Larry Beauregard
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Michael "Larry" Beauregard (October 14, 1956 – September 4, 1985) was a Canadian flautist. He is best known for his work as first flute in the Ensemble InterContemporain
, and for his work at IRCAM
in the early 1980s, especially his collaboration with Barry Vercoe
on the Synthetic Performer project.
, Canada
, the third of six children of Jean-Pierre Beauregard, a French-Canadian aerospace engineer, and Irish-Canadian Michaela Moloney. He spent his childhood and teenage years in Montreal. He took up flute in his early teens, and was a private student of Abe Kestenberg (who also taught at the McGill Conservatory of Music), and Gail Grimstead at the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Hull from which he graduated with a Premier Prix in 1977. In 1977, he moved to Paris
to study under Alain Marion
at the Conservatoire de Paris
.
in 1980, Beauregard joined the Ensemble InterContemporain
under Pierre Boulez
as first flute. He also performed and recorded solo works for flute. His performance of Varèse's Density 21.5 is included on Sony Classical's "Flute - Greatest Hits" CD.
He also performed the live solo part of Steve Reich
's "Vermont Counterpoint", accompanied by a multitrack recording
of himself playing the other parts. After Beauregard's death in 1985, friend and fellow flautist Pierre-André Valade recorded the solo part and included the completed work on his CD (ADDA 581075), as did Claire Marchand on her CD "20th Century Works for Solo Flute" (ATMA Classique ACD22175).
In the early 1980s, Beauregard was deeply involved in computer music research at the recently-established IRCAM
, modifying a flute with optical switches so that it could interface with the 4X
computer-based audio synthesis and processing system. This eventually culminated in his work with Barry Vercoe
on the Synthetic Performer, which was demonstrated at the ICMC
in 1984.
Beauregard taught at several master class
es, including Domaine Forget
in his native Québec.
' "Mémoriale" (1985) for flute and ensemble, Philippe Manoury
's "Jupiter" (1987) for flute and electronics, and Tim Brady
's "Requiem 21.5" (2009) for solo violin and orchestra.
Ensemble InterContemporain
The Ensemble InterContemporain is a French chamber orchestra, based in Paris at the Cité de la musique and IRCAM, which specialises in contemporary classical music....
, and for his work at IRCAM
IRCAM
IRCAM is a European institute for science about music and sound and avant garde electro-acoustical art music. It is situated next to, and is organizationally linked with, the Centre Pompidou in Paris...
in the early 1980s, especially his collaboration with Barry Vercoe
Barry Vercoe
Barry Vercoe is a New Zealand-born computer scientist and composer. He completed his undergraduate degree in New Zealand in Music and Mathematics and went on to complete a Ph.D. at the University of Michigan, USA, in Music Composition. In 1968, Vercoe's research in Digital Audio Processing paved...
on the Synthetic Performer project.
Early life and musical studies
Larry Beauregard was born in Brampton, OntarioBrampton, Ontario
Brampton is the third-largest city in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada and the seat of Peel Region. As of the 2006 census, Brampton's population stood at 433,806, making it the 11th largest city in Canada. It is also one of Canada's fastest growing municipalities, with an average...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the third of six children of Jean-Pierre Beauregard, a French-Canadian aerospace engineer, and Irish-Canadian Michaela Moloney. He spent his childhood and teenage years in Montreal. He took up flute in his early teens, and was a private student of Abe Kestenberg (who also taught at the McGill Conservatory of Music), and Gail Grimstead at the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Hull from which he graduated with a Premier Prix in 1977. In 1977, he moved to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
to study under Alain Marion
Alain Marion
Alain Marion was a French flutist, and considered one of the world's best flute players of the late twentieth century.-Biography:...
at the Conservatoire de Paris
Conservatoire de Paris
The Conservatoire de Paris is a college of music and dance founded in 1795, now situated in the avenue Jean Jaurès in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, France...
.
Professional career
Upon leaving the Conservatoire de ParisConservatoire de Paris
The Conservatoire de Paris is a college of music and dance founded in 1795, now situated in the avenue Jean Jaurès in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, France...
in 1980, Beauregard joined the Ensemble InterContemporain
Ensemble InterContemporain
The Ensemble InterContemporain is a French chamber orchestra, based in Paris at the Cité de la musique and IRCAM, which specialises in contemporary classical music....
under Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez is a French composer of contemporary classical music, a pianist, and a conductor.-Early years:Boulez was born in Montbrison, Loire, France. As a child he began piano lessons and demonstrated aptitude in both music and mathematics...
as first flute. He also performed and recorded solo works for flute. His performance of Varèse's Density 21.5 is included on Sony Classical's "Flute - Greatest Hits" CD.
