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Yann Tiersen (born June 23 1970) is a French New Age/Avante-Garde Musician and composer known for his versatility, minimalist compositions and his virtuosity as a multi-instrumentalist. In his pieces he normally uses piano, accordion and several types of violins as his main instruments; but there are many songs that exceed this limit. Critics sometimes compare him to Erik Satie, Nino Rota and the Penguin Café Orchestra for their musical proximity. His entire catalogue, including his award-winning film scores, is published by BMG Music Publishing.

Biography

Tiersen was born in Brest in 1970 and received classical training at the Rennes music academy, at the Nantes music academy and at the Boulogne music academy for several years. Before starting releasing his recorded debut Yann Tiersen had previously spent some time recording background music for plays and short films, but nothing serious had come out.

He gained success in France when in 1998 he released his third album Le Phare, but he did not gain much popularity outside France until he provided his music for the French film Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain in 2001 (using both new and old songs for the films soundtrack).

The French films La Vie Rêvée des Anges (1998, Erick Zonca), Alice et Martin (1998, André Téchiné), Qui Plume la Lune? (Christine Carrière, 1999), and Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain (Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 2001) as well as the German film Good Bye Lenin! (2003, Wolfgang Becker), all have music by Tiersen.

In his albums, some songs are instrumental pieces, while others are sung by Tiersen himself or by guest artists. Yann Tiersen's list of collaborators grew album after album (see discography below for details). While composing his fifth album, L'absente, Tiersen collaborated with Françoiz Breut and Les Têtes Raides in their respective albums. His 2005 album Les Retrouvailles featured vocals from Stuart Staples of Tindersticks , Jane Birkin , Elizabeth Fraser formerly of Cocteau Twins and japanese pop artist Gackt; Tiersen also played piano on Staples's solo album Lucky Dog Recordings 03-04.

His live performances vary greatly from one another. Sometimes he carries an orchestra and many of his guest collaborators. Other times, he offers the more frequent minimalistic sessions, usually accompanied only by a drummer/bassist and a guitarist, with Tiersen himself switching seamlessly between piano, accordion and violins for his lighter songs, and electric guitar for his harder pieces. At times, Yann Tiersen has received the help of Dominique A in his tours whenever the latter is not busy with his live or recording duties.

Discography

• La Valse des Monstres (1995)
• Rue des Cascades (1996)
  • Collaborations: Claire Pichet.
• Le Phare (1998)
  • Collaborations: Claire Pichet, Dominique A.
• Tout est Calme (1999)
  • Collaborations: The Married Monk.
• Black Session (1999)
  • Live album
  • Collaborations: Neil Hannon (of The Divine Comedy), Bertrand Cantat (of Noir Désir), Françoiz Breut, The Married Monk, Les Têtes Raides and a string quartet.
• Amélie Original Soundtrack (2001)
• L'Absente (2001)
  • Collaborations: the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Lisa Germano, Neil Hannon (of The Divine Comedy), Dominique A, Françoiz Breut, Les Têtes Raides, Sacha Toorop (of Zop Hopop), the actress Natacha Regnier, Christian Quermalet (of The Married Monk), Marc Sens (a Serge Tessot-Gay collaborator), Christine Ott and a string quartet.
• C’était ici (2002)
• Good Bye Lenin! Original Soundtrack (2003)
  • Collaborations: Claire Pichet.
• Yann Tiersen & Shannon Wright (2004)
  • Collaborations: Shannon Wright.
• Les Retrouvailles (2005)
  • Collaborations: Stuart Staples of Tindersticks , Jane Birkin , Elizabeth Fraser of Cocteau Twins .

External links

• Yann Tiersen's official homepage
• Unofficial site with forum
• Yann Tiersen interview at musicOMH.com
• Concert photos by Laurent Orseau (Black Session)
• Concert photos by Laurent Orseau (La Route du Rock 1998)

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