Summary

Following a bachelor’s degree in compositional techniques, Gilles Gobeil undertook his Master’s in composition at Université de Montréal under Serge Garant. In the final years of his studies, he was introduced to electroacoustic practices. Since then, he has directed his creative interests almost exclusively to the creation of acousmatic and mixed works. His practice falls within what is known as “cinéma pour l’oreille” (cinema for the ear). Many of his compositions are inspired by literary or cinematic works and seek to “visualize” them through the medium of sound. Gobeil’s work has been recognized internationally and has earned him a number of prizes and distinctions. He is regularly invited to undertake residencies abroad (such as the ZKM and the DAAD’s Artists-in-Berlin Programme) in order to create new works. From 1991–2017 he was a professor of music technology at Drummondville CEGEP. Gilles Gobeil is a member of the Canadian Electroacoustic Community (CEC), an Associate Composer of the Canadian Music Centre (CMC) and a co-founder of Réseaux, (Montréal).

Recent News

Gobeil’s’ CD Les lointains was published in 2015 by empreintes DIGITALes [IMED 15134] and was a Finalist (Disc of the Year) in the 2014–15 Prix Opus. Visit the publisher’s site for more information on the composer, programme notes, reviews and upcoming events.

Recognition (selection)

Prizes: Ars Electronica, Black and White-Porto, Bourges (IMEB), Concurso Internacional de Miniaturas Electroacústicas, Concurso Internacional de Música Eletroacústica de São Paulo (CIMESP), Destellos, International Confederation of Electroacoustic Music (CIME), Luigi Russolo, Métamorphoses, Musica Nova, Prix Opus 2004–05, SOCAN, Stockholm Electronic Arts Award.

Commissions: Bourges, Codes d’Accès, DAAD, empreintes DIGITALes, Musiques & Recherches, Société Radio-Canada, Totem contemporain, ZKM, Suzanne Binet-Audet, Yves Charuest, Folkmar Hein, René Lussier, Rick Sacks.

Residencies: The Banff Centre, Bourges, DAAD-Berlin, EMS, GMEB, GRM, Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt Weimar, Miso Music, Musiques & Recherches, PANorama, Universidade Católica de Porto, ZKM.

Performances: Ars Electronica (Austria), Beast (UK), Bourges (France), Espace du son (Belgium), GRM (Paris), ICMC, Inventionen (Berlin), ISCM, Musica Nova (Bulgaria), Ultraschall (Berlin).

Discography

Gobeil’s music can be heard on more than 30 discs, including 6 solo CDs/DVDs: Les lointains, La mécanique des ruptures, …dans le silence de la nuit…, Le contrat (with René Lussier), Trilogie d’ondes (with Suzanne Binet-Audet) and Trois songes. These discs are available through empreintes DIGITALes.