He also performed the live solo part of Steve Reich
Steve Reich
Stephen Michael "Steve" Reich is an American composer who together with La Monte Young, Terry Riley, and Philip Glass is a pioneering composer of minimal music...
's "Vermont Counterpoint", accompanied by a multitrack recording
Multitrack recording
Multitrack recording is a method of sound recording that allows for the separate recording of multiple sound sources to create a cohesive whole...
of himself playing the other parts. After Beauregard's death in 1985, friend and fellow flautist Pierre-André Valade recorded the solo part and included the completed work on his CD (ADDA 581075), as did Claire Marchand on her CD "20th Century Works for Solo Flute" (ATMA Classique ACD22175).
In the early 1980s, Beauregard was deeply involved in computer music research at the recently-established IRCAM
IRCAM
IRCAM is a European institute for science about music and sound and avant garde electro-acoustical art music. It is situated next to, and is organizationally linked with, the Centre Pompidou in Paris...
, modifying a flute with optical switches so that it could interface with the 4X
Sogitec 4X
The Sogitec 4X was a digital sound processing workstation developed by Giuseppe Di Giugno at IRCAM in the 1980s. It was the last large hardware processor before the development of the ISPW...
computer-based audio synthesis and processing system. This eventually culminated in his work with Barry Vercoe
Barry Vercoe
Barry Vercoe is a New Zealand-born computer scientist and composer. He completed his undergraduate degree in New Zealand in Music and Mathematics and went on to complete a Ph.D. at the University of Michigan, USA, in Music Composition. In 1968, Vercoe's research in Digital Audio Processing paved...
on the Synthetic Performer, which was demonstrated at the ICMC
International Computer Music Conference
The International Computer Music Conference is a yearly international conference for computer music researchers and composers. It is the annual conference of the International Computer Music Association ....
in 1984.
Beauregard taught at several master class
Master class
A master class is a class given to students of a particular discipline by an expert of that discipline—usually music, but also painting, drama, or any of the arts....
es, including Domaine Forget
Domaine Forget
Domaine Forget is an international music festival as well as music and dance academy located near La Malbaie in the Charlevoix region of Quebec.-History:...
in his native Québec.
Illness and Death
In May 1985, he was diagnosed with late-stage colon cancer, and died on September 4, 1985. In his memory, the Lawrence Beauregard International Flute Competition was established; winners of the competition include Nina Perlove, Kaoru Hinata, and Myung Joo Ahn. Works composed in his memory include Pierre BoulezPierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez is a French composer of contemporary classical music, a pianist, and a conductor.-Early years:Boulez was born in Montbrison, Loire, France. As a child he began piano lessons and demonstrated aptitude in both music and mathematics...
' "Mémoriale" (1985) for flute and ensemble, Philippe Manoury
Philippe Manoury
Philippe Manoury is a French composer.-Biography:Philippe Manoury was born in Tulle. His first composition studies were at the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris, with Gérard Condé and Max Deutsch. He continued his studies from 1974 to 1978 at the Conservatoire de Paris with Michel Philippot, Ivo...
's "Jupiter" (1987) for flute and electronics, and Tim Brady
Tim Brady (composer)
Timothy Wesley John Brady is a Canadian composer, electric guitarist, improvising musician, concert producer and record producer...
's "Requiem 21.5" (2009) for solo violin and orchestra.
With the Ensemble InterContemporain
- "Boulez Conducts Zappa - The Perfect Stranger"Boulez Conducts Zappa: The Perfect StrangerBoulez Conducts Zappa: The Perfect Stranger is a 1984 album featuring the music of Frank Zappa, conducted, in part, by Pierre Boulez. It is also known as, simply, The Perfect Stranger...
(EMI). - "Boulez Conducts Stravinsky" (Erato).
- "Fire on the Mountain" (Boulez conducting works by Varèse), (Masterworks).
- "Varèse - Orchestral, Chamber & Vocal Works"
External links & references
- Larry Beauregard and Barry Vercoe demonstrating the Synthetic Performer at IRCAM in 1984
- Paper in 1984 ICMC Proceedings on the Synthetic Performer
- IRCAM's History of Score Following
- "Tim Brady rend hommage au flûtiste Lawrence Beauregard", Courier Laval
- Ircam database entry on Philippe Manoury's "Jupiter", mentioning "Dédicace : A la mémoire de Lawrence Beauregard"