Origins & Early Life

Edgard Victor Achille Charles Varèse (French: [ɛdɡaʁ viktɔʁ aʃil ʃaʁl vaʁɛz]; also spelled Edgar; December 22, 1883 – November 6, 1965) was a French and American avant-garde composer who spent the greater part of his career in the United States. Varèse's music emphasizes timbre and rhythm; he coined the term "organized sound" in reference to his own musical aesthetic. Varèse's conception of music reflected his vision of "sound as living matter" and of "musical space as open rather than bounded". He conceived the elements of his music in terms of "sound-masses", likening their organization to the natural phenomenon of crystallization.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Varèse thought that "to stubbornly conditioned ears, anything new in music has always been called noise", and he posed the question, "what is music but organized noises?" Although his complete surviving works only last about three hours, he has been recognized as an influence by several major composers of the late 20th century. Varèse saw potential in using electronic media for sound production, and his use of new instruments and electronic resources led to his being known as the "Father of Electronic Music". Writer Henry Miller described him as "The stratospheric...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke — Contemporary (Born in 1883) (1883): British Field Marshal and Chief of the Imperial General Staff during WWII.
• Alexander Gettler — Contemporary (Born in 1883) (1883): Pioneering American forensic toxicologist and father of modern medicolegal investigation.
• Alexander Yegorov (general) — Contemporary (Born in 1883) (1883): Soviet military leader and one of the original Marshals of the Soviet Union.
• Aamir Khan — Contemporary (Born in 1965) (1965): Iconic Indian actor and filmmaker, known as "Mr. Perfectionist" in Hindi cinema.
• Albert Schweitzer — Contemporary (Died in 1965) (1965): German polymath renowned for theology, music, and 'Reverence for Life'
• Andrea M. Ghez — Contemporary (Born in 1965) (1965): Pioneering astrophysicist known for studying the Milky Way's central black hole.
• Al-Nawawi — Shared historical date (12-22 · Died) (1278): Influential Syrian Shafi'ite jurist and renowned hadith scholar.
• Angela James — Shared historical date (12-22 · Born) (1964): Pioneering Canadian ice hockey star, celebrated for her dominance in the 1980s and 1990s.
• Alfred F. Young — Shared historical date (11-06 · Died) (2012): Pioneering American historian of the Revolution and working-class social history.
• Cesare Lombroso — Shared historical date (11-06 · Born) (1835): Founder of modern criminology, known for atavistic theory of criminality.
• 1883 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1883
• December 22 (12-22) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on December 22
• 1965 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1965
• November 6 (11-06) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on November 6