Hughes de Courson

the Malicorne years

Hughes de Courson is best known for being on all of the albums by Malicorne. He had previously recorded with a group called "Grand Mere" and had made an album called "Fonds de Tirior" in 1967. He played electric guitar, bass, crumhorn, percussion, flute a bec, positive organ, piano, elka, synthesiser, glockenspiel and Hammond organ. He was producer on some of the albums. His most original track was probably "Vive La Lune" on "Balancoire En Feu" (1981), which is largely instrumental. It typifies the colourful, bizaare sounds that he later made as a soloist. He founded the record label Hexagone, which issued some of the Malicorne recordings.

Classical medieval techno

Hughes' albums are all large-scale works. He is an arranger rather than a soloist. On many he combines electronic effects with medieval or baroque instruments. "Mozart in Egypt" takes works by Mozart and emphasises the oriental elements in them. The 25th symphony is played with a much-enlarged orchestra. "O'Stavaganza - Vivaldi in Ireland" combines traditional Irish music with re-arranged Vivaldi works. Unfortunately his recordings are rarely available in the English-speaking world.

discography

• - Charlemagne (1993)
• - Lambarena - Bach to Africa (1995)
• - 13 Croquis de Jeunes Filles As (1996)
• - Mozart in Egypt (1997)
• - Songs of Innocence (1999)
• - O'Stavaganza - Vivaldi in Ireland (2001)
• - Lux Obscura Un Project Electro Medieval (2003)