Cinq études de bruits is a collection of musical compositions by Pierre Schaeffer

Pierre Schaeffer

Pierre Henri Marie Schaeffer was a French composer, writer, broadcaster, engineer, musicologist and acoustician of the 20th century. His innovative work in both the sciences —particularly communications and acoustics— and the various arts of music, literature and radio presentation after the end...

. The five études were composed in 1948 and are the earliest pieces of musique concrète

Musique concrète

Musique concrète is a form of electroacoustic music that utilises acousmatic sound as a compositional resource. The compositional material is not restricted to the inclusion of sounds derived from musical instruments or voices, nor to elements traditionally thought of as "musical"...

, a form of electroacoustic music that utilises recorded sounds as a compositional resource.

The five études were composed at the studio Schaeffer established at RTF (now ORTF), Studio d'Essai

Studio d'Essai

The Studio d'Essai, later Club d'Essai, was founded in 1942 by Pierre Schaeffer, played a role in the activities of the French resistance during World War II, and later became a center of musical activity....

. They are:

1. Étude aux chemins de fer - trains
2. Étude aux tourniquetes - toy tops and percussion instruments
3. Étude violette - piano sounds recorded for Schaeffer by Boulez
4. Étude noire - piano sounds recorded for Schaeffer by Boulez
5. Étude pathétique - sauce pans, canal boats, singing, speech, harmonica, piano

The works were premiered via a broadcast on 5 October 1948, titled Concert des bruits.

External links

• Étude aux chemins de fer at archive.org