The Bol (Bowl) is a stunning musical instrument invented by Jean-François Laporte; it produces weird menacing sounds. The Hydra is the mythical monster whose heads would grow back when they were chopped off. To put it simply, I attempted a graft between these two curiosities. Most of the sounds used in this piece come from the instrument.

— Gilles Gobeil [English translation: François Couture, v-15]

Bol-Hydre [Bowl-Hydra] was realized in 2011 at the composer’s studio in Montréal and premiered on June 5, 2011 at the concert Les totems électriques III in the Studio multimédia du Conservation de musique de Montréal. The piece was commissioned by Productions Totem contemporain, with support from the Canada Council for the Arts (CCA). Thanks to Jean-François Laporte. Bol-Hydre was awarded the 2nd prize at the 5th Destellos Electroacoustic Composition Competition (Mar del Plata, Argentina, 2012).

Composition

• 2011, Personal studio, Montréal (Québec)

Premiere

• June 5, 2011, Totem électrique: Les totems électriques III, Studio multimédia — Conservatoire de musique de Montréal, Montréal (Québec)

Awards

• 2nd prize Phonos, Fixed medium, 5th Destellos Competition 2012, Mar del Plata (Argentina)