Un Drame Musical Instantané, since its creation in 1976, featuring

Jean-Jacques Birgé Jean-Jacques Birgé (born 5 November 1952) is an independent French musician and filmmaker, at once music composer (co-founder of Un Drame Musical Instantané with which he recorded about 30 albums, as well as for movies, theater, dance, radio), ...

, Bernard Vitet and Francis Gorgé, has decided to promote collective musical creation, co-signing their albums, which they consider as artworks in themselves, or their live shows which they try to renew every time they play.

History

They borrowed their sources from

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wale ...

(synthesizer player Birgé and guitarist Gorgé, both authors of the

album An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track cartridge, 8-track or Cassette tape, cassette), or digital distribution, dig ...

, ''Défense de'');

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

(trumpeter Vitet who founded the first

free jazz Free jazz, or free form in the early to mid-1970s, is a style of avant-garde jazz or an experimental approach to jazz improvisation that developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s, when musicians attempted to change or break down jazz conventi ...

band in France, together with François Tusques, as well as

Michel Portal Michel Portal (born 27 November 1935) is a French composer, saxophonist, and clarinetist. He plays both jazz and classical music and is considered to be "one of the architects of modern European jazz". Early life Portal was born in Bayonne on 27 ...

who played with many American and European jazzmen); classical modern music; as well as movies or world news; they were the first in France to give a new impetus to live music on silent movies. Twenty four creations were in their repertoire, among which were ''Caligari'' by

Robert Wiene Robert Wiene (; 27 April 1873 – 17 July 1938) was a German film director, screenwriter and Film producer, producer, active during the Silent film, silent era. He is widely-known for directing the landmark 1920 film ''The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari ...

, ''La glace à trois faces'' and ''La chute de la Maison Usher'' by

Jean Epstein Jean Epstein (; 25 March 1897 – 2 April 1953) was a French filmmaker, film theorist, literary critic, and novelist. Although he is remembered today primarily for his adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's '' The Fall of the House of Usher'', he direc ...

, ''The passion of Joan of Arc'' by Carl Dreyer, ''Man with a Movie Camera'' by

Dziga Vertov Dziga Vertov (born David Abelevich Kaufman; – 12 February 1954) was a Soviet pioneer documentary film and newsreel director, as well as a cinema theorist. His filming practices and theories influenced the cinéma vérité style of documentary ...

, and ''L'argent'' by

Marcel L'Herbier Marcel L'Herbier (; 23 April 1888 – 26 November 1979) was a French filmmaker who achieved prominence as an avant-garde theorist and imaginative practitioner with a series of silent films in the 1920s. His career as a director continued unti ...

. After having improvised freely for many years, they led a fifteen piece orchestra from 1981 to 1986, and since 1989 they have produced multimedia shows (live video remix on a giant screen, fireworks, choreographies), but their most convincing musical theater was mainly audio, which they have called "blind cinema". The Drame used to mix acoustic and electronic instruments in real time as well as original instruments built by Vitet (a reed trumpet, a multiphonic French horn, a variable tension double-bass, a giant balafon with frying pans and flower pots keyboard, a fire organ, plexiglas flutes, etc.) After Francis Gorgé has left the band in 1992, Birgé and Vitet went on recording and producing with other musicians close to the "family" such as percussionist, Gérard Siracusa, or multi-instrumentalist, Hélène Sage. Un Drame Musical Instantané which has always remain independent (they have always owned their own recording studio and record label GRRR) stopped its activities in 2008, Birgé remaining the only one on the music scene. And Vitet died on July 3, 2013. However, Un Drame Musical Instantané has come back on stage in 2014, featuring Birgé, Gorgé, Sage, plus several guests, and Birgé Gorgé got back together with writer Dominique Meens in 2022 and live with Amandine Casadamont on turntables in 2023.

