Labelempreintes DIGITALesGenreElectronic
Arriving from the supplier (ships as soon as it reaches us)
Tracked express shipping from Italy, no customs or import VAT in the EU. Shipping costs
Mélancolie brings together five works by Robert Normandeau written between 2013 and 2021, all composed in a dome of loudspeakers and meant to be heard that way. The composer describes the stereo versions on the disc as “postcards” of the originals. Most were developed during residencies in Norway, England, the United States, Mexico, Chile and France.
Le ravissement, in nine movements, comes from his 2018 collaboration with the singer and cellist Jorane, for which he processed voice, soloist and string quartet in real time, his first return to live electronics in thirty years. Time and spectra are stretched until the sources lose their identity; the piece was a finalist for premiere of the year at the Prix Opus 2021-22. Tunnel azur, commissioned by the Société de transport de Montréal and the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal for the metro's 50th anniversary, is a “cinema for the ear” with the subway as main character, the first use of the orchestra's new octobass, and echoes of Mahler's Ninth as conducted by Kent Nagano. It is dedicated to Jean-François Denis.
Melancholia, commissioned by Notam in Oslo, uses only the bandoneon of Jonathan Goldman, across eight movements named after moods from black humour to sadness. L'engloutissement, dedicated to Trudy Crane, goes back to the summer of 2012 when Normandeau nearly drowned; its only treatment is extreme slow motion, in homage to Bill Viola. Raíl sets train recordings from Canada, the United States and Mexico against helicopters, including one that flew over his neighbourhood during the Maple Spring of 2012.
Born in Quebec City in 1955, Normandeau completed the first doctorate in electroacoustic composition at the Université de Montréal, where he has taught since 1999 and leads the GRIS research group on sound spatialization.
CD in OGpak, empreintes DIGITALes IMED 21174, 2021.
....
| 1 | Le Ravissement (2019, 21) | 15:21 | |
| 2 | Tunnel Azur (2016, 18) | 12:39 | |
| 3 | Melancholia (2015-17, 18) | 14:42 | |
| 4 | L’Engloutissement (2013-17, 19) | 16:25 | |
| 5 | Raíl (2018-19, 20-21) | 10:25 |
“The density and complexity is deepened by the use of an octobass, and a Mahler quote — or rather, an allusion to Normandeau’s memory of seeing Kent Nagano conducting Mahler. Of such nuances is this composer’s work woven.”
“Wer auf akustische Abenteuer aus ist, sprich neudeutsch: Kopfkino, der ist auf dem kanadischen Label empreintes DIGITALes bestens aufgehoben.”
“A new Normandeau is always a welcome addition and, Mélancolie delivers in a big way. This, along with Paul Dolden’s Golden Dolden box (write-up coming eventually, hopefully sooner rather than later) provides a splendid end of the year Acousmatic boost.”
