ALBERT YAYING XU
est mon grand-père bien-aimé. Cette page de mon site Web est l'endroit où je rassemblerai des informations, des liens de presse et toutes sortes de updates qui lui sont dédiées jusqu'à ce que nous puissions faire fonctionner sa page Wikipédia et construire son site pour en faire une page de mémoire! Car a part d'être un humain remarquablement passionné et doué, j'aimerais faire savoir au monde a quel point aussi son humanité, son esprit et son humour illuminait ce monde. Ce n'était pas seulement un acousticien génial — mais un père de famille généreux, aimant et récomfortant, jusqu'a la fin de sa vie. Lui et sa femme Anne Xu formaient un sacré duo plein de vie, de blagues et de tendresse. C'était le meilleur grand-père que j'aurais pu avoir. Il m'a appris a dessiner, a voir les choses différemment, a ouvrir les oreilles et l'esprit, bref, je vous laisse découvrir! N'hesitez pas a laisser un commentaire en bas pour collectionner les souvenirs qu'on a de lui ou laissez nous juste un message!
Biographie
Albert Yaying Xu est un acousticien architectural d'origine chinoise, né le 11 novembre 1934 à Tianjin et mort le 6 décembre 2023 a Paris.
En 1953, il s'inscrit au département d'architecture de l'Université de Tsinghua en a Pékin en Chine, se spécialisant en architecture sous la tutelle du professeur Liang Sicheng, connu comme le père de l'architecture chinoise moderne.
Diplômé en 1959, il reste à l'université en tant qu'enseignant tout en se plongeant dans la théorie acoustique sous la direction du professeur Ma Dayou à l'Institut de recherche en acoustique de l'Académie chinoise des sciences.
À la fin des années 1970, il rejoint le Ministère de la Culture, où il a supervisé l'évaluation sonore des théâtres à travers le pays. En 1979, lors de la visite en Chine de l'Orchestre philharmonique de Berlin dirigé par Herbert Von Karajan, Albert était chargé de garantir que les lieux de concert respectaient les standards acoustiques du maestro.
Cette même année, lors de la venue en Chine d'Eugene Ormandy et de l'Orchestre de Philadelphie, Albert a supervisé la mise en place des améliorations acoustiques à l'auditorium Hongta sélectionné.
À la fin de 1979, il est invité en France pour mener des recherches sur le projet "Évaluation subjective de la qualité sonore et indices acoustiques objectifs" à l'IRCAM (Institut de recherche et coordination acoustique/musique) sous la direction de Pierre Boulez. De 1982 à 1984, il travaille au sein du Bureau d'acoustique danois.
En 1987, sur la recommandation de l'architecte Ieoh Ming Pei, il fonde son propre cabinet de conseil acoustique, Xu Acoustique, à Paris.
Tout au long de sa vie, Albert Yaying Xu a réalisé multiples projets, dont la Cité de la musique à Paris et la Salle nationale de musique du Luxembourg en collaboration avec Christian de Portzamparc, la Pyramide du Louvre et la Cour Marly en collaboration avec Ieoh Ming Pei, l'Opéra National de Bordeaux en collaboration avec Fonquernie, l'Arsenal de Metz en collaboration avec Ricardo Bofill, la Grange au Lac dans la région d’Évian en collaboration avec Patrick Bouchain, et Wei-Wu-Ying (en), le centre d'art national à Kaohsiung en collaboration avec Francine Houben (en).
Il a été intervenant lors de nombreux séminaires internationaux de recherche scientifique et a rédigé des articles publiés dans des revues telles que Progressive Architecture, Proceedings of the Institute of Acoustics, Technique & Architecture, et Le Moniteur.
