“Pollock’s name is also associated with the introduction of the All-over style of painting which avoids any points of emphasis or identifiable parts within the whole canvas and therefore abandons the traditional idea of composition in terms of relations among parts.” —Nicolas Pioch, WebMuseum, July 16, 2002

Impasto is a triptych about expressionistic-abstract painters (Pollock, Riopelle, and Shiraga) I started in 2006. It consists in a work on the spontaneity of composition, information density, intentional awkwardness, “obvious editing” (Michel Chion). Destabilization through a lack of direction, interrupted segments, struggles between different materials. It is also abandoning any form of narrative or poetical expression in an attempted non-relationship between sounds — form — work. Research work on the possible velocity of sounds. An attempt at recreating this form of pictural frenzy.

— Christian Bouchard [English translation: François Couture, iv-11]

Impasto was realized in 2006-08 at the composer’s studio (synthesizers: Sonic Core-Flexor, Reaktor; samplers: Emulator X2, Kontakt, Shortcircuit, Reaktor; processing: Flexor, Reaktor).

Composition

• 2006 – 2008, Personal studio

Mastering

• March 2011, Dominique Bassal • Studio Inverse, Montréal (Québec)

Impasto 46 was realized in 2006 at the composer’s studio and premiered on April 29, 2006 during the Les machines à communiquer events presented by Codes d’accès at La Chapelle in Montréal (Québec). The piece was commissioned by Codes d’accès with support from the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ).

Composition

• 2006, Personal studio, Montréal (Québec)

Premiere

• April 29, 2006, Les machines à communiquer: III: Concert de musique électroacoustique, La Chapelle — scènes contemporaines, Montréal (Québec)

Mastering

• March 2011, Dominique Bassal • Studio Inverse, Montréal (Québec)

Impasto 128 was realized in 2008 at the composer’s studio and premiered under the title Faux 128 on December 12, 2008 during the concert series Akousma (5) presented by Réseaux des arts médiatiques at the Monument-National’s Studio Hydro-Québec in Montréal (Québec). Thanks to the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ).

Composition

• 2008, Personal studio

Premiere

• December 12, 2008, Akousma (5): Programme double, Studio Hydro-Québec — Monument-National, Montréal (Québec)

Mastering

• March 2011, Dominique Bassal • Studio Inverse, Montréal (Québec)

Impasto finale was realized in 2008 at the composer’s studio and premiered on December 12, 2008 as part of the concert series Akousma (5) presented by Réseaux des arts médiatiques at the Monument-National’s Studio Hydro-Québec in Montréal (Québec). It was commissioned by Réseaux des arts médiatiques.

Composition

• 2008, Personal studio

Premiere

• December 12, 2008, Akousma (5): Programme double, Studio Hydro-Québec — Monument-National, Montréal (Québec)

Mastering

• March 2011, Dominique Bassal • Studio Inverse, Montréal (Québec)

Parcelles 21 [Fragments 21] revisits four sections used in my earlier pieces Parcelles 1 (2002-03) and Parcelles 2 (2003):

1. Des enfants-sirènes (2nd movement of Parcelles 1)
2. Les secrets d’une inconnue (4th movement of Parcelles 1)
3. Quelque chose de la solitude (5th movement of Parcelles 2)
4. Brazil Wins (4th movement of Parcelles 2)

The starting point for these sections: from a template soundscape, pitched sounds and rhythmical/punctual events are notated in MIDI format; this information is used to trigger samplers and synthesizers. Only the MIDI files and their respective soundscapes have been used again; the instruments have changed and evolved.

— Christian Bouchard [English translation: François Couture]

Parcelles 21 was realized in 2008 at the composer’s studio and premiered under the title Ersatz on December 12, 2008 during the concert series Akousma (5) presented by Réseaux des arts médiatiques at the Monument-National’s Studio Hydro-Québec in Montréal (Québec). Thanks to the Canada Council for the Arts (CCA).

Composition

• 2008, Personal studio

Premiere

• December 12, 2008, Under the title Ersatz: Akousma (5): Programme double, Studio Hydro-Québec — Monument-National, Montréal (Québec)

Mastering

• March 2011, Dominique Bassal • Studio Inverse, Montréal (Québec)

Before the last one stops beating.
A recording of this mechanism and its audio environment.
Montréal.
Let’s listen to the past, now.
From a parking meter’s point of view.

Thanks go to Michel Gonneville for throwing me the idea of composing a symphony for parking meters! Who knows, more movements may turn up…

— Christian Bouchard [English translation: François Couture]

Objet menacé [Endangered object] was realized in 2010 at the composer’s studio and premiered on November 25, 2010 during the concert Électro-chocs 2 celebrating the 20th anniversary of empreintes DIGITALes in the Studio multimédia of the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal (Québec). Thanks to the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ).

Composition

• 2010, Personal studio

Premiere

• November 25, 2010, 20 Years of empreintes DIGITALes, Électrochocs 2010-11: Électrochocs 2: Christian Bouchard, Studio multimédia — Conservatoire de musique de Montréal, Montréal (Québec)

Mastering

• March 2011, Dominique Bassal • Studio Inverse, Montréal (Québec)