Along with Milko Kelemen, Ivo Malec is Croatia's most famous composer of the avant-garde. Born in Zagreb, Croatia, in 1925, he studied in Paris, France, in 1955 while maintaining close ties with home. Inspired by color, Malec released Models in 1956, where 17 solo instruments are each associated with their own colors, and Mouvements en Couleur in 1959 -- he settled permanently in Paris in the same year. Many of his early compositions were electronic, often in the musique concrète style, such as Mavena (1957) and Breaths II (1961), which combined instrumentation with breathing effects. He went on to combine electronics with conventional instrumentation in several later works, such as Tutti (1962) for orchestra and tape. He combined reciter and orchestra in Oral (1966-1967), basing parts of the music on Andre Breton's Nadja and became a professor at the Paris Conservatoire in 1972. Perhaps his most applauded work followed with Acro 11 in 1975, a commanding and enigmatic piece. Another highlight followed with the release of Bassa (1983-1984). ~ Brendan Swift