Composers
Michel Redolfi
Over the years, Michel Redolfi has revealed our astounding auditory capacities in the water as the pioneer of underwater concerts, where music is electronically broadcast under the surface of the sea or pools to be enjoyed by floating listeners ... [...]
Born in Marseille in 1951, Michel Redolfi developed his sound creations in the United States where, at
of the age of 21, he was guest resident at several major studios.
In the mid 70’s he settled in San Diego, where the Center for Music Experiment (CME) at the
University of California funded his research in the field of broadcasting music in a liquid environment, a
field he would entitle, “Underwater Music”.
In 1981, he presented "Sonic Waters in the Pacific", the first concert in history where music was
broadcast underwater for a large audience floating or submerged in diving suits.
The immediate recognition of this new form of listening led to other projects in the US, Europe and
Australia. Depending on the sites, Olympic pools, bays or lakes were chosen for their acoustic and
environmental qualities. Otherwise, using other media, Michel Redolfi explores situations in which sound
has a playful relationship with the listener. He has conceived permanent sound design for
French parks and museums (Parc de La Villette, Nausicaa Sealife Center, the Maeght Foundation,
Marineland, and Disneyland, Paris).
He also composed numerous electro-acoustic works for “speakers-orchestra” (Radio France
auditorium, Amsterdam planetarium, World Expo in Sevilla, etc.). Among several American musicians
who inspired him and joined him in concert and in the studio : Terry Riley, Jon Hassell, Steve Shehan,
Dan Harris, John Cage.
Michel Redolfi was the director of the International Music Research Center (CIRM) in Nice from 1987 to
1998, as well as the head of the MANCA Contemporary Music Festival in the same city.
In 2003, he founded Audionaute an independent production studio and a publishing label focused on
underwater music and related innovative systems. Audionaute was commissioned in 2007 to create the
sound design of the Nice tramway system that immerses the passengers aboard in a futuristic
smoothing musical environment.
His main works have been released on CD’s : In France (GRM, Radio France, Cezame) and on the
swiss collection Hat-Hut Records. In the US, alternative labels such as Asphodel and Silent Records
released selected tracks in ambient compilations. The iTunes Store will be carrying his “musique
concrete” titles for the fall 2009.
Michel Redolfi was awarded the prestigious Ars Electronica Prize in 1996. In 2006, he was nominated
for the Music Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale, where he performed one of his major underwater
concerts « La Citta Liquida».
In 2008, Walt Disney Pictures commissioned him for two underwater music concerts in Monte Carlo
(sea and pool) to launch the European press premiere of “The Little Mermaid 3”.
MAIN WORKS PUBLISHED IN COMPACT DISC
Vox in Vitro ( Signatures / distrib. Radio France – 2004 )
Nausicaä ( Audionaute / distrib. at Centre de la Mer Nausicaä – 2004 )
Underwater Music ( Cezame / distrib. Universal Music – 2002 )
Appel d'Air / Jazz, d'après Matisse / Portrait de Jean-Paul Celea ( distrib. Collection INA-GRM – 1993 )
Jungle - CD+Artbook painted by Hervé Di Rosa ( Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris & Albin Michel – 1991 )
Desert Tracks / Too Much Sky / Pacific Tubular Waves ( distrib. Collection INA-GRM – 1988 )
Sonic Waters ( Hat Hut Records Switzerland – 1986 )
In the United States two short pieces have been released in compilations:
Immersion - Ambient 4 ( Silent Records – 1994 )
Palm Canyon - Swarm of Drones ( Asphodel – 1995 )
