Monochrone

The acoustic scale (C, D, E, F♯, G, A, B♭) forms the melodic and harmonic bedrock of Monochrone (1990). The work opens in apparent chaos: fragmented gestures in the lower register evoke molten magma, churning and unstable. Yet this turbulence gradually gives way to more clearly articulated structures, revealing a meticulously organized musical landscape. A “mute” chord—created by silently depressing keys without producing sound—runs as a continuous thread throughout the piece, symbolizing the inaudible passage of time.

Upon this “unique and motionless time,” a series of variations unfold, each evoking moments or events drawn from the human experience. The music oscillates between passages of rhythmic and technical exactitude—demanding the utmost precision from the performer—and more poetic episodes, where the pianist is invited to explore the full palette of sonorities and give free rein to imagination and sensitivity to color.

Monochrone was selected as a compulsory piece for the Royal Conservatory of Brussels Piano Competition in both 1998 and 2010. It has been recorded twice: first by Mireille Gleizes (AVK Productions 001), and later by Stéphane De May (René Gailly label, now out of print).