Georges Delerue

 

[1925 - 1992] The composer of the Nouvelle Vague. Delerue had much contact with music since childhood: his grandfather was a leader of a choir and his mother played piano in accompaniment to this group on several occasions. Delerue began studying clarinet and later piano. At the National Conservatory he studied with the modernist Darius Milhaud, important figure in Delerue's career by the incentive and guidance. In 1950 he began composing for short films, plays and TV movies. Worked intensely in the French cinema since the late 50s, became associated with the Nouvelle Vague for the music of Resnai´s Hiroshima, Mon Amour (1959); Truffaut´s Jules et Jim (1961) and Godard´s Le Mépris (Contempt, 1963). The partnership with Truffaut would extend for many years and many films. After a distinguished career in European on films as Maria Maria (1965), The 25th Hour (1967), Our Mother's House (1967), and Day For Night (1973), Delerue was naturally attracted to the American market which also created a number of major works such as Anne of the Thousand Days (1969), The Day of the Dolphin (1973) and a Little Romance (1979), awared with an Oscar.