Darius Milhaud

Milhaud's trademark is polytonality—multiple keys sounding simultaneously—but handled with such lightness and clarity that it never sounds academic or forced. His orchestrations are transparent and colorful, favoring bright winds and jazzy brass over thick string textures. Whether writing a fifteen-minute ballet or a three-hour opera, he maintained an almost journalistic directness, getting to the musical point without fuss.

Studied with Charles Widor but found his true voice alongside Poulenc, Honegger, and the other members of Les Six, united by Erik Satie's aesthetic and Jean Cocteau's manifestos. Time in Brazil as Paul Claudel's secretary infused his music with Latin rhythms and harmonies. He taught at Mills College for decades, influencing American composers like Dave Brubeck and Steve Reich with his polytonal thinking.

Early works showed late-Romantic influence, but by the 1920s he'd developed his polytonal style and jazz-inflected rhythm. The Nazi occupation forced him to flee to America, where he became a beloved teacher and continued composing prolifically. His later works became more reflective and harmonically settled, though he never abandoned the polytonality that made his name.

When Milhaud premiered 'La Création du Monde' in 1923, Parisian audiences were shocked to hear jazz in the concert hall—the ballet featured saxophone, blues harmonies, and a walking bass line. Critics called it vulgar; history has proven it a masterpiece that bridged classical and jazz decades before Third Stream was a concept.

Milhaud composed eighteen string quartets—a cycle rivaling Shostakovich's fifteen—yet they're rarely performed as a complete set despite containing some of his most adventurous writing, including Quartets 14 and 15, which can be played simultaneously as an octet.

Milhaud is moderately well-programmed, with 'La Création du Monde' and 'Scaramouche' appearing regularly, but most of his vast catalog remains neglected. Recent years have seen increased interest in his chamber music and symphonies as ensembles rediscover his wit and craftsmanship. He's evergreen in France but still undervalued internationally.