Solipsism

Solipsism (2009) is a work in three concise movements for clarinet, bass clarinet, or bassoon, composed for and dedicated to the clarinettist Marcel Luxen. It features the composer’s distinctive rhythmic idiom: a progressive construction of short cells, the use of Fibonacci sequences, and evolutive repetition, all articulated through a modal or polymodal harmonic framework (including six-note modes, whole-tone scales, etc.). The piece demands considerable technical virtuosity from the performer.

Sudden leaps in register and unexpected dynamic shifts create the illusion of a dialogue between two – or even several – instruments, despite being written for a single soloist.

Solipsism was recorded by Marcel Luxen for its world première on the Naxos label (North South East West, ref. 9.70144). The French première took place on 2nd April at 8:30 pm at the Conservatoire d’Aulnay-sous-Bois, performed by Jean-Marc Fessard (clarinet and bass clarinet), Didier Pateau (oboe), Guillaume Demougeot (clarinet), and Élisabeth Kissel (bassoon).