article 10 [prismes] (2021) for cello solo

contents

1. summary

2. listen

3. programme notes

4. details

5. performances

summary

article 10 [prismes] (2021) by Rozalie Hirs is a new composition for cello solo, commissioned by Radio France for Festival Présences 2022. The composition is dedicated to the French cellist Marie Ythier, who performed its world premiere on 13 February 2022 at Maison de la Radio, Paris, France.

listen

programme notes

Article 10 [prismes] (2021), commissioned by Radio France, is a spectral exploration of tonalities. It refracts tones and chords into harmonic partials, or overtones, creating vibrant harmonic textures akin to light passing through a prism. The shimmering melodies bend and ripple, evoking an ever-changing landscape of sound. By layering frequencies, