François VERCKEN

François Vercken studied composition with Daniel Lesur and Serge Nigg. For thirty years he was a programme director with several of the O.R.T.F divisions, then with Radio France, both in Paris and in the province. At the same time he was for ten years producer and host of a weekly programme devoted to music played by amateurs - mainly choirs - broadcast by France Musique. Moreover, he composed numerous works : symphonies, lyrical and chamber music.

A record with an overview of his work was awarded, in 1985, the European Audio-visual Grand Prize.

At present his time is divided between composing, conducting an amateur choir and writing a music chronicle for "Le Monde de la Musique" and "Panorama".

Fulgurances was written for the Levy & Ben Attar Duet at the beginning of 1994.

Like a conversation where one talks about this and that, integrating reminiscences of Django Reinhardt, where the instruments are sometimes loving, sometimes aggressive, Fulgurances is actually a skilful counterpoint with daring combinations : "Thème à l'écrivisse" (one forward, two backward), "thème en miroir" (mirror theme), dilation, contraction and an alchemy of dynamics and colours make it a captivating work with a luminous sensuality.