Christian Lauba (born 26 July 1952) is a
Tunisian-born French composer and teacher, especially noted for his compositions for
saxophone.[2][3] His compositions often incorporate the music of his native
North Africa as well as Japanese influences.[4] He sometimes composes under the name of Jean Matitia, particularly for jazz and
rag music.[5]
In the 2007/2008 season he was composer in residence with the
Orchestre symphonique de Mulhouse, where his New York Concerto (a triple
concerto for saxophone, cello and piano) received its world premiere.[8]
Awards and commissions
Lauba won First Prize for composition in the class of Michel Fuste-Lambezat and the Medal of Honor of the City of Bordeaux. In 1994 he won first prize in the Berlin International Composition Competition (Institut für Neue Musik),[7] and his Neuf études pour saxophones (Nine
études for saxophones), commissioned by Jean-Marie Londeix and composed between 1992 and 1994, won the
SACEM prize in composition.[6] He has received commissions both from the French state and from a variety of
contemporary classical music ensembles (Diotima Quartet, Cuarteto Casals, Percussion de Strasbourg,
Belcea Quartet, Ensemble Court-Circuit,
Ictus Ensemble, and the
Netherlands Wind Ensemble) as well as from larger orchestras, including the Orchestre Symphonique de Mulhouse, Orchestre Poitou-Charentes, Orchestre Régional de Cannes,
Orchestre Colonne,
MDR Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine, and the
Opéra National de Bordeaux.[9]
Compositions
Adria for 2 alto saxophones (1985)
Blue Rai for solo cello (5 studies for contemporary solo)
Blue Stream for piano (2000)
Brasil sem fim for piano (1990)
The Devil's Rag (by his alias Jean Matitia)
Dies Irae for soprano saxophone and organ (1990)
Dream in A Bar for baritone saxophone and percussion
Erg for wind ensemble, harp, piano, and bass (1990)
Hard for tenor saxophone solo (1988)
Hoggar for orchestra (1995)
Kwintus for violin (2000)
The Lose Forest for ensemble of 12 saxophones (1983)
Massaï for alto saxophone and bass clarinet or tenor saxophone (2010)
Morphing for string quartet (1999)
Neuf études pour saxophone (Nine
études for saxophone)(1996)
Balafon
Savane
Sanza
Jungle
Tadj
Gyn
Vir
Ars
Bat
Reflets for saxophone ensemble
"Stan" (a tribute to
Stan Getz) for baritone saxophone and synthesizer (2001)
Steady Study on the Boogie (1995)
Sud for saxophone and piano
Recordings
Hard (performed by
Richard Ducros), CD Label: Adria, 2010
Au Bonheur des Dames – Musiques de
Rudy Wiedoeft et Jean Matitia (performed by Richard Ducros,
Sophie Teboul, Christian Lauba, and
Stéphane Rougier), CD Label: Richard Ducros, 2010
Neuf études pour saxophones,cahier 1: Balfon/Savane/Sanza/Jungle (performed by
Randall Hall), The Passage Between, CD Label: Innova Records, 2009
Christian Lauba: Neuf études pour saxophones (performed by Joël Versavaud), CD Label: Maguelone, 2008
Lauba: Morphing (live performances of Lauba's works by Cuarteto Casals, Richard Ducros, Benjamin Kreith, and Ivo Janssen), CD Label: Accord/
Universal Music, 2000[10]
Christian Lauba: Ôsmos (performed by Marie Bernadette Charrier, Christophe Havel, Richard Rimbert, Patrice Goudin, Joël Versavaud, et al.), CD Label: Alba Musica, 1995