Oeuvres
Salles de concert et opéras
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1989, L’arsenal Ney, Metz, France
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1990, Le Corum, Montpellier, France
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1993, La Grange Au Lac, Evian, France
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1997, La Cité De La Musique, Paris, France
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2004, Théâtre Graslin, Nantes, France
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2004, Centre d’Arts Orientaux (en), Shanghai, Chine
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2005, La Philharmonie de Luxembourg, Kirchberg, Luxembourg
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2007, La Philharmonie de Saint-Pétersbourg, Sint-Petersburg, Russie
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2009, Le Prince Mahidol Hall (en), Bangkok, Thailand
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2009, La Salle de concerts centrale du Kazakhstan, Astana, Kazakhstan
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2010, La Fondation Onassis, Athène, Grèce
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2013, L'Opéra de Lausanne, Lausanne, Suisse
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2013, La Cidades Das Artes, Rio De Janeiro, Brésil
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2019, Le Conservatoire de musique de Shanghai, Shanghai Chine
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2020, CasArt, Casablanca, Maroc
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2022, Centre national d'art et de culture de Kaohsiung (en), Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Théâtres
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1987, Théâtre National de Bretagne, Rennes, France
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1988, Théâtre d’Auxerre, Auxerre, France
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1996, Théâtre de verre, Châteaubriant, France
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1996, Théâtre national de l'Opéra-Comique, Paris, France
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1997, Esch Theatre, Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
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1998, Teatro Nacional de Catalunya TNC, Barcelone, Espagne
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1998, Le Phenix Theatre, Valenciennes, France
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2000, Théâtre du Passage, Neuchâtel, Suisse
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2004, Neumûnster Abbey, Grund, Luxembourg
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2005, Ashgabat National Theater, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
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2006, Nouvel Equipment Culturel, Rennes, France
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2011, Théâtre de Thionville, Thionville, France
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2012, Équilibre Theatre, Fribourg, Suisse
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2013, Theatre National Bahrein, Al-Manama, Bahrein
Centres culturels et
conservatoires
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1993, La Filature, Mulhouse, France
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1994, Centre d’Amérique, Paris, France
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1997, Maison de La Culture du Japon, Paris, France
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2007, Centre Culturel Miguel Delibes, Valladolid, Espagne
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2003, Amphithéâtre du Verniquet, Paris, France
Lieux amplifiés
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1989, Crazy Horse, Paris, France
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2005, Hong Kong Arena, Honk Kong, Chine
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2007, Le Prisme, Aurillac, France
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2023, Dome de Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan
Musées et autres
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1988, Pyramide du Louvre, Paris, France
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1991, Terminal 2, Barcelona Airport, Barcelona, Spain
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1997, La Maison de l'Orchestre National d'Ile de France, Alfortville, France
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1999, Centre Culturel de Macau, Macau, Chine
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2002, La Ferme de Villefavard, Villefavard, France
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2007, Musée de Suzhou, Suzhou, Chine
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2008, Musée d'Art islamique, Doha, Qatar
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2009, Larnaca Airport, Larnaca, Cyprus
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2012, Miho Chapel, Kyoto, Japon
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2013, Maison Du Savoir, Belval, Luxembourg
Presse & Liens externes
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Le site officiel Xu Acoustique
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Le compte Instagram Xu_acoustique
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Epic scenes: the biggest arts venue on Earth lands in Taiwan, "The Parisian magician of acoustics, Albert Xu, built a 1:10 model of it to ensure it provides the perfect reverberation time for everything from a classical orchestra to the twanging of the Taiwanese aboriginal mouth harp.,"
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Une grange et un lac, "Pensée et construite par l’architecte français Patrick Bouchain, c’est avec l’acousticien Albert Yaying Xu, qu’il relève le défi d’achever cet auditorium de 1 100 places dans un délai record..."
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A Evian-les-Bains, «La Source Vive» jaillira en 2025 "Selon les préconisations d’Albert Yaying Xu (Xu Acoustique), concepteur de nombreuses salles de concert à travers le monde, le public prendra place autour des musiciens, sur des fauteuils disposés sur des gradins non-rétractables.
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Le Moniteur: "Récemment disparu à l’âge de 89 ans, l’acousticien avait travaillé avec les plus grands noms de l’architecture dans le monde entier."
CEREMONIE
CREMATION, 13 DECEMBRE 2023
pictures by Fanny Van Gucht
(Text by good friend Kanzai Huang)
« In the cold winter dawn of Paris, with a heart filled with reluctance and sadness, I attended the funeral of the internationally renowned acoustician,
Professor Xu Yaying, at Père Lachaise Cemetery.
The ceremony was solemn and warm, with close friends and family gathering to remember and honor this respected elder. I conveyed greetings from Amy Tong, a senior figure in the French literary and artistic community who introduced us.
Though grieving, Professor Xu's wife remained strong, expressing in Chinese the deep bond she shared with him over more than sixty years. Professor Xu's daughter spoke in English, expressing that her father was her hero, spiritual pillar, and closest friend, describing him as an adventurous spirit now embarking on another journey.
His granddaughter, in French, reminisced about the love and care her grandfather showered upon her throughout her childhood. Writer Zhao Yue-Sheng praised Professor Xu's knowledge and expertise in Chinese.
