François Du Bois
Encyclopedia
François Du BoisFrançois Du Bois (born in la Charite-sur-Loire
in Burgundy, France
) is a composer
, marimba
virtuoso, as well as professor, writer and author.
, Olivier Messiaen
, and Mstislav Rostropovich
, and in jazz, with Richard Galliano
, Trilok Gurtu, Dominique Di Piazza, and Abbey Lincoln
.
, Burkina Faso
, in search of that “something” he needed for himself. In spite of many harsh experiences such as contracting malaria
, he finally found what he was looking for. He was initiated into the depths and significance of secrets of the African music, connected to the shamanism
, which helped him grasp the music. After returning to France he studied with the great master, Ray Lema
, the famous composer, African singer and also creator of the National Ballet of Zaire (today Democratic Republic of the Congo), his musical formation was complete.
ist Helene Collerette (today 1st soloist of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France
Philharmonic Orchestra of Radio France) and with the Australian violinist Jane Peters
(Tchaïkovsky Prize winner) in tour concerts through Germany
. “The violin and the marimba at its summit!” entitles the journal “Mainzer Rhein-Zeitung” as of December 8, 1990. He has also performed with the pianist Ludovic Selmi, in tour concerts throughout Europe and Japan. This duo also collaborated with “Les Tambours du Bronx”. After the dissolution of the duo, François concentrated on composition and recordings.
In 1998, on a quest to discover new horizons in the field of music, Du Bois left Paris for Tokyo. The major reason for his stay in Japan seems to be his relationship with his wife, according to the Japanese press. (Reference: the magazine “CREATE” and “SAY”.)
He was invited by Keio University
, one of the Japan’s leading educational renowned institutions for grooming politicians, company presidents and men of law. He was asked to open a special class for music composition in the Policy Management department.
The same year, he created the “Orchestre d’autre part”, of 14 marimbists and taiko
players. After being introduced to 2 former students of Ms Keiko Abe
, today's CD “Origine” for marimba was recorded. Right after the release of this album, he was invited by NHK
to play live in the 30 minute program titled “Studio Park: Francois Du Bois Special” viewed by 10 million.
(Oscar winner in the Best Script) realized by Sofia Coppola
.
In 2003, Du Bois started a seminar called "Personal Career Design - Dubois Method" at Academyhills, targeting this time everybody. Since 2005, his company D-Project manages the "Dubois Method" seminars.
The "Dubois Method" focuses on improving the creativity and energy of entrepreneurs and employees alike, by reaching a balance between physical and mental condition, intelligence and sensibility.
The seminars are based on four steps: games, physical exercise (with roots in chinese martial arts and chinese traditional medicine), discussion (under psychological control) and music (mostly african).
Du Bois's books offer practical applications of the method to everyday's life.
La Charité-sur-Loire
La Charité-sur-Loire is a commune in the Nièvre department in central France.-History:The town began as the first of the Cluniac priories on an island site in the Loire....
in Burgundy, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) is a composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, marimba
Marimba
The marimba is a musical instrument in the percussion family. It consists of a set of wooden keys or bars with resonators. The bars are struck with mallets to produce musical tones. The keys are arranged as those of a piano, with the accidentals raised vertically and overlapping the natural keys ...
virtuoso, as well as professor, writer and author.
Musical debut
Du Bois started music at 8 years of age and became a professional at 17. From 16 till 26, François Du Bois choose his career as a symphonic orchestra percussionist and a jazz drummer. In the classical field, he has worked with Lorin MaazelLorin Maazel
Lorin Varencove Maazel is an American conductor, violinist and composer.- Early life :Maazel was born to Jewish-American parents in Neuilly-sur-Seine in France and brought up in the United States, primarily at his parents' home in Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood. His father, Lincoln Maazel , was...
, Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen was a French composer, organist and ornithologist, one of the major composers of the 20th century. His music is rhythmically complex ; harmonically and melodically it is based on modes of limited transposition, which he abstracted from his early compositions and improvisations...
, and Mstislav Rostropovich
Mstislav Rostropovich
Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich, KBE , known to close friends as Slava, was a Soviet and Russian cellist and conductor. He was married to the soprano Galina Vishnevskaya. He is widely considered to have been the greatest cellist of the second half of the 20th century, and one of the greatest of...
