Born in 1959 in La Broque (Alsace, France) Gérard Hilpipre is mainly self-taught as a composer. However, some of his first works were played very soon in Strasbourg, the town where he lived, by distinguished artists (for instance the Ensemble Studio 111, the cellist Jean Deplace, the organist Pascal Reber; the different orchestras of the Music Conservatory also often played his music). Since that time Hilpipre’s music was performed by many ensembles, singers or choirs in France and abroad.

The main musical influences on Gérard Hilpipre are perhaps those of Schoenberg (for his atonalism and intensity of expression) and of Henri Dutilleux (for the sensuality of his music and his freedom towards the modes of the day).

At present Gérard Hilpipre devotes himself mainly to religious music on biblical texts (e.g. the cantata for solo bass, mixed choir & organ “Am Anfang...” based on chapter I of the Book of Genesis).