He was born in Vitry-le-François and received his musical training at the Conservatoire de Paris, where he won first prize in music history, and the Salzburg Mozarteum.
He also earned a degree in mathematics at the Sorbonne.
In 1953, he founded the Jean-Marie Leclair Instrumental Ensemble, which in 1959 became the Orchestre de Chambre Jean-François Paillard. The ensemble has made recordings of much of the Baroque repertoire for Erato Records and has toured throughout Europe and the United States. It has also recorded with many leading French instrumentalists, including Maurice André, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Pierre Pierlot, Lily Laskine, Jacques Lancelot, Michel Arrignon.
A 1968 recording by the orchestra of the "Canon and Gigue for 3 violins and basso continuo" by Johann Pachelbel, familiarly known as Pachelbel's Canon, nearly single-handedly brought the piece from obscurity to great renown. The recording was done in a more Romantic style, at a significantly slower tempo than it had been played at before, and contained obligato parts, written by Paillard, that are now closely associated with the piece. It was released on an Erato Records album, and was also included on a widely distributed album by mail-order label Musical Heritage Society album in 1968. The recording began to get significant attention in the United States, particularly in San Francisco, during the early 1970s. By the late 1970s various renditions of it were topping classical music charts in the U.S., including Paillard's own. The Paillard Chamber Orchestra's recording was also prominently featured in the soundtrack of the 1980 film Ordinary People.
Paillard released 307 records.
He also appeared frequently as a guest conductor with other orchestras and was active as an author. He edited the series Archives de la Musique Instrumentale and published La musique française classique in 1960.
He died on 15 April 2013, three days after his 85th birthday.
Clair de Lune
Jean-François Paillard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sous la grande roue qui tangue, tangue, tangue
Pour quelques pièces, les mots de son histoire
Viennent valser sur sa langue
Le vieil homme a fait tout les voyages
L'équateur, les deux pôles, drôle, drôle
Du plongeon suicide à l'homme sans âge
Il a joué tous les rôles
Il est né sur la lune
Il est né sur la lune
Il est né sur la lune
Quand il entrait dans le tonneau de la mort
Pour les foules au cœur vide, vide, vide
Le tambour battait parfois si fort
Qu'on en devenait timide
Personne ne lançait mieux les couteaux
Même si ses vieilles mains tremblent, tremblent, tremblent
C'était lui l'homme serpent, l'homme oiseau
Tous nos rêves lui ressemblent
Il est né sur la lune
Il est né sur la lune
Il est né sur la lune
Ce vieil homme sait peut-être deux ou trois choses
Sur la vie, sur l'amour, sur la mort
Paraît qu'il parle à Dieu
Paraît qu'il dit des choses quand il dort
De la grande chenille au petit Pigalle
C'est de là-haut sur son fil fragile
Comme tous les Augustes au cœur de toile
Qu'il oubliera l'exil
Il est né sur la lune
Il est né sur la lune
Il est né sur la lune
Il est né sur la lune
Il est né sur la lune
Il est né sur la lune
Il est né sur la lune
The lyrics to "Clair de lune" by Jean-François Lapointe & Louise-Andrée Baril tell the story of an old man who dances with his memories under a creaking Ferris wheel. For a few coins, the words of his story come to life on his tongue and dance in the air. The old man has experienced all kinds of journeys, from the equator to the two poles, from a risky dive to a timeless existence. He has played every role life has offered him.
The repetition of the line "Il est né sur la lune" ("He was born on the moon") signifies that the old man is a dreamer, someone who has always lived in a world of his own. He is not grounded in the realities of life but instead walks upon the moon, a metaphor for his unique perspective. The old man's existence is contrasted with the emptiness of the crowds he performs for, who are searching for something meaningful in their hollow hearts. The line "Quand il entrait dans le tonneau de la mort" ("When he entered the barrel of death") suggests that he is a daredevil performer, risking his life for the amusement of others.
