Linda Bouchard

Linda Bouchard (born 21 May 1957) is a Canadian composer and conductor.

Bouchard was raised in Montreal. She has a BA in music (Bennington College, Vermont, 1979) and an MMus in composition (Manhattan School of Music, New York City, 1982). Her teachers were Ransom Wilson, Sue Ann Kahn, Harvey Sollberger (flute), David Gilbert and Arthur Weisberg (conducting), and Elias Tanenbaum and Henry Brant (composition). From 1979 to 1991 Bouchard resided in New York City, where she composed and conducted ensembles including the St-Luke's Orchestra, Essential Music, New York New Music Ensemble and the New Music Consort. In 1991 she returned to Canada. From September 1992 to August 1995 she was composer-in-residence for the National Arts Centre Orchestra. She has lived in San Francisco since 1997 with her husband and only son. She is the founder of NEXMAP based in San Francisco.

She has cited Henry Brant as a major influence in her music. She has experimented with different spatial placements of performers, both as a composer and as a conductor. Her music is characterized by timbral explorations and percussive explosions.

Theatrical works

• The House of Words (2003), opera
• Minotaurus (1988), story
• Mr. Link (1993), music theatre for children
• Musique Défilé Fashion Show for the End of a Century (1999), theatrical fashion show
• Triskelion (1982), opera

Vocal music

• Black Burned Wood (1990), song
• Ocamow (1993), song cycle
• Pilgrims' Cantata (1996), cantata
• Risky (1993), song
• Songs For An Acrobat (1995), lieder

Orchestral music

• Booming Sands, Viola Concerto (1998)
• Élan (1990)
• Eternity (1996)
• Exquisite Fires (1993)
• Fanorev (1986)
• Fashion Show (1999)
• The Open Life (2000)
• Ressac (1991)
• Vertige (1994)

Large chamber ensemble

• Brasier (2001)
• Compressions (1996)
• Frisson, La Vie, Duo Concertante for flute, viola and strings (1992)
• Ire (1992)
• Neiges (2002)
• Oracles (1997)
• Reveling of Men (1988)

Chamber music

• Amuser Le Temps (1989)
• Circus Faces (1983)
• Icy Cruise (1984)
• Delicate Contract (1988)
• Ductwork (1997)
• Le Scandale (1989)
• Le Scandale II (2002)
• Muskoday (1988)
• Possible Nudity for solo viola, cello, string bass, harp and percussion (1987)
• Possible Nudity for viola with cello and piano (1988)
• Pourtinade for viola and percussion (1983)
• Propos II (1985)
• Propos III (1984)
• Propos IV (1984)
• Propos Nouveaux (1988)
• Pulsing Flight (1985)
• Reciproque (1994)
• Sept Couleurs (1994)
• Swift Silver (1989)
• Tossing Diamonds (1983)
• Transi-Blanc (1987)
• Transi-Blanc (revised - 1987)

String quartet

• Lung Ta (1992)
• Stormy Light (1982)
• Traces (1996)

Solo works

• Glances (1980)
• Propos (1983)
• Tokpela (1989)