Michel Legrand Quotes

Michel Legrand — French Composer born on February 24, 1932,

Michel Legrand is a French musical composer, arranger, conductor, and pianist. Legrand is a prolific composer, having written over 200 film and television scores in addition to many memorable songs. He is best known for his often haunting film music and scores, such as The Umbrellas of Cherbourg and The Thomas Crown Affair featuring the song "The Windmills of Your Mind" for which he won his first Academy Award... (wikipedia)

So I write melodies - thirty, forty, fifty - then I cast them off until I have just two or three. If only one is needed, I go see the director and ask him to decide.

Here is how I work: when I think that a film needs to have a principal theme, I search for a melody.

My father had left behind an old piano. My sister was already going to school, my mother was out working, and I stayed at home alone with my adorable grandmother who understood nothing I said. It was so boring that I stayed at the piano all day long, and that saved my life.

I have a very strange melodic gift: melodies come to me effortlessly.

I would listen to something on the radio and try to tap out the melody, then the harmonies.

Michel Legrand Quotes

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