François Du Bois

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François Du Bois (born in la Charite-sur-Loire in Burgundy, France) is a composer, marimba virtuoso, as well as professor, writer and author.

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[edit] Musical debut

Du Bois started music at 8 years of age and became a professional at 17. From 16 till 26, François Du Bois choose his career as a symphonic orchestra percussionist and a jazz drummer. In the classical field, he has worked with Lorin Maazel, Olivier Messiaen, and Mstislav Rostropovich, and in jazz, with Richard Galliano, Trilok Gurtu, Dominique Di Piazza, and Abbey Lincoln.

[edit] Sideways

By the age of 20, although satisfied with the technical aspects of his playing, Du Bois was annoyed by his lack of artistic substance. He decided to travel to Africa, Burkina Faso, in search of that “something” he needed for himself. In spite of many harsh experiences such as contracting malaria, he finally found what he was looking for. He was initiated into the depths and significance of secrets of the African music, connected to the shamanism, which helped him grasp the music. After returning to France he studied with the great master, Ray Lema, the famous composer, African singer and also creator of the National Ballet of Zaire (today Democratic Republic of the Congo), his musical formation was complete.

[edit] Marimbist career

Du Bois has played in duos with the Canadian violinist Helene Collerette (today 1st soloist of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra of Radio France) and with the Australian violinist Jane Peters (Tchaïkovsky Prize winner) in tour concerts through Germany. “The violin and the marimba at its summit!” entitles the journal “Mainzer Rhein-Zeitung” as of December 8th, 1990. He has also performed with the pianist Ludovic Selmi, in tour concerts through out Europe and Japan. This duo also collaborated with “Les Tambours du Bronx”. After the dissolution of the duo, François concentrated on composition and recordings.

[edit] Other duos created by Francois Du Bois

In 1998, on a quest to discover new horizons in the field of music, Du Bois left Paris for Tokyo. The major reason for his stay in Japan seems to be his relationship with his wife, according to the Japanese press. (Reference: the magazine “CREATE” and “SAY”.) He was invited by Keio University, one of the Japan’s leading educational renowned institutions for grooming politicians, company presidents and men of law. He was asked to open a special class for music composition in the Policy Management department. The same year, he created the “Orchestre d’autre part”, of 14 marimbists and taiko players. After being introduced to 2 former students of Ms Keiko Abe, today's CD “Origine” for marimba was recorded. Right after the release of this album, he was invited by NHK to play live in the 30 minute program titled “Studio Park: Francois Du Bois Special” viewed by 10 million.

[edit] Prizes and Distinction

  • Premier Prix de percussion de la ville de Paris décerné à l’unanimité du jury (1st prize of the percussion contest in the city of Paris, by unanimous decision).
  • Lauréat de la Fondation de France (Laureate of the French Foundation)
  • la Légion Violette: Médaille d’or de la musique remise au Palais du Sénat en 1993 (the Gold Medal in Music at the Senate Palace, 1993) (Given by the high patronage of the President of the Republic of France)

[edit] The Marimba Manuals

Francois Du Bois is the author of the complete manuals of the marimba, consisting of 3 volumes, The 4 Sticks Marimba distributed by IMD. Prefaced by Keiko Abe, “The pedagogical approach taken by this text has a certain creativity which provides a very interesting method to study the Marimba.”, available in French, English and Japanese.

[edit] Discography

  • TBMT : 2 pianos / 2 percussions
  • Entre deux mondes: With Ray Lema, Richard Galliano, François Leleux etc.
  • L'Heure nuptiale: For the great organ of the Madeleine in Paris
  • DP4 : With the Shakuhachi player (Japanese traditional flute) Hozan Yamamoto
  • Marimba night: Live performance with the Orchestre d'autre part.
  • Origine : trio of 2 marimbas and 1 Taiko
  • Invited to play on the albums "Lueurs bleue" and "Il y a de l'Orange dans le bleu" of Daniel Goyone, with Trilok Gurtu, Louis Sclavis, etc.

[edit] Films

Lost in Translation (Oscar winner in the Best Script) realized by Sofia Coppola.

[edit] Dubois Method

Francois Du Bois is the creator of the original method named after him. He is the director of an institute offering classes to develop the capacity of creativity for company employees and presidents. In his seminars, the music is used in an original way, based on the African style, that he has learned.

[edit] Journalism

  • Yomiuri Shimbun (Yomiuri Newspaper) -2003-2004 Columnist, responsible for Asian Culture « Yomiuri Weekly »
  • Asahi Shimbun (Asahi Newspaper) -2005-2006 Columnist, specialized in career planning « AERA Eng. »
  • Japan Times -2007 Columnist, specialized in career planning « Japan Times J. »

[edit] Books

  • You can have a much better life! Published by Mikasashobo, Japan
  • How to get your best partner Published by Graph-sha, Japan
  • The book to reform yourself Published by WAVE Publishers, Japan. Prefaced by Kenichiro Mogi, physicist and brain researcher, with the official recommendation of the president of Globis Group, Yoshito Hori, director of the alumni of the Harvard Business School.
  • The amazing art of management by top foreign executives never revealed to the Japanese, Published by Kodansha Biz, with Carlos Ghosn as the main guest.

[edit] External links