Discography

* ''Très toxique'' (GRRR / also on ''Toxic Rice'', Psych.KG, D) 1976 (issued 2023) * ''Trop d'adrénaline nuit'' (GRRR, France), 1977 (issued 1979) - CD reissue+bonus+DVD (Mio, Israel), 2001 - LP reissue+DVD (Wah-Wah, Spain), 2013 * ''Rideau !'' (GRRR), 1980 - CD reissue+bonus (Klang Galerie, Austria), 2017 * ''Pas de cadeau'' in ''18 surprises pour Noël'' (DeQualité, France), 1981 * ''À travail égal salaire égal'', for orchestra (GRRR), 1982 - CD reissue+bonus (Klang Galerie, Austria), 2018 * ''Under The Channel'' in ''In Fractured Silence'' (United Dairies, GB), 1983 * ''Les bons contes font les bons amis'', for orchestra (GRRR), 1983 - CD reissue+bonus (Klang Galerie, Austria), 2022 * ''L'uniforme'' in mc Unique (France), 1984 * ''L'homme à la caméra'', for orchestra (GRRR), 1984 - bundle with LP remix by Jorge Velez, Le Tone, Eltron John, Tuff Sherm (DDD, France), 2017 - CD reissue+bonus (Klang Galerie, Austria), 2020 * ''Das Kabinett des Doktor Caligari'' in mc Bad Alchemy (Germany), 1985 * ''Carnage'', incl. ''La Bourse et la vie'', N.O.P. dir. Yves Prin (GRRR), 1985 - CD reissue+bonus (Klang Galerie, Austria), 2021 * ''French Resistance'' in ''Dry Lungs II'' (Placebo, USA), 1986 * ''Interview'' in mc Planeta (France), 1986 * ''Fear of Vacancy'' in ''Journey Into Pain'' (mc BST, Japan), 1986 * ''Don't Lock The Cage'' in ''Dry Lungs III'' (Placebo, USA), 1987 * ''L'hallali'', avec Frank Royon Le Mée, Dominique Fonfrède, Martine Viard, Louis Hagen-William, L'Itinéraire, dir. Boris de Vinogradov, incl. opera-bouffe ''La Fosse'' (GRRR), 1987 * ''Sous les mers'' (GRRR), 1988 * ''Qui vive ?'' (GRRR), 1989 * ''Der Falsche Mann'' in Out of Depression (Germany) * ''Le futur abyssal'' in ''Mouvements'' (La légende des voix, France), 1990 * ''Le K'', text by

Dino Buzzati Dino Buzzati-Traverso (; 14 October 1906 – 28 January 1972) was an Italian novelist, short story writer, painter and poet, as well as a journalist for ''Corriere della Sera''. His worldwide fame is mostly due to his novel '' The Tartar St ...

with

Richard Bohringer Richard Bohringer () is a French actor, singer, writer, and film director. He is the father of actresses Romane Bohringer and . Early life Bohringer was born in Moulins, Allier, France, to a French mother, Huguette Foucault and a German fathe ...

(GRRR, reissue Auvidis), ''Nomination at 9th Victoires de la Musique'', 1990–93 * ''Pale Driver Killed By A Swallow On A Country Road'' in ''Dry Lungs IV'' (

Subterranean Records Subterranean Records is an independent record label based in San Francisco. Founded by Steve Tupper and a then partner, Michael Fox in 1979, it focused on that city's underground punk rock, punk and industrial music scene. Subterranean and fellow ...

, USA), 1991 * ''Le fond de l'âme effraie : Air Cut'' in ''Atomic Zen'' (Dedali Opera, Japan), 1991 * ''North Eating South Starving'' in ''A Gnomean Haigonaimean'' (Johnny Blue, Portugal), 1991 * ''Jeune fille qui tombe... tombe'', text by

with Daniel Laloux (In Situ, France), 1991 * ''Kind Lieder'', nine songs which hurt (GRRR), 1991 * ''Rien ne va plus'' in ''Dry Lungs V'' (Subterranean Records, USA), 1992 * ''Utopie Standard'' in ''Passionnément'' (Visa, France), 1992 * ''Urgent Meeting'', with

Colette Magny Colette Magny (31 October 1926 – 12 June 1997) was a French singer and songwriter. A charismatic performer who did not record until her thirties, her work encompassed blues, jazz, protest songs, experimental music and spoken word recording ...

Didier Malherbe Didier Malherbe (born 22 January 1943) is a French jazz, rock, and world music musician and poet. He is a member of the bands Gong and Hadouk. He plays the saxophone, flute, alto clarinet, ocarina, Laotian Khen, Bawu flute, Hulusi, and ma ...

Michel Godard Michel Godard (born October 3, 1960, Héricourt, France) is a French avant-garde jazz and classical musician. He plays tuba and the predecessor of the tuba, a brass instrument known as the serpent. Career At 18, Godard was a member of the Phi ...

Louis Sclavis Louis Sclavis (born 2 February 1953) is a French jazz musician. He performs on clarinet, bass clarinet, and soprano saxophone in a variety of contexts, including avant-garde jazz, free jazz, free improvisation and contemporary classical. Life ...

, Raymond Boni, Gérard Siracusa,

Vinko Globokar Vinko Globokar (born 7 July 1934) is a French-Slovenian avant-garde composer and trombonist. Globokar's music uses unconventional and extended techniques, places great emphasis on spontaneity and creativity, and often relies on improvisation. H ...

