Armand Amar

Armand Amar is a composer based in Paris who's well known for his film scores and dance pieces. Amar was born in Jerusalem in 1953 and raised in Morocco. Amar became interested in music at an early age and undertook a rigorous program of self-education, studying European classical music as well as the traditional styles of African and Middle Eastern music. Fascinated by the link between music and physical performance, Amar found a vehicle for these interests when he began working with South African choreographer and anthropologist Peter Goss, who appreciated Amar's interest in the sounds of different cultures. Amar's compositions for Goss led to collaborations with several other noted dance troupes, as well as the acting workshop of Patrice Chéreau and the Conservatoire National Supérieur. In 1994, Amar performed on the soundtrack of Michel Blanc's film Grosse Fatigue, and in 1997 he composed the score for the television presentation Miracle a l'Eldorado. In 2002, celebrated filmmaker Costa Gavras invited Amar to score his film Amen, making it the first of a long string of film soundtracks written and produced by the composer. In addition to his work as a composer and performer, Amar is also one of the founders of the record label Long Distance, specializing in world music and classical works from around the globe.