- Year of composition: 2022
- Duration: 9:45
- Instrumentation: stereo fixed medium
- Publisher(s): Ymx média
- Commission: empreintes DIGITALes (Jean-François Denis)
- ISWC: T3151840465
Stereo
ISRC CAD502310002
- 48 kHz, 24 bits
Mini-bestiaire pour la fin du monde imagines three animal and plant species that would evolve beyond the Anthropocene by adapting to extreme environmental conditions. The work draws inspiration from speculative evolution to create their transformation, the challenges they have to overcome and, in the end, their successful adaptation. Their metamorphoses are based on changes already occurring in some species and some biologists’ speculations derived from past evolution: giant, colourful peppered moths living in luxuriant forests; stinky, mobile miniature trees; pollution-resistant long-legged aquatic anoles.
[English translation: François Couture, iv-23]
Mini-bestiaire pour la fin du monde [Mini-Bestiary for the End of the World] was realized in 2022 at the composer’s studio in Montréal. It was commissioned by empreintes DIGITALes. Footsteps sound sample: Everyday Cinematic Sounds.
Sources and inspirations
Cho, R. (2022, February 3). How Climate Change Will Affect Plants. State of the Planet. https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2022/01/27/how-climate-change-will-affect-plants/
Gruber, K. (n.d.). Trees that can walk up to 20m per year. BBC Travel. https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20151207-ecuadors-mysterious-walking-trees
Joyce, C. (2011, February 17). Toxic Avengers: Pollution Drove Fish Evolution. https://www.npr.org/2011/02/17/133842089/toxic-avengers-pollution-drove-fish-evolution
Law, W., & Salick, J. (2005). Human-induced dwarfing of Himalayan snow lotus, Saussurea laniceps (Asteraceae). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 102(29), 10218–10220. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0502931102
Nguyen, M. (2021, October 20). What will animals of the future look like? We asked 7 scientists. Vox. https://www.vox.com/down-to-earth/22734772/future-animals-evolution-unexplainable
Than, K. (2021, May 4). Why Giant Bugs Once Roamed the Earth. Science. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/110808-ancient-insects-bugs-giants-oxygen-animals-science?
Thompson, H. (2014, October 24). Ten Species That Are Evolving Due to the Changing Climate. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/ten-species-are-evolving-due-changing-climate-180953133/
Toomey, D. (2018, April 5). Urban Darwinism: How Species Are Evolving to Survive in Cities. Yale E360. https://e360.yale.edu/features/urban-darwinism-how-species-are-evolving-to-survive-in-cities
Wikipedia contributors. (2023, January 29). Peppered moth evolution. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peppered_moth_evolution
Composition
- 2022, Personal studio, Montréal (Québec)
Mastering
- 2022-11 – 2022-12, Dominique Bassal • Studio Inverse, Montréal (Québec)