Yves Robert Yves Robert (; 19 June 1920 – 10 May 2002) was a French actor, screenwriter, director, and producer. Life and career Robert was born in Saumur, Maine-et-Loire, France. In his teens, he went to Paris to pursue a career in acting, starting w ...

, François Tusques, Denis Colin... (GRRR/No Man’s land), 1992 * ''Opération Blow Up'', with

Brigitte Fontaine Brigitte Fontaine (born 24 June 1939) is a French singer of avant-garde music. She has employed numerous unusual musical styles, melding rock and roll, folk, jazz, electronica, spoken word poetry, and world. She has collaborated with Stereola ...

Henri Texier Henri Texier (; born 27 January 1945) is a French jazz double bassist. At the age of sixteen, fascinated by the double bass, Texier became a self-taught bassist, crediting Wilbur Ware most as an influence. He formed his first group with Georges ...

Luc Ferrari Luc Ferrari (5 February 1929 – 22 August 2005) was a French composer of Italian heritage and a pioneer in musique concrète and electroacoustic music. He was a founding member of RTF's Groupe de Recherches Musicales (GRMC), working alongside c ...

Joëlle Léandre Joëlle Léandre (born 12 September 1951) is a French double bassist, vocalist, and composer active in new music and free improvisation. In the field of contemporary music, she has performed with Pierre Boulez's Ensemble InterContemporain, and ...

, Valentin Clastrier,

René Lussier René Lussier (born April 15, 1957) is a jazz guitarist based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He is a composer, guitarist, bass guitarist, percussionist, bass clarinetist, and singer. Lussier has collaborated with Fred Frith, Chris Cutler, Jean Dero ...

... (GRRR), 1992 * ''Musica Per Dimagrire'' in ''Musica Propiziatoria'' (Museo Immaginario, Italy), 1993 * ''Zappeurs-Pompiers 2'' in ''Journal de bord'' (38e Rugissants, France), 1993 * ''Crasse-Tignasse'', songs for children who like to be frightened (Auvidis, France), 1993 * 3 pieces with

Dee Dee Bridgewater Dee Dee Bridgewater (née Denise Garrett, May 27, 1950) is an American jazz singer and actress. She is a three-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, as well as a Tony Award-winning stage actress. For 23 years, she was the host of National ...

and Balanescu String Quartet in ''Sarajevo Suite'' (L’empreinte digitale),1994 * ''¡Vivan las utopias!'' in ''Buenaventura Durruti'' (nato, France), 1996 * ''L'instable'' and ''So Deep'' in ''L'étrange'' (CMG, France), 1998 * ''Machiavel'' (GRRR), with Benoît Delbecq, Steve Argüelles, DJ Nem, Philippe Deschepper..., 1998 * ''Wit'' in ''Enhanced Gravity'' (Yucca Tree, Germany), 1999 * ''Ça ira'' in ''Les Actualités'', with singer Baco (Les Allumés du Jazz, France), 2006 *
C'est le bouquet
' (unissued CD to be downloaded with Sextant magazine, GRRR), 2007 * ''Poils et plumes'' with writer Dominique Meens (GRRR), to be issued in 2022 * 194 hours of unissued, freely downlable, music (105 albums, 1479 pieces) on drame.org, 2010-2025 * ''Fluxus +/-'' with

Kommissar Hjuler Kommissar Hjuler (born Detlev Hjuler; 1967) works as a sound recordist in the field of Noise (music), Noise and Post-industrial music, visual artist, film maker and police officer at Flensburg, a town on the German border with Denmark. He often work ...

Mama Baer Mama Baer (born Andrea Katharina Ingeborg Göthling; 29 October 1981) is a German sound recordist of noise music and post-industrial music. She is a filmmaker and visual artist in Flensburg. She has had solo and group art exhibitions around the wor ...

(Psych.KG, Germany), 2022

Live shows

* Long series of ''Poisons'', 1976–79 * 24 silent movies with live orchestra, 1977-99 : ''

À propos de Nice ''À propos de Nice'' is a 1930 silent short documentary film directed by Jean Vigo and photographed by Boris Kaufman. The film depicts life in Nice, France by documenting the people in the city, their daily routines, a carnival and social ine ...

'' (

Jean Vigo Jean Vigo (; 26 April 1905 – 5 October 1934) was a French film director who helped establish poetic realism in film in the 1930s. His work influenced French New Wave cinema of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Biography Vigo was born to Emi ...