, and in jazz, with Richard Galliano
Richard Galliano
Richard Galliano is a French accordionist.-Biography:He was drawn to music at an early age, starting with the accordion at 4, influenced by his father Lucien, an accordionist originally from Italy, living in Nice.After a long and intense period of study Richard Galliano (born December 12, 1950,...
, Trilok Gurtu, Dominique Di Piazza, and Abbey Lincoln
Abbey Lincoln
Anna Marie Wooldridge , better known by her stage name Abbey Lincoln, was a jazz vocalist, songwriter, and actress. Lincoln was unusual in that she wrote and performed her own compositions, expanding the expectations of jazz audiences.-Biography:Born in Chicago, Illinois, she was one of many...
.
Sideways
By the age of 20, although satisfied with the technical aspects of his playing, Du Bois was annoyed by his lack of artistic substance. He decided to travel to AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
, in search of that “something” he needed for himself. In spite of many harsh experiences such as contracting malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
, he finally found what he was looking for. He was initiated into the depths and significance of secrets of the African music, connected to the shamanism
Shamanism
Shamanism is an anthropological term referencing a range of beliefs and practices regarding communication with the spiritual world. To quote Eliade: "A first definition of this complex phenomenon, and perhaps the least hazardous, will be: shamanism = technique of ecstasy." Shamanism encompasses the...
, which helped him grasp the music. After returning to France he studied with the great master, Ray Lema
Ray Lema
Raymond Lema A'nsi Nzinga, known as Ray Lema, is a Congolese musician born March 30, 1946 in Lufu-Toto, Bas-Congo Province.Lema is a pianist, guitarist, and songwriter. He worked for the National Ballet of Zaire, as it was then called, and in 1979 was invited to the United States by the...
, the famous composer, African singer and also creator of the National Ballet of Zaire (today Democratic Republic of the Congo), his musical formation was complete.
Marimbist career
Du Bois has played in duos with the Canadian violinViolin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist Helene Collerette (today 1st soloist of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France
Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France
The Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France is a French radio orchestra providing music for Radio France. It specializes in contemporary music and was founded in 1937.- Names of the orchestra :*Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France...
Philharmonic Orchestra of Radio France) and with the Australian violinist Jane Peters
Jane Peters
Jane Peters is an Australian classical violinist. At twelve she won a medal in France and performed on Australian TV. In 1982 she received her BA and her teacher was Lyndall Hendrickson In 1986 she won the Bronze Medal at the International Tchaikovsky Competition....
(Tchaïkovsky Prize winner) in tour concerts through Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. “The violin and the marimba at its summit!” entitles the journal “Mainzer Rhein-Zeitung” as of December 8, 1990. He has also performed with the pianist Ludovic Selmi, in tour concerts throughout Europe and Japan. This duo also collaborated with “Les Tambours du Bronx”. After the dissolution of the duo, François concentrated on composition and recordings.
Other duos created by Francois Du Bois
- Marimba/OboeOboeThe oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English, prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois" , "hoboy", or "French hoboy". The spelling "oboe" was adopted into English ca...
– With François LeleuxFrançois LeleuxFrançois Leleux is a French oboist, conductor, and professor. His professional career began at 18 when he became principal oboe at the Paris Opera. He went on to win a solo position at the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and currently does some concerts with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe as...
, virtuoso and former soloist of the Bayerische Rundfunk (Symphonic orchestra of the Bavarian Radio station)/ Dir. Lorin MaazelLorin MaazelLorin Varencove Maazel is an American conductor, violinist and composer.- Early life :Maazel was born to Jewish-American parents in Neuilly-sur-Seine in France and brought up in the United States, primarily at his parents' home in Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood. His father, Lincoln Maazel , was...
. - Marimba/Clarinette – With Patrick Messina, virtuoso and soloist of the “Orchestre National de FranceOrchestre National de FranceThe Orchestre national de France is a symphony orchestra run by Radio France. It has also been known as the Orchestre national de la Radiodiffusion française and Orchestre national de l'Office de Radiodiffusion Télévision Française .Since 1944, the orchestra has been based in the Théâtre...
” (National Orchestra of France) / Dir. Kurt Mazur. - Marimba/CelloCelloThe cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
– With Henri Demarquette, virtuoso. - Marimba/ShakuhachiShakuhachiThe is a Japanese end-blown flute. It is traditionally made of bamboo, but versions now exist in ABS and hardwoods. It was used by the monks of the Fuke school of Zen Buddhism in the practice of...
