Milhaud (name)

Darius Milhaud (1892-1974) was a French composer, conductor, and teacher. He was a member of Les Six, a group of French composers working in the early 20th century whose music was a reaction against both the romanticism of composers such as Wagner and the impressionism of Debussy. Milhaud was known for his prolific output, composing over 400 works in various genres, including operas, ballets, symphonies, concertos, chamber music, and vocal works. He often incorporated polytonality and polyrhythms into his compositions, creating a complex and distinctive sound. Some of his best-known works include La création du monde, a ballet influenced by jazz music, and Le boeuf sur le toit, a surrealist ballet. He taught at Mills College in California for many years and had a significant influence on subsequent generations of composers. His students included Dave Brubeck, Burt Bacharach, and Steve Reich. He remained creatively active despite suffering from severe arthritis in his later years.