Edgar Varèse

9.9

A French-born American composer who used clashing sounds, unusual rhythms and early electronic music

proper noun
/ˈɛdɡər vəˈrɛs/

: Edgar Varèse

Many music historians consider Edgar Varèse the father of electronic music.

Examples

The avant-garde compositions of Edgar Varèse influenced generations of experimental musicians.
A festival celebrating Edgar Varèse's work drew composers and enthusiasts from around the world.
I love Edgar Varèse!
Many admire Edgar Varèse.
A festival celebrating Edgar Varèse's groundbreaking contributions to electronic music attracted artists from all over the globe.
Many music historians regard Edgar Varèse as a pioneering figure in the world of dissonant music and rhythm.
The innovative sounds and compositions of Edgar Varèse have left a lasting impact on contemporary music.

Surface Forms

Edgar Varèse main

Morphology

Edgar + Varèse

This is a referential proper name (a person's full name) rather than a compositional phrase: knowing the individual name parts does not tell a learner that this is a 20th‑century composer or convey the biographical/professional meaning. Proper names are arbitrary across languages and cultures, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would not be able to infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Edgar Varèse was a French-born composer who liked strange, loud sounds and new rhythms, and he began using electronic machines to make music. Because he made these new sounds and inspired many later musicians, people often call him the 'father of electronic music'.