“First duty at daybreak: to be ashamed of oneself.” — Emil Cioran, The New Gods

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead

These two quotes might seem contradictory, but together they express my feeling of powerlessness well: everyday, I wonder how to reconcile my happiness and my recognition of it at the expense of the rest of the planet.

[vi-11]

Reflets de notre société crépusculaire was realized in 2009 at the Studio 116C of the Groupe de recherches musicales (Ina-GRM) in Paris (France) and at the composer’s studio and premiered on December 6, 2009 at the Salle Olivier Messiaen, Maison de Radio France (Paris, France). The piece was commissioned by Ina-GRM. For their support, thanks to Christian Zanési, François J Bonnet, Philippe Dao, David Fenech, and Nicolas Stephan.

Composition

• 2009, Studio 116C — Groupe de recherches musicales – Institut national de l’audiovisuel (Ina-GRM), Paris (France)
• 2009, Personal studio, Huddersfield (England, UK)

Premiere

• December 6, 2009, Multiphonies 2009-10: Akousma, Salle Olivier Messiaen — Maison de Radio France, Paris (France)

Mastering

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

Mastering

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

Mastering

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

Mastering

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

For she who helps me to tame happiness

Something is instilled into me when, whilst sitting on a park bench watching my kids at play, I contemplate the drift of my thoughts. Or, when the sun surprises me halfway through an errand, I take the time to stop and to let its rays caress me through my eyelids. Or when I am cuddled against my lover, half-listening dreamily to the radio.

These moments share the feeling of a slowing of time, a serene opposition to the polyrhythm of contemporary life, a well-being into contemplation… Happiness, ineffable, emerges as a slow, voluptuous meditation… To paraphrase Daniel Pennac: they are “radiant enigmas.”

[v-11]

Ces énigmes lumineuses was realized in 2010 at the Laboratório Electroacústico de Criação (Lab for Electroacoustic Creation, LEC) of Miso Music Portugal in Lisbon (Portugal) and premiered on September 23, 2010 during the Música Viva festival at the Instituto Franco-Português in Lisbon (Portugal). The piece was commissioned by Miso Music Portugal. Thanks to the whole team of Miso Music Portugal: Paula de Castro Guimarães, Violeta Barradas, Marta Catana, Miguel Azguime, Pedro Ferreira, and Jose Grossinho.

Composition

• 2010, Lab for Electroacoustic Creation — Miso Music Portugal — Miso Music Portugal, Lisbon (Portugal)

Premiere

• September 23, 2010, Música Viva 2010: Orquestra de Altifalantes, Auditório Philippe Friedman — Institut français — Portugal, Lisbon (Portugal)

Mastering

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

To Helena (to Berlin)

“… the source of fear is in the future, and a person freed of the future has nothing to fear” — Milan Kundera, Slowness (La lenteur)

At 45 degrees in the shade, in the middle of an ocean of sand, one’s ego dissolve: the boundary between oneself, the others, the world, disappears, and only then is made possible the mid-summer night dream (nightmare?), static in its perpetual motion.

[vi-11]

For Ever Now Soon an End was realized in 2010 at the Elektronisches Studios of the Fachgebiet Audiokommunikation of the Technische Universität Berlin (Germany) and at the composer’s studio and premiered on January 21, 2011 during the Das Elektronische Studio der TU Berlin concert as part of the Ultraschall festival at Radialsystem V (Berlin, Germany). The piece was commissioned by Technische Universität Berlin. For their support, thanks to Folkmar Hein, Andre Bartetzki, Volker Straebel, and Wilm Thoben. This version was mastered in June 2011 by Dominique Bassal in Montréal.

Composition

• 2010, Elektronisches Studios — Technische Universität Berlin (TU), Berlin (Germany)
• 2010, Personal studio, Huddersfield (England, UK)

Premiere

• January 21, 2011, Ultraschall 2011: Das Elektronische Studio der TU Berlin, Radialsystem V, Berlin (Germany)

Mastering

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

To Hilke

“Woman is the future of man.” — Louis Aragon, Le fou d’Elsa

This piece, the title of which may imply humour at first glance, is an ode to the resilience of women. With its working title being “A Woman in Berlin,” the project is born of an immense admiration for a young woman of my surrounding that now lives this very city, and that has won two fights against cancer. Around the same time, I was reading the famous book bearing the same title, this diary of another young woman through the occupation of Berlin by the Russian army in 1945, and I could not stop being astonished by the capacity of women to find a place for happiness in these times of immense hardship.

By using a simple story as a narrative foundation, I hope to give a hint at the contagious happiness of these exceptional beings faced to adversity. They are forever my models.

[vi-11]

Les trois petits c… was realized in 2010 at the Métamorphoses d’Orphée studio of Musiques & Recherches in Ohain (Belgium) and at the composer’s studio and premiered on May 25, 2011 as part of the Trois visages des musiques électroacoustiques concert series produced by Musiques & Recherches at Espace Senghor in Brussels (Belgium). The piece was commissioned by Musiques & Recherches. Special thanks to Hilke Bahmann for her great generosity during the recording sessions. Thanks to the people around Musiques & Recherches: Annette Vande Gorne, Roald Baudoux, Alexis Boilley, Violaine Dehin, France Dubois, and Paul ‘Pablo’ Miquet.

Composition

• 2010, Métamorphoses d’Orphée — Musiques & Recherches, Ohain (Belgium)
• 2010, Personal studio, Huddersfield (England, UK)

Premiere

• May 25, 2011, 3 visages des musiques électroacoustiques: Musique électroacoustique et vidéomusique, Le Senghor, Brussels (Belgium)

Mastering

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

To Helena (in Birmingham)

Inhale.

Exhale.

Repeat until life ceases.

[v-11]

The videomusic Walk That Way. Tuesday, Turn. was realized in 2006 at the composer’s studio and premiered on June 3, 2006 during a concert produced by BEAST at Vivid in Birmingham (UK). Walk That Way. Tuesday, Turn. was awarded a Mention at the 35th Bourges International Electroacoustic Music and Sonic Art Competition (France, 2008). The video calibration was realized in June 2011 by Geoff Cox in Huddersfield (UK).

Composition

• 2006, Personal studio, Huddersfield (England, UK)

Premiere

• June 3, 2006, Music and Video: Mixed Electroacoustics & Instrumental Pieces, Vivid Projects, Birmingham (England, UK)

Awards

• Mention, Work for Multimedia Prize, 35th Bourges International Electroacoustic Music and Sound Art Competition 2008, Bourges (Cher, France)

About this sound recording

The 5.1 Surround version was realized in June 2011 by Dominique Bassal in Montréal (Québec).

Mixing

• June 2011, version 5.1: Dominique Bassal • Studio Inverse, Montréal (Québec)
• June 2011, video calibration: Geoff Cox • Huddersfield (England, UK)