In 1975, he met Bernard Baschet who introduced him to Sound Sculptures. He discovered the Cristal. The qualities of this instrument that seemed essential to him were :

1) the richness of the tones ;

2) the glass keyboard where the hands are in direct contact with the sounds ;

3) That it was an acoustic instrument (absence of any electricity and electronics).

In 1998, he founded the ISUA Ensemble and decided to open his school, l'Ecole de Cristal, where he is able to pass on his 25 years of experience through teaching.

The original repertoire he composes and plays is regularly recorded.

Certain he'd found the instrument and sounds best suited to him, he began to learn to play the Cristal.

Michel Deneuve this realised that no one at that time could teach him the necessary technic (the technic and manner of playing being much different than those of a vertical keyboard Cristal used by Yvonne and Jacques Lasry). Understandind the inexplored potential of the horizontal keyboard Cristal, he began to work at several levels, the most important being :

1°) To develop a method of play based on that of classical instruments to master this unheard of acoustic principe, to let it serve him own, interior music and his musical choices.

2°) To make known and gain recognition for the Cristal, a full-range instrument which has it place in all musical combinations from solo instrument to symphony orchestra.

3°) To collaborate whith Bernard Baschet and his team to improve the workmanship of the instrument so that, together, they could construct Michel Deneuve's first Cristal.

This was a considerable job but, today, professionals agree that Michel Deneuve has taken his place as the first virtuoso of the Cristal. he pursues an international career. He appears regulary all over the world either as a soloist or whith other musicians in anything from duets to playing symphony orchestras.

Reception Page

Page d'acceuil

The Composer

Le Compositeur