Soffio
pour choeur SATB divisi a cappella
durée: env. 5’30
édition: La Sinfonie d’Orphée
Un soffio scende delle cime sopra di me nella valle valle lontana lontan…
SOFFIO, le souffle qui passe au milieu des vallées par delà les montagnes. Dans toute la première partie de cette composition, qui pourrait être une allégorie des débuts du langage et du chant, le seul nom de « soffio » s’étire comme si on remontait à des temps reculés où un de nos ancêtres découvre qu’il peut imiter le bruit du vent, prenant plaisir à l’écouter circuler longuement jusqu’à se transformer, déclanchant au passage des voyelles encore fragiles, plus près d’un sifflement, d’un « souffle » justement. Un jeu d’échanges et de réponses s’est peut-être alors installé. Vient ensuite le plaisir quasi primitif d’explorer cette voyelle qui se propage dans nos résonateurs. Il a fallu sans doute des milliers d’années pour qu’un chant s’élève (ou un instant?). Cette exploration se situe à égale distance entre l’observation quasi scientifique et une approche plus poétique. Les deux manières de voir sont parfois plus proches qu’on ne le pense! Les Tlingits, une nation autochtone d’Amérique du Nord, occupent l’Alaska Panhandle, un territoire qui comprend la zone côtière du sud-est de l’Alaska et les îles qui lui font face. Une de leurs croyances dit que la source vitale de la vie réside dans le souffle, et qu’après avoir vécue, l’âme rejoint « l’autre côté » en passant par la cime des montagnes.
Description
Voir un extraitSOFFIO, breath passing in the middle of the valleys over the mountains. In the first part of this composition, which could be an allegory Of the beginnings of language and singing, the name of « soffio » stretches as we went to ancient times where one of our ancestors discoveres that he can imitate The noise of the wind, taking pleasure in listening it circulating a long while until to transform itself, creating still fragile vowels, closer to a whistle, to a « breath » precisely. A game of exchanges and answers may be then installed. Then comes the almost primitive pleasure of exploring this vowel that spreads in our resonators. It took probably thousands of years to a song to rise (or an instant?). This exploration is equidistant between the almost scientific observation and a more poetic approach. The two views are sometimes closer than we think! Tlingit, an Aboriginal nation in North America, occupy the Alaska Panhandle, a territory that includes the coastal area of southeast Alaska and the islands facing it. One of their beliefs says that the vital source of life lies in the breath, and that, after life, the soul joins the « other side » through the tops of the mountains.
» Thank you for composing this piece! » Rienk BAKKER Dirigent, organist, muziekdocent
« We happen to be very familiar with some of your work, as two of us just finished a series of nine concerts in which your piece Soffio played a major role. We were both very impressed by it. »
Daan van der SCHAFT Manager Pulse Ensemble
« In this year’s project Voices of Nature we performed your composition ‘Un Soffio’ to open our concert. It created silence, calmness and attention. The public experienced it as the sounds of the winds. »
Nederlands Studenten Kammerkoor
« Wonderful piece! Our event went well and people loved your piece! I talked about your story of indigenous people in Alaska, and it really helped everyone to appreciate Soffio. »
Cyril DEACONOFF cond. of Silicon Valley Choral Revolution
« It was a pleasure to work with your composition. As you can see, we used Soffio in the beginning of the concert, creating a misty, misterious atmosphere. I choose not to conduct till the entrance of the tenor and then I conduct just one line. It’s better for the publics sight and the singers have to listen to each other. Also some timings could be better but that’s just the mystic and surprise of every concert; it will be always different. » Kurt BIKKEMBERGS composer, conductor
« Congratulations ! Superb! » Fabien BARXELL conductor
« One has the impression of a visit of our ancestors from the depths of time. » Vincent LAMOUILLE singer
