Source: Grammy.com[https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/michel-legrand "Michel Legrand Grammy wards"], Grammy.com, retrieved 29 January 2019

Best Instrumental Composition: "Theme from Summer of '42 (The Summer Knows)" (1971) - win
Best Instrumental Arrangement: "Theme From Summer Of '42" (1971) - nomination
Best Pop Instrumental Performance: "Theme From Summer Of '42" (1971) - nomination
Best arrangement accompanying vocalist: What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life? (Sarah Vaughan) (1972) - win{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/with-michel-legrand-mw0000271518/awards|title=With Michel Legrand - Sarah Vaughan - Awards|website=AllMusic|access-date=26 January 2019}}
Song of the year: "The Summer Knows" from Summer of '42 (1972) - nomination
Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s): "The Summer Knows" (1972) - nomination
Best instrumental composition: "Brian's Song" [TV] (1972) - win
Album of Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special: The Three Musketeers (1974) - nomination
Best Instrumental Composition: "Images" (1975) win
Best Jazz Performance by a Big Band: "Images" (1975) win
Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special: Yentl (1984) - nomination
Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocals: Yentl (Barbra Streisand) (1984) - nomination
Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocals: "Nature Boy" (track from "Unforgettable") (1991) - nomination[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-01-10-ca-1616-story.html "Other Grammy Nominees"] Los Angeles Times, 10 January 1991
Best Instrumental Arrangement: "Where Or When" (Track from: "Happy Radio Days", Erato Records) (1998) - nominationStaff. [https://variety.com/1999/music/news/grammy-nominations-list-page-3-1117489944/ "Grammy Nominations List, page 3"] Variety, 5 January 1999

=Theatre nominations=

Tony Award for Best Original Score: Amour (2002)[http://www.playbill.com/production/amour-music-box-theatre-vault-0000002571# Amour] Playbill (vault), retrieved 29 January 2019
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music and Outstanding Orchestrations: Amour (2002)

=Emmy Award nominations=

Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Limited Series or a Special (Dramatic Underscore): A Woman Called Golda [TV] (1982)[https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1982/outstanding-music-composition-for-a-miniseries-movie-or-a-special-original-dramatic-score "34th Emmy Awards-Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Limited Series or Special (Dramatic Underscore) - 1982"], Emmys.com, retrieved 29 January 2019

=Fennecus nominations=

Song score, original or adaptation: Yentl (1983)
Original song: "The Way He Makes Me Feel" from Yentl (1983)

=Apex nominations=

Original score, comedy: Best Friends (1982)
Original song, drama: "The Way He Makes Me Feel" from Yentl (1983)
Original song score/adaptation/compilation, drama: Yentl (1983)

=[[Australian Film Institute]] Award=

Best Original Music Score: Dingo (1991) win[https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/73128/dingo#notes " 'Dingo' Miscellaneous Notes"], Tcm.com, retrieved 30 January 2019

=Prix Moliere Award=

Best musical (1997): Le Passe-Muraille:fr:Le Passe-muraille{{Circular reference|date=March 2019}} (French stage version of Amour)Sommer, Elyse. [http://www.curtainup.com/amour.html "Review, 'Amour'"], Curtainup.com, 24 October 2002

=ASCAP=

Henry Mancini Award, awarded by ASCAP, for Le Passe-Muraille (1998){{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20170707003301/http://michellegrandofficial.com/full-awards-list "Awards List"]}}, Legrandofficial.com[https://www.ascap.com/news-events/awards/henry-mancini-award "ASCAP Henry Mancini Award"], Ascap.com, retrieved 30 January 2019

=Golden Eagle Award=

Golden Eagle Award: Outstanding contribution to world cinema (2002)

= Others =

In 2018, asteroid 31201 Michellegrand was named in his honour.{{M+J|31201}} The International Astronomical Union Minor Planet Center (31201) Michellegrand = 1998 AT5 = 1999 KZ20 - Discovered at Caussols on 1998-01-08 by ODAS.

= Documentary =

"Michel Legrand, let the music play", directed by Gregory Monro in 2018

"Once upon a time Michel Legrand", directed by David Hertzog Dessites in 2024

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20160209104629/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba17d3447 Michel Legrand] at the British Film Institute
{{IMDb name|0006166|Michel Legrand}}
{{IBDB name}}
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1H7DeW4tTw Interview with Michel Legrand at the Press Launch for Margeruite in London UK]

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Category:1932 births

Category:2019 deaths

Category:20th-century French conductors (music)

Category:20th-century French male musicians

Category:21st-century French conductors (music)

Category:21st-century French male musicians

Category:Best Original Music Score Academy Award winners

Category:Best Original Music BAFTA Award winners