I'm doing research for an upcoming webcast on French film music, and I've been going through these guys' output on Spotify and elsewhere (among others).
It strikes me how INSANELY versatile they both are -- both are in total tune with contemporary pop sentiments and have been able to develop from swingin' jazz of the 60's to funk of the 70's to electropop of the 80's to more textural stuff in the 90's and onwards.
At the same time, they are both totally on top of classical, symphonic writing. Or more dissonant, avantgarde writing. And doing concert works. And operas. And God knows what.
Cosma is still making music, but Colombier passed away in 2004, as most of you know.
The more I listen to these guys, the more flabbergasted I get. And I can't think of any other composer who can match their consistent versatility.
That's a great idea Thor! You'll find out, as you go along, that Mr. Cosma had an almost Mancini-like knack for creating a catchy tune. Scores such as Rabbi Jacob, Le Jouet, Alexandre le Bienheureux, Le Bal des Casses-Pieds, La Course à l'Échalotte and others illustrate my point.
Cosma was also very adept at more dramatic scoring as can be heard in LA 7ième Cible and in Le Prix du Danger (with a nod to Herrmann).
As for Colombier, I am to this very day amazed at his ability to blend, at will and with apparent ease, elements of pop and jazz along with more symphonic conceits, producing time and again some very memorable and haunting music. No collection should be without L'Alpagueur - with the indelible 'l'épervier' theme - or his Magnum Opus: UNE CHAMBRE EN VILLE. Furthermore, Colombier's contributions to several Gainsbourg scores immeasurably enriched those works.
And if I may, the works of Michel Magne, another talented composer with an ear for blending various styles, should be another rich vein to mine.
Cheers.
L'Épervier - music by Michel Colombier
And here is a great one by François de Roubaix - LES CAIDS
EDIT:
A list of French composers to look up (imo):
GEORGES AURIC; CLAUDE BOLLING; MICHEL COLOMBIER; VLADIMIR COSMA; ÉRIC DEMARSAN; ANTOINE DUHAMEL; GEORGES GARVARENTZ; JACQUES IBERT; MICHEL LEGRAND; JACQUES LOUSSIER !; MICHEL MAGNE; GOERGES VAN PARYS; FRANÇOIS DE ROUBAIX...
Thanks for the suggestions. I have recorded the webcast now and it will be published shortly. I'll put up a link in the "Celluloid Tunes" thread I've made, including a playlist of the tracks/composers I've chosen. Check it out once it pops to the top of the board!
Yeah, quite a few. And also many synth/acoustic merges. I'm sure you're aware that he's the composer of the LES MONDES ENGLOUTIS TV series (aka SHAGMA) which I'm sure you remember from your childhood like I do. It was shown on Norwegian breakfast tv in the 80's.
How about Jean-Claude Petit? He has composed some beautiful orchestral film music over the past 30 years or so, but before that he was a jazz musician and then composed and arranged a number of french pop songs, and also released instrumental pop albums.