(Japanese flute) – With Yamamoto Hozan, virtuoso and professor at Tokyo Geijyutsu Daigaku “ Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and MusicTokyo National University of Fine Arts and Musicor is one of the oldest and most prestigious art schools in Japan. Located in Ueno Park, it also has facilities in Toride, Ibaraki, Yokohama, Kanagawa, and Kitasenju, Adachi, Tokyo...
”. - Marimba/ViolineViolineVioline is a Belgian comic book, as well as the name of its main character, created by Didier "Tronchet" Vasseur and Fabrice Tarrin. Other than her own series, Violine is also a recurring character in Spirou magazine.- Synopsis:...
– With Jean-Marc Philipps-Varjabédian, virtuoso, etc.
In 1998, on a quest to discover new horizons in the field of music, Du Bois left Paris for Tokyo. The major reason for his stay in Japan seems to be his relationship with his wife, according to the Japanese press. (Reference: the magazine “CREATE” and “SAY”.)
He was invited by Keio University
Keio University
,abbreviated as Keio or Keidai , is a Japanese university located in Minato, Tokyo. It is known as the oldest institute of higher education in Japan. Founder Fukuzawa Yukichi originally established it as a school for Western studies in 1858 in Edo . It has eleven campuses in Tokyo and Kanagawa...
, one of the Japan’s leading educational renowned institutions for grooming politicians, company presidents and men of law. He was asked to open a special class for music composition in the Policy Management department.
The same year, he created the “Orchestre d’autre part”, of 14 marimbists and taiko
Taiko
means "drum" in Japanese . Outside Japan, the word is often used to refer to any of the various Japanese drums and to the relatively recent art-form of ensemble taiko drumming...
players. After being introduced to 2 former students of Ms Keiko Abe
Keiko Abe
is a Japanese composer and marimba player. She has been a primary figure in the development of the marimba, in terms of expanding both technique and repertoire, and through her collaboration with the Yamaha musical instrument company, developed the modern five-octave concert marimba.- Biography...
, today's CD “Origine” for marimba was recorded. Right after the release of this album, he was invited by NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
to play live in the 30 minute program titled “Studio Park: Francois Du Bois Special” viewed by 10 million.
Prizes and Distinction
- Premier Prix de percussion de la ville de Paris décerné à l’unanimité du jury (1st prize of the percussion contest in the city of Paris, by unanimous decision).
- Lauréat de la Fondation de France (Laureate of the French Foundation)
- la Légion Violette: Médaille d’or de la musique remise au Palais du Sénat en 1993 (the Gold Medal in Music at the Senate Palace, 1993) (Given by the high patronage of the President of the Republic of France)
The Marimba Manuals
Francois Du Bois is the author of the complete manuals of the marimba, consisting of 3 volumes, The 4 Sticks Marimba distributed by IMD. Prefaced by Keiko Abe, “The pedagogical approach taken by this text has a certain creativity which provides a very interesting method to study the Marimba.”, available in French, English and Japanese.Discography
- TBMT : 2 pianos / 2 percussions
- Entre deux mondes: With Ray LemaRay LemaRaymond Lema A'nsi Nzinga, known as Ray Lema, is a Congolese musician born March 30, 1946 in Lufu-Toto, Bas-Congo Province.Lema is a pianist, guitarist, and songwriter. He worked for the National Ballet of Zaire, as it was then called, and in 1979 was invited to the United States by the...
, Richard GallianoRichard GallianoRichard Galliano is a French accordionist.-Biography:He was drawn to music at an early age, starting with the accordion at 4, influenced by his father Lucien, an accordionist originally from Italy, living in Nice.After a long and intense period of study Richard Galliano (born December 12, 1950,...
, François LeleuxFrançois LeleuxFrançois Leleux is a French oboist, conductor, and professor. His professional career began at 18 when he became principal oboe at the Paris Opera. He went on to win a solo position at the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and currently does some concerts with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe as...
etc. - L'Heure nuptiale: For the great organ of the Madeleine in Paris
- DP4 : With the ShakuhachiShakuhachiThe is a Japanese end-blown flute. It is traditionally made of bamboo, but versions now exist in ABS and hardwoods. It was used by the monks of the Fuke school of Zen Buddhism in the practice of...
player (Japanese traditional flute) Hozan YamamotoHozan YamamotoHōzan Yamamoto is a Japanese shakuhachi player, composer and lecturer.... - Marimba night: Live performance with the Orchestre d'autre part.
