Performers & composers

André Chini

Born on May 18th, 1945, in Romengoux (southern France) to a family of architects for whom the French resistance and concentration camps during the Second World War were manifest realities. Chini allied himself with the left early on, and took an active part in the Paris student revolts of 1968. He studied the oboe, first in Toulouse and later at the conservatory in Paris, as well as conducting with Franco Ferrara and composition with among others André Jolivet in Paris. He moved to Sweden in 1975 together with the Swedish dancer and choreographer Ann-Cathrine Byström (who has choreographed his scenic works), where he has since been active as a conductor, musician, and composer. Together with the violinist Lars Fresk, he founded the chamber orchestra Euterpe in 1976, with which he conducted many premieres of Swedish works.

The key to Chini’s music can be found in his sensual, emotional, and engaged way of experiencing the world more than in any compositional techniques or aesthetic theories. He writes densely and complexly, sometimes grotesquely, sometimes lyrically, with a rough palette, microtonal harmonies, and associations to both Schönberg and Richard Strauss. His tonal world is built on practical experience and experimentation, and presupposes dedicated and virtuoso musicians who are prepared to patiently explore the hidden characteristics of their instruments.

Chini’s ideas often spring from visual or visualized thoughts, with political, nature-lyrical, or personally emotional characteristics. A strong political and human pathos is the foundation for several of his works: the anti-torture protest "Why?" for percussion, tape, and a dancer, the ballet "Armerad Betong" ("Reinforced Concrete") about our forms of domicile, the dramatic scene "Omniphobie" for double wind quintet, string bass, and mezzo soprano, about outsider status, racism, and intolerance, the melodrama "Autisten" ("the Autistic"), and the violin concerto "Mururoa".

One can also find a romantic attitude towards nature in some of his works, such as in Norrsken ("Nothern Lights") for organ and string orchestra, the piano piece "Vårfloden" ("Spring River"), the bassoon concerto "Goëlette de jade", and the flute concerto "Icaregag". Chini’s feel for play and naivete, for children and youth, has resulted in several composition projects in Swedish public schools as well as the ballet "Hur elefanten fick sin snabel" ("How the Elephant Got his Trunk"). His grief over the death of his brother in a diving accident in the Indian Ocean colors among other works his "Le chant des coquillages", for percussion ensemble, and the large, original, and touching piano concerto "L'indie". Among Chini’s chamber works, the guitar composition "Skål! Kayam!" is deserving of special mention.