Heptagramme

Composed in 2008, Heptagramme is a four-movement work that showcases Michel Lysight’s distinctive style, blending rhythmic vitality, modal exploration, and intricate contrapuntal writing. The title suggests a seven-pointed figure — a metaphor for structural unity through complexity, mirrored in the piece’s tightly interwoven musical architecture.

The first movement, rhythmic in nature, is built using the composer’s technique of “repetitive evolutionary” writing. This method involves the progressive construction of melodic-rhythmic cells that are repeated multiple times, each iteration altered subtly through changes in timbre, instrumentation, register, or dynamics. These cells may unfold melodically to form variable-length themes or combine contrapuntally into dense polyphonic and polyrhythmic textures. Frequent and unexpected modulations inject shifting color and surprise.

The second movement, set in F-sharp Phrygian, is lyrical and expressive. It develops three main themes using invertible counterpoint, passed fluidly between instruments to build tension. This culminates in a sudden modulation to the upper minor third (A Phrygian), forming a central climax. The movement maintains strong dynamic intensity to the end, returning to the original mode for its resolution.

In contrast, the third movement, in D “oriental” (suggesting a scale akin to the double harmonic major), is predominantly contrapuntal. It opens with an extended duet (clarinet and cello) marked by asymmetrical phrasing and frequent changes of meter, creating the illusion of polymetry — though all parts are notated in synchronized time signatures. The piano enters later, enriching the texture and reinforcing the layered counterpoint.

The final movement revolves around a recurring ostinato, passed between instruments but most often entrusted to the piano. Above this foundation, a distinct first theme emerges and undergoes various developments. A more lyrical second theme later appears, and the interplay between the two is punctuated by bold modulations. The movement drives toward a brilliant and virtuosic conclusion, weaving fragments of the opening theme into a dazzling final gesture.