Works » By Title » C » Chroniques (12:10 / 1988)

“Chroniques” (Chronicles) arises largely out of certain of the possibilities afforded by the technique of sampling. In some ways it could be seen as a return to concrete music, with a particularly rich spectral content. The materials used are chiefly instrumental in nature. The sequencing between the different movements is treated as a succession of isolated events which, while having a theme in common, are not strictly speaking related (literary chronicle—sound chronicle). The score is interpreted with four musical objects sampled on an Akai S900. Two types of sound are created by additive synthesis and frequency modulation (FM). “One day he goes through the wrong door and ends up working two years in the wrong department.” Over all, the work has a downward trend. At score level, the first chronicle contains all the material used in the work. “He slams the door and the house falls down”. The idea, intention and inspiration developed in the first three chronicles could be characterized by the words: dynamics, tension, question/response, reflection, artifice. “A parishioner brings her stew-pot into church and stews up her prayer book.” In contrast with the first three chronicles, the evolution of chronicles 4 and 5, up to the final scene, is characterized by concepts of breathing, concentration, meditation, relaxation, peace and clam. “Audiences do like being surprised, so long as it is by things they expect.” (Tristan Bernard). BDG