During the ceremony, French songs "Sous le Ciel de Paris" and "Clair de Lune" by Debussy, as well as the American pop song "My Way" by Frank Sinatra, played – three songs beloved by Professor Xu and his wife. Hearing "My Way," Professor Xu's wife seemed momentarily transported, as if back to the ordinary moments they shared enjoying music at home. The ceremony concluded with this song, symbolizing Professor Xu's life.
Remaining gracious, Professor Xu's wife, accompanied by family, nodded in gratitude to those present, thanking them for accompanying Professor Xu on his final journey and advising everyone to take care. Witnessing the images of Professor Xu's memorial and his wife's composure, I found it difficult to hold back tears.
Taiwan's cultural and musical venues, including the "Weiwuying National Arts and Cultural Center," "Kaohsiung Pop Music Center," "Taipei Arena," "Taipei Dome," "Zhongshan Hall," "Taipei Symphony Orchestra," "Taipei Performing Arts Center," "Taipei Music and Book Center," and "Tsing Hua University JunShan Music Hall," all bear the influence and contributions of Professor Xu Ya-Ying. As the arts community enjoys the outstanding acoustics of these venues, let us remember Professor Xu Ya-Ying's contributions to Taiwan.
Rest in peace, Professor Xu Yaying, and may Professor Xu's wife find solace and strength in her grief. »
Maïly, grand-child writing
Dear Ye-Ye,
I’m 5 years old, you are 65.
One morning, I get up.
Nai-Nai is in the kitchen, you on the couch. I come to you, still sleepy, you tell me:
“Make yourself comfortable darling!”
I lie down next to you, you give me a foot massage. I fall asleep to the ambient sound of the television, the kitchen, and of you sipping tea.
Ye, you showed me serenity.
You are 68 years old, I am 8.
On the restaurant table, you draw Mickey Mouse.
Little by little, you teach me to draw. I complain, it's too hard.
But you reassure me: “My darling, it will come, over the years. Keep training.”
Folds of clothing, wrinkles of faces, chimneys on roofs.
Ye, you made me attentive to the details of life.
I'm ten, you're 70.
We just finished eating.
Nai-Nai is chatting with the owner of the restaurant, as usual. The room is very noisy.
You tell me about the “cocktail” effect, an acoustic phenomenon where people gradually start to speak louder and louder. You explain it so well, that I understand everything.
Ye, you opened me to the world of sound and space.
You are 73, I am 13.
One day, I come to you with a request. I would like to skate, but my dad finds it too dangerous. You trust me. We're going to Go Sport de République.
I'm hesitant, but you motivate me to talk to the seller. You buy me my first skateboard.
Ye, you showed me to take risks in life.
I'm 17, you are 77. I’m almost asleep on the living room couch. It's 3am. I hear your voice and that of Nai-Nai from the next room. You two are still awake?! I hear you both talking about anything and everything – and above all, I hear you bursting out laughing in the depths of the night.
Ye, you showed me what love is.
I'm 28, you 88. Together with Nai-Nai you visit me at my new job and discover the sound-sculptures in our atelier.
In no time, I witness you & her discovering all the instruments, acting freely and oh so youthful! After that, you join my meeting where I have to discuss the design of panels for a museum. Politely you proceed to suggest triangle panel legs, which you then sketch on a paper towel. This is the design we use in the end.
Ye, you showed me how creativity has no limitations.
I am 29 years old, you are now eternal.
Nai-Nai, mum and I are hanging the laundry. Some of your clothes pass our hands.
Nai-Nai tells me how meticulously you use to fold blankets, taking each corner carefully in your hands and bringing them together – putting intention in even the smallest gestures.
Ye, there is an endless amount of memories like these to share.
I took peace with your departure, knowing that you were surrounded by the love and courage of your dear wife and your beloved daughter. We all carry within us the qualities that you generously shared with the world.
In our gestures, our words, our steps, our thoughts and of course, our heart,
you continue to live, until eternity.
Mon Chérie Ye, I wish you a nice travel,
Wo ai ni.
A VEIL
"Perhaps this is when life started to leave your body.
Suddenly, gently, like a white veil upon your soul."
(It was during this forest walk that you started to get sick kilometers away. A few days after is when you departed from the Earth Realm.)
06 DECEMBER 2023
Ye-Ye and Nai-Nai (my grand-mother, who is now partly living with me)
are the source of my soul and the reason
why I am able to love this life
and earth so much.
They influenced my way of looking at things
— pointed my gaze towards the mundane details of life
and always were there to listen and look
at my creations.