New Consonant Music

The Chamber Symphony (2011) is the chamber orchestra version of the 1990 Sextuor for wind quintet and piano. The latter represents a major turning point in Michel Lysight’s aesthetic evolution, which led him to produce this new version. Indeed, if the influences of great masters such as Debussy, Bartók, Stravinsky and many others are perceptible in earlier works such as Réflexion (1982) or Soleil bleu (1989), the discovery of the North American minimalist current (Steve Reich, Phil Glass, John Adams etc.) will be decisive, as well as that of the works of Schnittke, Górecki or Pärt.

Very representative of the New Consonant Music, the piece is articulated in three movements, all based on the technique of variations on a harmonic sequence. The melodic aspect is omnipresent, as well as an in-depth work on rhythm and the search for timbres.

The world premiere took place in Brussels in Saint Mark’s Church on 2 October 2011 by the Orchestra of the 21st Century under the direction of the composer in a concert entirely devoted to his music.

Three CD recordings of the Sextuor version have been made: the first by the Ensemble Claventi (label René Gailly, sold out), the second by the soloists of the Musique Royale des Guides (label Mirasound 500.135), and the last one in 2011 by the Quartz ensemble (label Quartziade).