Street traffic, radio traffic reports, weather forecasts. Winter ambiance in Montréal. Everyday sounds, from urban banality which are sporadically confronted — during a pause in the urban rumble — by a chord on the piano, as if it had escaped though a half-opened window. Nostalgic colour, a little too sweet, that seems to come from elsewhere, from another era, another city.

[ix-91]

Petite musique sentimentale [Miniature Sentimental Music] was realized at the composer’s studio in 1984 and premiered by the pianist Anne Berteletti on January 20, 1985, at the Studio 106 of Radio France in Paris. This piece was commissioned by Belgium National Radio’s producer Harry Halbreich.

Composition

• 1984, Personal studio, Montréal (Québec)

Premiere

• January 20, 1985, Anne Berteletti, piano • Perspectives du XX^e siècle: Carte blanche à Harry Halbreich, Studio 106 Sacha Guitry — Maison de Radio France, Paris (France)

About this sound recording

This version of Petite musique sentimentale was performed by Jacques Drouin, recorded at the McGill University Recording Studio in May 1991 (engineer: Peter Cook), and mixed at the composer’s studio in June 1991.

Recording

• May 1991, Peter Cook, engineer • Recording Studio — McGill University, Montréal (Québec)

Mixing

• June 1991, Personal studio, Montréal (Québec)

Performers

• Jacques Drouin, piano