Les compositeurs émergeants font l’expérience de « vrais humains »

L’Atelier de composition uOttawa /Chamberfest, qui s’est tenu le 23 janvier, a attiré plus de 70 mélomanes qui ont pu entendre en première mondiale six nouveaux quatuors à cordes de nos étudiants compositeurs. Les auditeurs ont eu droit à une prestation de classe mondiale de la part de Jessica Linnebach et Emily Kruspe (violon), Carissa Klopoushak (alto) et Desiree Abbey (violoncelle), qui ont travaillé sur six toutes nouvelles compositions en quelques heures de répétition seulement.

Les œuvres, dans l’ordre du concert, étaient les suivantes

Qin Tai Tan – Fragments Over a Pale Sea (Fragments au-dessus d’une mer blafarde)
Angela Geleynse – Autonomous (Autonome)
Cameron Hunter – Breathless (À bout de souffle)
Kristiana Tavityan – Disquiet Relief (Soulagement : inquiétudes)
Zachary Greer – As the Pendulum Swings  (Le mouvement du pendule)
Mohammed Motevaselan – Remède (Remedy)

All were well-crafted, distinct in style, and stimulating. Congratulations to the winner, Angela Geleynse, whose riveting quartet will receive a repeat performance at Ottawa Chamberfest (at New Music Now this summer, stay tuned!), and to runner-up Cameron Hunter.

While the jurists were deliberating, audience members asked a number of stimulating questions about the students’ process and inspiration. Certain common threads became evident. For most of the students, this was their first experience composing for strings (none are actually string players), and they tend to develop new works on the computer, in MIDI form. All were struck by the difference between hearing their work on a computer, and hearing it live with, as one student said, « real humans ». All felt that they would compose for strings again, but that they needed to learn more about arranging for strings, and about working with string players to explore the difference between digital « perfection » and the warmth and playability of a working string composition. We are excited to see what happens next with these young composers!

Many thanks to the fabulous musicians who brought these works to life with skill and enthusiasm, and to the jury comprised of Prof. John Armstrong and Carissa Klopoushak. And thank you to the audience for your support and great questions during the post-concert talkback.