Chronographie II for string orchestra

The Chronographies form a cycle of independent works, each derived from a shared five-note motif (C, E, B, G, A), which may be transposed. This unifying material, minimal yet fertile, serves as the generative core of twelve pieces composed for various ensembles.

In Chronographie II (1992), the motif is presented from the outset in sustained note values. It unfolds in canon across the orchestral desks, with each entry progressively stretching the durations to form an increasingly intricate polyphonic texture. This builds towards a first climax, which leads directly into the second section.

Marked by heightened rhythmic energy, the middle section introduces two distinct themes that gradually overlap and seem to contend with one another. Their superimposition creates a sense of tension and motion that drives the music back to the intensity of the initial climax — now reframed as the entry point to the third and final section.

Here, the original five-note motif returns, transformed into a harmonic foundation over which several melodic lines are layered, accumulating into a luminous second climax. The piece then subsides into a dreamlike conclusion, where fragments of the earlier thematic material gently re-emerge, evoking a distant and nostalgic resonance.

A version for keyboard quintet was later realised by the composer.

The world premiere took place on 20 April 1996 in Brussels, performed by the Nuove Musiche Ensemble under the direction of Eric Lederhandler.

Two CD recordings of the string orchestra version are available: one studio recording by I Musici Bruxellencis conducted by Zofia Wisłocka (Senza Nome label, 91002), and a live recording made in Warsaw in 2001 (Dux label, DUX 0373).