Tilt is like a pinball machine’s challenge. “Game is over” or “Free Game”. Electroacoustics would have permitted me to record the sound of a pinball machine and then work the transformation typical to this medium. But I employed a subjective vision, exploring the idea in a musical, rather than an anecdotal fashion by creating an imaginary machine.

Tilt was realized during 1985 and ’86 in the studio of the Faculty of Music of the Université de Montréal, and was remixed in October 1993 at the Cinar studio, with the assistance of engineer Pierre Labbé. Tilt was awarded the Grand Prize, as well as the 1st prize in the electroacoustic category at 7th CBC National Competition for Young Composers in 1986.

Composition

• 1985 – 1986, Faculté de musique – Université de Montréal, Montréal (Québec)

Premiere

• May 21, 1986, Concert, Faculté de musique — Université de Montréal, Montréal (Québec)

Awards

• Prize, Grand Prize, CBC National Radio Competition for Young Composers 1985-86, Canada
• 1st prize, Chamber Music or Electronic Music, CBC National Radio Competition for Young Composers 1985-86, Canada

Remixing

• October 1993, Mario Rodrigue; Pierre Labbé, assistance • Studio Cinar, Montréal (Québec)

Sound poetry inspired by two different physical states of water — the solid and the liquid. The solid, with its fixed, crystalline movements, superimposed upon the undulations of the liquid. Evocation of the avalanches of colour characteristic of liquid crystals.

Cristaux liquides [Liquid Crystals] was realized in 1990 in the studios of the Faculty of Music of the Université de Montréal and at the composer’s studio: the first minute was realized with the use of a Fairlight, the eight following minutes with an Akai S1000 sampler and RealTime software on an Atari 1040st. The final mix was produced on April 7th,1990 at the Cinar studio with the assistance of engineer Alain Roy. Cristaux liquides was presented on April 4, 1990 as part of the Clair de terre concert series at the Planétarium de Montréal. Cristaux liquides was awarded a mention at the 19th Bourges International Electroacoustic Music Competition (France, 1991).

Composition

• 1990, Faculté de musique – Université de Montréal, Montréal (Québec)
• 1990, Personal studio

Premiere

• April 4, 1990, Clair de terre I: Concert 6, Planétarium de Montréal, Montréal (Québec)

Awards

• Mention, Electroacoustic Music Prize, 19th Bourges International Electroacoustic Music Competition 1991, Bourges (Cher, France)

Mixing

• April 7, 1990, Mario Rodrigue; Alain Roy, assistance • Studio Cinar, Montréal (Québec)

Each moment of every day, we are at the center of a mass of sound, small or large, dynamic or soothingly flowing. We perceive it, taste it, we do or don’t appreciate it. In Qu’est-ce concert? (What is this Concert?), soundscapes are presented to our ears — at times anecdotal, at times virtually real — and become interwoven, entangled concerts.

Qu’est-ce concert? was realized in 1987 in the studios of the Faculty of Music of the Université de Montréal and was remixed in October 1993 at the Cinar studio in Montréal with the assistance of engineer Pierre Labbé. It was premiered on May 17, 1987 at the Faculty of Music of the Université de Montréal. Thanks to Johanne Rodrigue.

Composition

• 1987, Faculté de musique – Université de Montréal, Montréal (Québec)

Premiere

• May 17, 1987, Concert, Faculté de musique — Université de Montréal, Montréal (Québec)

Remixing

• October 1993, Mario Rodrigue; Pierre Labbé, assistance • Studio Cinar, Montréal (Québec)

A traveller in space enters the terrestrial orbit. Caressed, confronted by various sound objects, he suddenly lands on the surface and finds himself in the middle of downtown. From this point of departure, he goes exploring, moving through space-time, before continuing on his way… off where we cannot follow.

Le voyageur [The Traveller] was realized in 1993 at the composer’s studio with an Akai S1000 sampler, a Korg MS20 synthesizer, DAT et ADAT tape recorders, and Cubase software on an Atari 1040st. The final mix was realized in October 1993 at the Cinar studio in Montréal with the assistance of engineer Pierre Labbé. Le voyageur premiered on February 28, 1994 in Norwich (UK) during the “Traces électro — UK 94” concert tour by Jean-François Denis (sound projection). Thanks to Lise Desmarais.

Composition

• 1993, Personal studio

Premiere

• February 28, 1994, Traces électro — UK 94: Electroacoustic Music from Canada, Concert Room — Music Centre — University of East Anglia, Norwich (England, UK)

Mixing

• October 1993, Mario Rodrigue; Pierre Labbé, assistance • Studio Cinar, Montréal (Québec)

Fiano porte is the contrast between dreams and reality, fluid and static, weak and strong, piano and forte. The beginning slips into the dream-like, attunes itself to this world, transforms in this environment, passing through several ambiences, to arrive at the most innocent moment of the journey: the awakening.

Fiano porte was realized in 1985 in the studios of the Faculty of Music of the Université de Montréal and was remixed in October 1993 at the Cinar studio in Montréal with the assistance of engineer Pierre Labbé. It was premiered on May 17, 1985 at the Faculty of Music of the Université de Montréal. Thanks to Jasmin Éthier, Jean Rodrigue and Gérald Germain.

Composition

• 1985, Faculté de musique – Université de Montréal, Montréal (Québec)

Premiere

• May 17, 1985, Concert, Faculté de musique — Université de Montréal, Montréal (Québec)

Remixing

• October 1993, Mario Rodrigue; Pierre Labbé, assistance • Studio Cinar, Montréal (Québec)