This is not a Bossa for Duo

This is not a bossa (2003) was originally composed for piano at the request of the Brazilian pianist Antonio Eduardo, who wanted to encourage the writing of new bossas novas for his instrument. Michel Lysight took up the challenge with a nod to his own country, Belgium, the title evoking Magritte’s famous painting “Ceci n’est pas une pipe”.

The version for flute and marimba was made in 2008 for Marc Grauwels and Sarah Mouradoglou and is dedicated to them. If the rhythm of the bossa is used as a starting point, very quickly the changes of measure will distort the playing, making this bossa a little surreal. Abrupt changes of key serve as a development of melodic ideas. In general ABA’ form, the whole piece is rhythmically based on two main ostinati (one for A, the other for B) played on the marimba (or the harpsichord). A short coda brings the ostinato of part B to a brilliant end of the piece.

The world premiere by the dedicatees took place in Brussels on November 9, 2008 as part of the Émergence festival. They recorded it on CD (Music for flute and percussion vol. 2, Naxos label).

The version for saxophone was made at the request of the saxophonist Valentin Bouland who created it in 2020.