Didier François

Didier François playing the Nyckelharpa

Didier François (born in Brussels on 2 April 1969) is a Belgian musician specialising in the nyckelharpa who lives in Paris.

Studies

From 1992 to 1999 François studied violin with Myriam Quersin (successor to Arthur Grumiaux at the Brussels Conservatory) and composition with Daan Manneke at the Amsterdam Conservatory. He also participated in several jazz workshops with Philip Catherine, Hein Van De Geyn andMaarten Weiler.

Teaching

Didier François has taught nyckelharpa at the Scuola di Musica Popolare di Forlimpopoli, Italy^[1] and Akademie Burg Fürsteneck, Germany^[2] as a member of the European Nyckelharpa Training. He conducts seminars and workshops on relaxation technique based on the Belgian violin school of Arthur Grumiaux: relaxed and fluid movements for beauty of sound, freedom of expression and avoidance of tendinitis^[3]. He is also a member of the Cadence project supported by the European Commission^[4][5].

personal posture to avoid back tension

Performances

• Guest of Stefane Grappelli, Audi Jazz Festival (Belgium).
• Guest of Gabriel Yacoub, Amsterdam, St. Chartier Festival (France).
• Film music recording with Armand Amar for Costa-Gavras (Amen, Le Couperet), Yann Arthus Bertrand (le monde vu du ciel).
• Solo live performance of The Lord of the rings by Howard Shore with Belgian Philharmonic at Antwerp Sport Palace
• Worked for 10 years for the Belgian Ensemble Leporello.
• Member of the Belgian Baroque ensemble Zefiro Torna.^[6][7]

Discography

• Nyckelharpa solo, 2011, HomeRecords.be (4446079)
• Sjansons Patinées HomeRecords.be (4446047)
• Double CD: Didier Francois, Gilles Chabenat - Gabriel Yacoub HomeRecords.be (4446033)
• Falling Tree Long Distance Records (3073722 WAG331)
• locuras de vanelo Artrisjok Records
• 44 duetti Béla Bartòk, with Marco Ambrosini, Wild Boar Records (WBM 21022)
• Alicantes Map Records
• Duo Philip Masure Didier Francois Map Records

Nyckelharpa

François is known for his unusual technique and posture when playing the nyckelharpa. Holding the instrument in front of the chest, one is able to move both arms in a more natural and relaxed fashion. Using a violin bridge to keep the nyckelharpa away from the body so it can swing freely also causes it to sound more open.^[6]

violin bridge to keep the back of the instrument free for vibration

For many years François worked with the Nyckelharpa builder Joos Janssens for the further evolution of the instrument. Later with the nyckelharpa and bow builder Jean Claude Condi (Mirecourt), he helped with the creation of a study instrument for children. He himself plays on instruments from both builders.

References

1. ^ Didier François: Insegnante di Nyckelharpa, Scuola di Musica Popolare di Forlimpopoli (Italian)
2. ^ Referentendetails, Burg Fürsteneck (German)
3. ^ Didier François, "Playing in a Relaxed Way to Avoid Tendonitis", CADENCE — Nyckelharpa Cooperation.
4. ^ Participants, CADENCE website.
5. ^ CADENCE – Cultural ADult Education and Nyckelharpa Cooperation in Europe, 2011, Reichelsheim: Verlag der Spielleute / Tullinge: Tongång, ISBN 978-3-943060-00-3
6. ^ ^{a b} "Tussen kunst en kunst - Didier François & de nyckelharpa", SABAM Magazine 64/2011, p. 27
7. ^ "Didier François - Le musicien belge emmène la nyckelharpa au-delà de ses territoires connus", Paris, Trad Magazine 124 - Mars/Avril 2009 (French)

External links

• Homepage of Didier François
• CADENCE
• European Nyckelharpa training
• International Days of the Nyckelharpa (Germany)

Persondata
Name	Didier François
Alternative names
Short description	Nyckelharpa performer
Date of birth	2 April 1969
Place of birth	Brussels, Belgium
Date of death
Place of death