for symphonic orchestra
Once I had drafted the first pages of the score, it appeared to me that the music that was progressively revealing itself could, by analogy, be likened to a succession of luminous states; so I started to imagine the metamorphoses of a landscape (also imaginary) taking place as the light cast on it varies throughout the day; then I thought of this poetic approach as an homage to the Earth and the Sun, uniting with one another–hence the work’s title.
Five movements or ‘‘solar poems’’ (that was the initial idea for the title) come one after the other with the following tempo indications: moderato, presto, moderato, presto, largo and (without transition) presto. As an afterthought, the pale light, which progressively intensifies in the course of the first piece, reminds me of daybreak and the last one the declining light of dusk; in the same logic, the relative gravity, the steel-like brightness of the central movement, somewhat static, could in turn be a reminder of the sometimes heavy noon light, whereas the intermediary movements for their part seem to be avatars of the same incandescent dance. The language used remains however exclusively musical in nature, and the orchestral version indeed more often relies on a set of soloists than a sound mass.
‘‘Noces de lumière’’ was written between fall 2004 and spring 2006; they are a commissioned work for ‘‘Fondation d’Entreprise-Groupe Banque Populaire’’. The piece is jointly dedicated to Laurent Petitgirard who, as artistic advisor to the Foundation, is the initiator of the work, and to John Nelson who, as conductor of the ‘‘Ensemble Orchestral de Paris’’, conducted the premiere concert at the ‘‘Théâtre des Champs-Élysées’’.
2.2.2.2./2.2.0.0./timb.2perc./1h./ 8.7.6.5.3.
composed in: 2004-2006
commissioned work for Fondation Groupe Banque Populaire
premiered in: 2006, Paris, at Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, by Ensemble Orchestral de Paris, John Nelson, cond.
duration: 15’
publisher: Jobert
also in the repertoire of Orchestre Colonne, Laurent Petitgirard, cond.