Milhaud, Darius << mee YOH, da RYOOS >> (1892-1974), was a French-born composer noted for his fluency in many musical forms, from solo instrumental and chamber works to symphonies and works for the stage. Milhaud wrote 15 operas, 13 ballets, 12 symphonies, and music for ballets and motion pictures. The French poet Paul Claudel wrote the librettos (words) for several of Milhaud’s works, including his famous opera Christophe Colomb (1928). Milhaud’s best-known ballet, La creation du monde (The Creation of the World, 1923), reflects his interest in jazz.
Milhaud was born on Sept. 4, 1892, in Aix-en-Provence in southern France, and this region inspired his Suite Provencale for orchestra (1936). Milhaud received his music training at the Paris Conservatory from 1910 to 1915. In 1917 and 1918, he served with the French Embassy in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and became acquainted with Brazilian popular music. Milhaud used this music in Saudades do Brasil (Memories of Brazil, 1920-1921), which he composed for piano and later arranged for orchestra.
During the 1920’s, Milhaud belonged to a group of young French composers called Les Six. He left France in 1940 during World War II (1939-1945). That year, Milhaud joined the faculty of the music department at Mills College (now Mills College at Northeastern University) in Oakland, California. He retired in 1974 and died on June 22 of that year.
