Pour la Paix. Analysing the piece and preparing its performance
Résumé
Pour la Paix (1981-82) has a particular place inside Xenakis’ production: it is his unique radio composition (Hörspiel). The composer drew extracts of texts from two books of his wife, to tell the story of two young boys, stemming from the same village, but recruited in two enemy armies. This text is read by four narrators. It is musically commented by sounds produced by the UPIC. In parallel, ten choral sequences open more speculative spaces, and propose a musical extension. Put in a tape, these three components can be diffused on the radio. However, the work was created in concert, and it is doubtless why Xenakis also proposes concert versions.
After the examination of the project and the genetics of the work, we will analyze the components one by one (text, choral sequences, UPIC sounds). Then, we will examine their assembly, by emitting the hypothesis that the fragility of this assembly explains why the version concert (in particular the one with the narrators and the choirs on stage) is the more interesting for the listener. A particular attention will be devoted to the performance of the version concert, as we will perform it with the vocal ensemble Soli Tutti on April 2022 at University Paris 8.
Origine : Fichiers produits par l'(les) auteur(s)