Michel Legrand Quotes

France, Composer
February 24, 1932 – January, 26, 2019.

Michel Jean Legrand was a French musical composer, arranger, conductor, and jazz pianist. Legrand was a prolific composer, having written over 200 film and television scores, in addition to many songs. His scores for the films of French New Wave director Jacques Demy, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) and The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967), earned Legrand his first Academy Award nominations.

Also known as Conductor, Jazz Musician, Arranger, Pianist

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.

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

Michel Legrand
- Melody
- Effortlessly
- Duos

Like a circle in a spiral Like a wheel within a wheel Never ending or beginning On an ever-spinning reel As the images unwind Like the circles that you find In the windmills of your mind.

Michel Legrand
- Popular
- Spinning
- Spirals
"The more I live, the more I learn The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know"

Michel Legrand
- Learn
- More
- Realize
Here is how I work: when I think that a film needs to have a principal theme, I search for a melody.

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

Michel Legrand
- Harmony
- Radio
- Melody
Here is how I work: when I think that a film needs to have a principal theme, I search for a melody. I have a very strange melodic gift: melodies come to me effortlessly. 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. That happened one time with Jacques Demy for the duo of the twins [in Les demoiselles de Rochefort]: I went to his house in Noirmoutier to play 35 possible themes for him.

Michel Legrand
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.

Michel Legrand
- Writing
- Directors
- Needed

To play piano is a significant part of my life, my existence. It fulfills a very physical & spiritual need for me.

Michel Legrand
- Play
- Spiritual
- Existence
I insist on a Steinway for my recordings, my concerts and my home. It is the only piano I want to hear my music played on.

Michel Legrand
- Playing
- Piano
- Concerts