To the enthusiasm of Florence Gonot and Alexandre Yterce

The title Corps et âme (Body and Soul) attempts to convey a two-sided notion: body and soul, which are, according to some psychoanalysts — and despite common sense —, a single thing; plus the meaning of the expression “body and soul,” that is to involve oneself completely, entirely, passionately.

Sound materials I perceive — rather subjectively — as quite fleshy or rather ethereal (as in non-gravity) are intertwining and melting together in a common crescendo. The vocal origins of some of the material prove the presence of the body. A key element is taken from a previous work, Un certain embarquement, and constitutes the sensual pole of this double yet homozygous being.

The work was conceived in the light of a reflection on myself, on the basic orientations of my life, a sort of free anamnesis triggered by the investigation of the Sonopsys magazine whose first issue was dedicated to my work.

— Francis Dhomont [English translation: François Couture, viii-06]

Corps et âme was realized in 2001-02 at the composer’s studio in Montréal (Québec) and premiered on January 13, 2003 at the Salle Olivier Messiaen, Maison de Radio France (Paris, France) during the Multiphonies concert produced by the Ina-GRM. The piece was commissioned by Florence Gonot and Alexandre Yterce for Sonopsys magazine. Corps et âme was awarded one of the five 1st prizes at the ZKM’s Short Cuts: Beauty competition in July 2006 (Karlsruhe, Germany). Corps et âme was first released in 2003 on the companion disc of the book Sonopsys: Francis Dhomont.

Composition

• 2001 – 2002, Personal studio, Montréal (Québec)

Premiere

• January 13, 2003, Multiphonies 2002-03: Acousmatique 1, Salle Olivier Messiaen — Maison de Radio France, Paris (France)

Composition radiophonique qui associe une lecture poétique des simulacres sonores en musique électroacoustique à l’utilisation que j’en fais dans mes œuvres. Je cite donc des extraits de plusieurs de ces œuvres, mais j’introduis également des éléments de travail inédits ainsi que de nombreux passages originaux. C’est un récit en zigzag de quelques-unes de mes idées fixes et de thèmes récurrents dans ma production. C’est pourquoi je le considère comme un autoportrait musical, étant bien entendu que cette réflexion (au double sens de pensée et de miroir), sur et de moi-même, demeure pure subjectivité et s’autorise maints détours métaphoriques. À part ma propre voix, toutes celles que l’on entend proviennent de divers reportages et entrevues que j’ai, pour la plupart, réalisés moi-même.

Composition

• 1991, Personal studio, Montréal (Québec)

Premiere

• February 12, 1991, Radio premiere: Plein ciel — Studio 116, France Musique, Paris (France)
• August 29, 1995, Futura 95: Acousma international 5, Chapelle des Cordeliers, Crest (Drôme, France)

Figures de la nuit / Faces of the Night was first released in 2003 on the companion disc of the book Sonopsys: Francis Dhomont. It was also released in 2007 on the Deep Wireless 4 2-disc set for the Deep Wireless festival in Toronto.

Premiere

• June 3, 1991, Radio premiere: Transfigured Night, CKLN FM, Toronto (Ontario, Canada)
• November 29, 1991, Concert premiere: Concert, The Music Gallery, Toronto (Ontario, Canada)

Nocturne à Combray was commissioned by Radio-Canada’s FM network and premiered on December 23, 1995 during the radio show Le son électrisé produced by Georges Nicholson on Radio-Canada’s FM network.

Premiere

• December 23, 1995, Le son électrisé, Réseau FM de Radio-Canada, Canada
• June 8, 1996, Concert premiere: Francis Dhomont: en deux temps trois mouvements, Usine C, Montréal (Québec)