A million different ways to search for the light within
Science without religion is paralysed, religion without science is blind.
Even in this scientifc age, human beings are deep down inside still looking for something bigger than us. Whether we consider this being/power/entity/light to be transcendent or immanent, we have this longing in common, although we reach out to it in a million different ways. It does not matter whether you pray, research or meditate, take a hike in awe of the beauty of nature, dance or create sand paintings… or whether you create music or just listen to it.
Common part
In Méditation sur la fin de l’espèce Thierry Pécou uses recordings of nature sounds, in particular the fascinating songs of the whales, to sketch the fragility of human existence in comparison to the immensity of the cosmos from a scientific approach, Danse en cercle for solo timpani by Thierry Pécou follows an entirely different path: that of the circle dances of the Native American tribes. In their culture, the circle symbolises the cosmos, the creation and life itself, and the dance is a celebration of all those aspects.
Two programme options available.
Fratres by Arvo Pärt and In Memoriam Jean-Claude Risset by Jonathan Bell.
Option 2
Crucifixion (d’après Le Pérugin) by Raphaël Languillat and The Light Within by John Luther Adams.
Program
Arvo Pärt
Fratres for violin and piano
Thierry Pécou
Danse en cercle for solo timpani
Jonathan Bell
In Memoriam Jean-Claude Risset for flute, clarinet, violin and double bass (Commissioned by Ensemble Variances)
Thierry Pécou
Méditation sur la fin de l’espèce for cello solo, ensemble and pre-recorded whales sounds (Commissioned by Radio France and Wigmore Hall)
John Luther Adams
The Light Within pour flûte en sol, clarinette basse, vibraphone/crotales, piano, violon, violoncelle et sons fixés
Raphaël Languillat
Crucifixion (d’après Le Pérugin) pour flûte, clarinette, piano, percussions, violon et violoncelle
Thierry Pécou
Danse en cercle pour timbales
Thierry Pécou
Méditation sur la fin de l’espèce pour violoncelle solo, ensemble instrumental et chants de baleines enregistrées (Commande Radio France et Wigmore Hall)
The cast
Guest artist
solo cello
Ensemble Variances
flute, clarinet, violin, cello, electric guitar, piano/electric piano (1 musician), percussion
Whale songs
recorded by Olivier Adam, edited at Groupe de Recherche Musicale (GRM)