Initiation

Commissioned by internationally acclaimed flutist Marc Grauwels for his duo with Canadian percussionist Marie-Josée Simard, Initiation (2003) is a two-movement work that explores the rich timbral interplay and rhythmic potential of the flute-marimba pairing. The piece is dedicated to both performers, who gave the premiere and recorded it for the Naxos label (Music for Flute and Percussion, Vol. 1, 8.557782).

The first movement is structured as a set of variations built on a seven-chord harmonic sequence. Each variation intensifies the expressive and technical demands, with increasing rhythmic tension achieved through relentless ostinati on the marimba and intricate canonic writing, often employing rapid imitative exchanges. To enhance coloristic contrast, the flutist is called upon to alternate between flute in C, alto flute in G, and piccolo, broadening the expressive spectrum. The movement unfolds as a ritualized escalation—both in sound and gesture—where the performers’ virtuosity becomes part of the compositional fabric.

The second movement begins with a seven-note ostinato on the marimba, over which the flute in C introduces a lyrical, expressive theme. These two elements—repetitive pulse and melodic line—serve as the foundation for the movement’s evolving structure. The music develops through abrupt modulations, generating dynamic contrasts and new tonal environments. Metric organization is limited to irregular groupings of 3, 5, and 7 beats, creating an underlying asymmetry that energizes the otherwise fluid melodic writing.

Despite their formal differences, both movements share a defining duality: the coexistence of rigorous rhythmic architecture and intensely expressive melodic writing, hallmarks of Lysight’s mature style. The piece’s title, Initiation, reflects both a rite of passage for the performers and an aural journey for the listener—an immersion into a world where time is shaped by pattern, and sound by color.