The song hints that the old man may possess wisdom about life, love, and death. It is said that he speaks to God and utters profound things while asleep. Despite his life as a performer, he carries the knowledge of exile, as represented by the line "Comme tous les Augustes au cœur de toile, il oubliera l'exil" ("Like all the Augustes in the heart of the canvas, he will forget the exile"). This suggests that he has experienced a sense of displacement and detachment, perhaps from the world he performs in.
Line by Line Meaning
Le vieil homme danse avec sa mémoire
The old man dances with his memories, reliving the past in his mind.
Sous la grande roue qui tangue, tangue, tangue
Under the swaying ferris wheel, symbolizing the ups and downs of life.
Pour quelques pièces, les mots de son histoire
For a few coins, he shares the words of his life story.
Viennent valser sur sa langue
His words flow and dance on his tongue.
Le vieil homme a fait tous les voyages
The old man has traveled far and wide, experiencing all that life has to offer.
L'équateur, les deux pôles, drôle, drôle
From the equator to the poles, his journeys have been diverse and interesting.
Du plongeon suicide à l'homme sans âge
From dangerous dives to aging gracefully, he has played various roles in life.
Il a joué tous les rôles
He has played every role imaginable.
Il est né sur la lune
He was born on the moon, symbolizing his uniqueness and otherworldliness.
Quand il entrait dans le tonneau de la mort
When he entered the barrel of death, performing dangerous stunts for empty hearts.
Pour les foules au cœur vide, vide, vide
Entertaining empty-hearted crowds who crave distraction.
Le tambour battait parfois si fort
The drumbeat sometimes throbbed so loudly, making others timid in comparison.
Qu'on en devenait timide
Making them feel shy and insignificant.
Personne ne lançait mieux les couteaux
No one could throw knives better than him, despite his trembling hands.
Même si ses vieilles mains tremblent, tremblent, tremblent
Even though his old hands tremble incessantly.
C'était lui l'homme serpent, l'homme oiseau
He was the snake man, the bird man, embodying our dreams and aspirations.
Tous nos rêves lui ressemblent
All our dreams resemble him, reflecting his extraordinary existence.
Ce vieil homme sait peut-être deux ou trois choses
This old man may know a thing or two about life.
Sur la vie, sur l'amour, sur la mort
About life, love, and death.
Paraît qu'il parle à Dieu
It seems like he talks to God, having spiritual conversations.
Paraît qu'il dit des choses quand il dort
It seems like he says things when he sleeps, connecting with the subconscious and unseen.
De la grande chenille au petit Pigalle
From the big caterpillar to the small Pigalle, representing different stages of life.
C'est de là-haut sur son fil fragile
From up there, on his fragile wire.
Comme tous les Augustes au cœur de toile
Like all the Augustes, the clowns with hearts of fabric.
Qu'il oubliera l'exil
Where he will forget about exile and find solace.
Il est né sur la lune
He was born on the moon, where he finds his true identity and purpose.
Il est né sur la lune
He was born on the moon, defying earthly limitations and expectations.
Il est né sur la lune
He was born on the moon, existing in a realm of his own.
Il est né sur la lune
He was born on the moon, demonstrating his extraordinary nature and uniqueness.
Il est né sur la lune
He was born on the moon, defying conventions and societal norms.
Il est né sur la lune
He was born on the moon, representing his unconventional and extraordinary origin.
Il est né sur la lune
He was born on the moon, symbolizing his distinct and dreamlike existence.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Jean-patrick Capdevielle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
رمسّيس ابو علي جعّفر
🥰♥️
Amo!
Вадим Антоненко
Потрясающе! Raison d'etre.
Zintle Mvana
The best version out there
Nick
I had a version on my MP3 player like 10 years ago that was so great, and I never thought I would find one that good again until this one shuffled on on Spotify.
Mr X
The best version out there. Hands down.
SayaGamer3
¿Cómo es que esto no tiene 100 M de visitas?
Кира
so you have malay or indo name but spain
Phillip Anselmo
@Кира probably a Filipino
Pierre Brouard
Je bois la. Liqueur des yeux clairs de ton génie.tu es beaucoup pour moi
Kate Tobilid
I asked google assistance to play me some Johann pachelbel songs and it opened this. Btw nice music 😍