Introduction
In this article, we will explore an innovative form of musical expression: composing with sounds. This technique, developed by Gérard Grisey, invites us to explore the unique characteristics of musical language and our auditory perception.
Compose with the difference
According to Grisey, the key to composing with sounds is not to focus on individual notes, but on the difference between them. This allows us to disentangle the waves that make up a sound and reconstruct them to obtain new timbres and musical textures.
The acoustic spaces
Grisey wrote a cycle of six pieces called ‘Les espais acoustics’, composed between 1974 and 1985. This cycle is designed to be performed consecutively, as each piece expands on the previous one and creates a unique sound space.
The concert at L’Auditori de Barcelona
Next Tuesday, June 18, the ESMUC Orchestra, directed by Ernest Martínez Izquierdo, will perform this cycle of pieces in a concert at L’Auditori de Barcelona. This concert is a unique opportunity to experience this ‘great sound laboratory’ and discover one of the most unique works of the 20th century.
The Prologue: An Exploration of the Solo Viola
The cycle begins with a prologue for solo viola, performed by Jonathan Brown. This piece stands out for its spiral-shaped structure and its gradual transformation from melody to noise. Grisey expresses that this piece reflects his vision of music as a dialectic between noise and form.
Periods: expansion, contraction and rest
The next piece, ‘Périodes’, is written for seven musicians and stands out for representing the three moments of human breathing: expansion, contraction and rest. Grisey uses a single note as a starting point and explores the rhythm and harmonic color of the instrumental ensemble.
Partials: a work of synthesis
‘Partiels’ is a work for sixteen or eighteen musicians that continues the proposals of the previous pieces and anticipates the technique of musical synthesis. In this piece, Grisey treats the instruments so that the individual colors disappear and a new synthetic timbre is perceived.
Modulations: the constant movement of sound
With ‘Modulations’, Grisey takes us to an ensemble of thirty-three musicians. In this piece, the composer explores modulation and our ability to perceive the constant movement of brass instruments.
Transitoires: a work of resurgence and explosion
‘Transitoires’ reworks materials from previous pieces and gives them a new dimension. This work, performed by a large orchestra, reveals unsuspected aspects of the material and concludes with a primal melody, representing the dialectic between collective time and individual time.
conclusion
In conclusion, composing with sounds is an innovative form of musical expression that invites us to explore the unique characteristics of musical language and our auditory perception. Gérard Grisey’s ‘Acoustic spaces’ cycle is a unique opportunity to experience this form of musical expression and discover one of the most singular works of the 20th century.
More information and tickets
For more information about the concert and to purchase tickets, you can visit the website of the ESMUC Orchestra.