), ''

The Battleship Potemkin '' Battleship Potemkin'' (, ), sometimes rendered as ''Battleship Potyomkin'', is a 1925 Soviet silent epic film produced by Mosfilm. Directed and co-written by Sergei Eisenstein, it presents a dramatization of the mutiny that occurred in 1905 ...

'' & ''

Strike Strike may refer to: People *Strike (surname) * Hobart Huson, author of several drug related books Physical confrontation or removal *Strike (attack), attack with an inanimate object or a part of the human body intended to cause harm * Airstrike, ...

'' (

Sergei Eisenstein Sergei Mikhailovich Eisenstein; (11 February 1948) was a Soviet film director, screenwriter, film editor and film theorist. Considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, he was a pioneer in the theory and practice of montage. He is no ...

), ''La glace à trois faces'' & '' La chute de la Maison Usher'' (

), '' Caligari'' (

), ''

Nosferatu ''Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror'' () is a 1922 silent film, silent German Expressionism (cinema), German Expressionist vampire film directed by F. W. Murnau from a screenplay by Henrik Galeen. It stars Max Schreck as Count Orlok, a vampire who ...

'' ( F.W. Murnau), '' Waxworks'' (

Paul Leni Paul Leni (born Paul Josef Levi, 8 July 1885 – 2 September 1929) was a German filmmaker and a key figure in German Expressionism (cinema), German Expressionism, making ''Hintertreppe'' (1921) and ''Waxworks (film), Waxworks'' (1924) in German ...

), ''

Man with a Movie Camera ''Man with a Movie Camera'' is an experimental 1929 Soviet silent documentary film, directed by Dziga Vertov, filmed by his brother Mikhail Kaufman, and edited by Vertov's wife Yelizaveta Svilova. Kaufman also appears as the titular Man. V ...

'' (

), ''

The Passion of Joan of Arc ''The Passion of Joan of Arc'' () is a 1928 French silent historical film based on the actual record of the trial of Joan of Arc. The film was directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer and stars Renée Jeanne Falconetti as Joan. It is widely regarde ...

'' ( Carl Dreyer), ''Enfants à Paris'' (coll. Albert Kahn), ''

Fantômas Fantômas () is a fictional character created by French writers Marcel Allain (1885–1969) and Pierre Souvestre (1874–1914). One of the most popular characters in the history of French crime fiction, Fantômas was created in 1911 and appeared ...

'' (5 episodes by

Louis Feuillade Louis Feuillade (; 19 February 1873 – 25 February 1925) was a French filmmaker of the silent film, silent era. Between 1906 and 1924, he directed over 630 films. He is primarily known for the crime serial film, serials ''Fantômas (1913 ser ...

) and ''

Vampires A vampire is a mythical creature that subsists by feeding on the Vitalism, vital essence (generally in the form of blood) of the living. In European folklore, vampires are undead, undead humanoid creatures that often visited loved ones and c ...

'', ''La vie de notre Seigneur Jésus Christ'' (C. Pathé), ''Mysterious X'' & ''

Häxan ''Häxan'' (, ''The Witch''; ''Heksen'' , ''The Witch''; English: ''The Witches''; released in the US in 1968 as ''Witchcraft Through the Ages'') is a 1922 Swedish-Danish silent horror essay film written and directed by Benjamin Christense ...

'' (

Benjamin Christensen Benjamin Christensen (28 September 1879 – 2 April 1959) was a Danish film director, screenwriter and an actor, both in film and on the stage. As a director, he was best known for his 1922 film '' Häxan'' (aka ''Witchcraft Through the Ages'') ...

), ''

L'Argent ("Money") is the eighteenth novel in the '' Rougon-Macquart'' series by Émile Zola. It was serialized in the periodical '' Gil Blas'' beginning in November 1890 before being published in novel form by Charpentier et Fasquelle in March 1891. T ...

'' (

)... * ''La rue, la musique et nous''. Arcueil, 1979 * ''Rideau!'', 1980 * Sound-art in Parc della Rimembranza. Napoli (Italy), 1981 * Pieces for orchestra, 1981–86 * ''Le trou'', from

Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe (; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic who is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales involving mystery and the macabre. He is widely re ...

, 1982 * Music for fire organ and orchestra, 1983 * Los Angeles Olympic Games (live with satellite projection,

Festival d'Avignon The ''Festival d'Avignon'', or Avignon Festival (), is an annual arts festival held in the France, French city of Avignon every summer in July in the courtyard of the Palais des Papes as well as in other locations of the city. Founded in 1947 by ...

