Charles Koechlin

Charles Koechlin, born into a large family from the Elzas, wanted to become an astronomer as a child. He started to compose at the age of fifteen and eventually chose for music. He found his very personal, individual style and became regarded as magician and researcher of orchestral sound.
Koechlin composed in a particularly suggestive way. His compositional style was very subtle, full of delicate, colourful combinations of instrumental sounds. Many of his colleagues allowed him to orchestrate their works, simply because Koechlin was a master of the art. His compositions were also designed for the imagination, often built around extra-musical elements – tales, movies, novels – which of course was the perfect milieu for his telling melodies and instrumental sonorities, producing moments that are magical, reflective and highly expressive.