for flute, blue harp and percussion
In the early stages of the creation of ‘‘Le grand stellaire’’ (Great Stellar Music), the amplified harp appeared to me as a sort of messenger whose mission it was to unveil latent emotions, obscured till now by the limited voice of the traditional harp.
As I was composing the piece, I felt the excitement of writing for a brand new instrument, liberated from its confidentiality and now shining brilliantly; I started to discover a new musical space, comparable to a sky studded with new stars which, after thousands of light-years, one lucky night decide to let us see how they radiate.
According to the book of Genesis, God created the ‘‘great luminary’’ then the ‘‘small’’ on the fourth day of the Creation; it is with reference to such poetic material that I chose to call ‘‘Le grand stellaire’’ a piece that I consider to be an invitation to travel to the heavens and which divides itself into three parts: ‘‘Débridé’’ (Unbridled), ‘‘En éveil’’ (Awake) and ‘‘Éclatant’’ (Brilliant).
Premiered in 1992 by the member musicians of Trio Controverse, to whom it is dedicated, the piece can also be played with the accompaniment of a string quartet, quintet or orchestra.
composed in: 1991 - 1992 (revised in 2003 and 2014)
commissioned work for the State (D.R.A.C. of Languedoc-Roussillon)
premiered in: 1992, Bagnols-sur-Cèze, by Trio Controverse
duration: 15’
publisher: Jobert
discography: Trio Controverse, 2003 (TRITON, « Harpe bleue », TRI 331127)
also in the repertoire of Anne-Cécile Cuniot, Patricia Nagle and Thomas Prévost (fl.), Marion Lenart (harp), Stéphane Mazeau, Thierry Miroglio and Francis Petit (perc.)
YouTube I. Débridé
YouTube II. En éveil
YouTube III. Éclatant
version with string orchestra :
Thomas Prévost (flute), Martine Flaissier (harp), Francis Petit (percussion)
the Radio-France Philharmonic Orchestra, Kirill Karabits, cond.
premiere concert, Paris, Maison de la Radio, 5.02.2004, for Festival Présences
Martine Flaissier is playing a Camac "Blue Harp" (details : www.camac-harps.com)
sound recording : Radio-France for France-Musique