Chronographie XII

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

Composed in 2019 for the Trio Erämaa, Chronographie XII explores a wide range of musical climates — lyrical, virtuosic, rhythmic, popular, poetic, dramatic — while maintaining a rigorous coherence in ensemble writing. Despite its contrasting sections, the piece is characterised by formal unity and subtle thematic integration.

This is the second work in which Michel Lysight has written for this particular instrumentation, the first being Runes. The formation itself belongs to a lineage employed by major composers such as Bartók, Stravinsky, Milhaud, and Sculthorpe, lending Chronographie XII both a contemporary voice and a historical resonance.