), 1984 * ''La Bourse et la vie'' (Nouvel Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, dir.Yves Prin), 1984 * ''45 secondes départ arrêté'' & ''Féeries Jacobines'' (fireworks), 1984–85 * Ballet music for Jean Gaudin (''Ecarlate''),

Karine Saporta Karine Saporta is a French choreographer, dancer, photographer, and short film director. She is one of the most prominent figures in French dance. Saporta was born in France to a mother of Russian ancestry and a Spanish father. She began dancing ...

(''Manèges'' at

Opéra de Paris The Paris Opera ( ) is the primary opera and ballet company of France. It was founded in 1669 by Louis XIV as the , and shortly thereafter was placed under the leadership of Jean-Baptiste Lully and officially renamed the , but continued to be kn ...

, ''Le Coeur Métamorphosé'' at

Théâtre de la Ville (; "City Theatre") is one of the two theatres built in the 19th century by Baron Haussmann at Place du Châtelet, Paris, the other being the Théâtre du Châtelet. It is located at 2, place du Châtelet in the 4th arrondissement. Included a ...

), Lulla Card... 1985-1989 * ''Jeune fille qui tombe... tombe'' by

(oratorio, Michael Lonsdale / Daniel Laloux), 1985–90 * ''Le K'' by Dino Buzzati (oratorio,

Michael Lonsdale Michael Edward Lonsdale Crouch (24 May 1931 – 21 September 2020), commonly known as Michael Lonsdale and sometimes as Michel Lonsdale, was a French-British actor and author who appeared in over 180 films and television shows. He is often ...

- Daniel Laloux, scenery R.Sarti), 1985–92 * ''La Fosse'' (opera-bouffe, Martine Viard, Louis Hagen-William, l'Itinéraire), 1987 * ''Le Chateau des Carpathes'' by

Jules Verne Jules Gabriel Verne (;''Longman Pronunciation Dictionary''. ; 8 February 1828 – 24 March 1905) was a French novelist, poet and playwright. His collaboration with the publisher Pierre-Jules Hetzel led to the creation of the ''Voyages extraor ...

(burning cantata, Frank Royon Le Mée), 1987 * ''20 000 lieues sous mers'' (magical show and imaginary museum on 2 boats, La Péniche Opéra), 1988 * ''Zappeurs-Pompiers 1 & 2'' (live zapping on giant screen, Lulla Card, Éric Houzelot / Guy Pannequin), 1987–89 * ''J'accuse'' by

Émile Zola Émile Édouard Charles Antoine Zola (, ; ; 2 April 184029 September 1902) was a French novelist, journalist, playwright, the best-known practitioner of the literary school of Naturalism (literature), naturalism, and an important contributor to ...

(R.Bohringer, D.Fonfrède, Ahmed Madani, 70 musicians, dir. Jean-Luc Fillon, scenery Raymond Sarti), 1989 * ''Contrefaçons'' (orchestra, dir.J-L.Fillon), 1989 * ''Kind Lieder'', 1991 * ''Let my children hear music'' by

Charlie Mingus Charles Mingus Jr. (April 22, 1922 – January 5, 1979) was an American jazz upright bassist, composer, bandleader, pianist, and author. A major proponent of collective improvisation, he is considered one of the greatest jazz musicians and com ...

, 1992 * ''Crasse-Tignasse'', show for children, 1993–94 * ''Machiavel''Machiavel at Pannonica o
YouTube
(1999) (improvised techno with interactive images), 1999–2000 * ''Resurrection'', 2014 * ''Under The Channel'', 2024

Radio

* ''U.S.A. le complot'' & ''La peur du vide'',

France Musique France Musique () is a French national public radio channel owned and operated by Radio France. It is devoted to the broadcasting of music, both live and recorded, with particular emphasis on classical music and jazz. History The channel was lau ...

, 1983 * ''Écarlate'',

France Culture France Culture () is a French public radio channel and part of Radio France Radio France () is the French national public radio broadcaster. Stations Radio France offers seven national networks: *France Inter — Radio France's "generalist ...

, 1989

Video

Antène 1
real. Emmanuelle K, 1983
Auhourd'hui en France
real. Didier Ranz, 1987 * ''Le K'', real. Ch. Gomila, 1989
More than 20 links to films on Un d.m.i.

Bibliography

* A two pages self-portrait with Alain-René Hardy in Jazz magazine (January 1978
12
* Stéphane Ollivier on Un d.m.i. i

(été 1997) * A two pages blindfold with Stéphane Ollivier dans Jazz magazine (January 1999
12

References

External links

Site of Un Drame Musical Instantanéon site Assez Vu
Avant-garde ensembles 20th-century classical composers 21st-century classical composers French experimental music groups 20th-century French musicians {{authority control