- Origine : trio of 2 marimbas and 1 Taiko
- Invited to play on the albums "Lueurs bleue" and "Il y a de l'Orange dans le bleu" of Daniel Goyone, with Trilok Gurtu, Louis SclavisLouis SclavisLouis Sclavis is a French jazz musician. He performs on clarinet, bass clarinet, and soprano saxophone in a variety of contexts, including jazz and free jazz...
, etc.
Films
Lost in TranslationLost in Translation (film)
Lost in Translation is a 2003 American film written and directed by Sofia Coppola; her second feature film after The Virgin Suicides and it stars Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson...
(Oscar winner in the Best Script) realized by Sofia Coppola
Sofia Coppola
Sofia Carmina Coppola is an American screenwriter, film director, actress, and producer.In 2003 she received the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Lost in Translation, and became the third woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for Directing...
.
Dubois Method
Du Bois created a career management method, the "Dubois Method", leveraging his experiences in education, music and martial arts. This method was first used in the "Personal Career Management" class he was giving at Keio University, where many guests, including Carlos Ghosn, came to share their knowledge.In 2003, Du Bois started a seminar called "Personal Career Design - Dubois Method" at Academyhills, targeting this time everybody. Since 2005, his company D-Project manages the "Dubois Method" seminars.
The "Dubois Method" focuses on improving the creativity and energy of entrepreneurs and employees alike, by reaching a balance between physical and mental condition, intelligence and sensibility.
The seminars are based on four steps: games, physical exercise (with roots in chinese martial arts and chinese traditional medicine), discussion (under psychological control) and music (mostly african).
Du Bois's books offer practical applications of the method to everyday's life.
Martial Arts
Du Bois is also known for his practice of Kung-fu. He received the title of "first international successor of the internal martial arts of Wudang" in 2009, after training in the Wudang mountains (2008-2009). He teaches kung-fu in Tokyo, and his team received one gold medal, one silver medal and two bronze medals at the 2010 World Wushu Championships.Journalism
- Yomiuri ShimbunYomiuri ShimbunThe is a Japanese newspaper published in Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, and other major Japanese cities. It is one of the five national newspapers in Japan; the other four are the Asahi Shimbun, the Mainichi Shimbun, Nihon Keizai Shimbun, and the Sankei Shimbun...
-2003-2004 Columnist, responsible for Asian Culture « Yomiuri Weekly » - Asahi ShimbunAsahi ShimbunThe is the second most circulated out of the five national newspapers in Japan. Its circulation, which was 7.96 million for its morning edition and 3.1 million for its evening edition as of June 2010, was second behind that of Yomiuri Shimbun...
-2005-2006 Columnist, specialized in career planning « AERA Eng. » - Japan Times -2007 Columnist, specialized in career planning « Japan Times J. »
- Nikkei Shimbun -2008-2009 Columnist "Ecolomy"
- Asahi ShimbunAsahi ShimbunThe is the second most circulated out of the five national newspapers in Japan. Its circulation, which was 7.96 million for its morning edition and 3.1 million for its evening edition as of June 2010, was second behind that of Yomiuri Shimbun...
-2010-cont. Columnist "Job Labo"
Books
- You can have a much better life! Published by Mikasashobo, Japan
- How to get your best partner Published by Graph-sha, Japan
- The book to reform yourself Published by WAVE Publishers, Japan. Prefaced by Kenichiro Mogi, physicist and brain researcher, with the official recommendation of the president of Globis Group, Yoshito Hori, director of the alumni of the Harvard Business School.
- The amazing art of management by top foreign executives never revealed to the Japanese, Published by Kodansha Biz, with Carlos GhosnCarlos GhosnCarlos Ghosn, KBE , born 9 March 1954, is a Brazilian-Lebanese-French businessman who is currently the Chairman and CEO of Yokohama, Japan-based Nissan and holds the same positions at Paris-based Renault, which together produce more than one in 10 cars worldwide...
as the main guest. - How Dubois Thinks, Published by Diamond-sha
- The 1% who always orient their path in the right way, Published by Seishunshuppan
- The Dubois Method: How to find your hidden talent that will change your destiny, Published by Magazine House
- Things worth bothering and not worth bothering to have an abundant life, Published by Diamond-sha
- Move physically, then you will find the answers to your questions, Published by Seishunshuppan
External links
- Official HP http://www.fdubois.com