André Hodeir
André Hodeir was a prominent French composer, jazz musician, and musicologist, born on January 22, 1921, in Paris. Initially training as a classical violinist, Hodeir's musical journey shifted towards jazz in the 1930s, leading him to perform with various ensembles under the pseudonym Claude Laurence during World War II. After completing his formal education in music in 1947, he became deeply involved in jazz culture, editing the magazine *Jazz Hot* and later founding the Jazz Group of Paris, which he led until 1969.
Throughout his career, Hodeir made significant contributions to music literature, writing extensively on jazz and music theory. His first book, *Le Jazz, cet inconnu*, was published in 1945, and he continued to produce influential works, including *Introduction à la musique de jazz* in 1948. Hodeir's expertise earned him recognition as a leading authority in jazz criticism, and he received multiple awards for his work, including the Grand Prix from the Société des auteurs, compositeurs, éditeurs de musique in 1984. Beyond his scholarly pursuits, he also wrote novels and children's books inspired by music. Hodeir's legacy lies in his innovative approach to music composition and critique, both in France and internationally, with his works translated into multiple languages.
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André Hodeir
Violonist
- Born: January 22, 1921
- Birthplace: Paris, France
- Died: January 22, 2011
- Place of death:
Biography
André Hodeir was born on January 22, 1921, in Paris, France, the son of Oidih Hodeir and Angèle Guionnet Hodeir. He took violin lessons as a child and in 1932 enrolled at the Conservatoire national superiéur de musique in Paris, intending to become a violinist. He became aware of jazz around 1935. His musical training was interrupted in 1938 when he was placed in a sanitarium.
By 1942, Hodeir had resumed his studies and decided to become a composer. While he was in school, Hodeir performed jazz music with the André Ekyan Sextet from 1942 to 1944, using the name Claude Laurence. His classical music education enhanced his jazz composition and performance.
After completing his education in 1947, Hodeir remained in Paris and began editing the magazine Jazz Hot. On March 23, 1948, Hodeir married Renée Collet; they later had one daughter. From 1949 to 1952, Hodeir participated in musical juries at his alma mater. In 1950, he resigned from his editor in chief position at Jazz Hot to focus on writing music and books about music, particularly about jazz.
In 1954, Hodeir established the Jazz Group of Paris, which he led through 1969, directing the group to produce records and perform music at festivals in France and Germany. During that time, he served as president of the Académie du Jazz. Hodeir visited New York City in 1957 to immerse himself in American jazz culture.
Hodeir and his first wife divorced in 1971. On January 15, 1972, Hodeir married film editor Michèle Boëhm, and they had one daughter.
Hodeir accepted the editorship of the Paris-based periodical Panorama de la Musique in 1974. In the summer of 1976 he traveled to the United States to lecture about composition at Harvard University as a visiting professor. From 1981 to 1987, he supervised research to apply computer analysis to musical composition at the Institute of Research and Acoustic Coordination/Musique.
Hodeir wrote numerous books explaining the technical components of music and the artistry of performance, and he also produced histories of music and biographies of composers and performers. His first book, Le Jazz, cet inconnu, was published in 1945 while he was still in school. Hodeir appropriated his professional experiences to write Introduction à la musique de jazz, which was published in 1948. His essays appeared in The Jazz Review, Down Beat, Arts, and other journals.
Hodeir also wrote children’s books and novels for adults, with music inspiring his fiction. He continued to write articles and books addressing musical topics, including the role of improvising in composition, into the early twenty-first century.
Scholars noted Hodeir’s authority as a jazz expert and innovative theorist who established and advanced criticism in that field. In 1984, Hodeir received the Grand Prix from the Société des auteurs, compositeurs, éditeurs de musique. Hodeir’s novel, Muskiant, won the Prix Louis Guilloux and Prix Orphée in 1988. International demand resulted in Hodeir’s books being translated into English and reprinted in various editions.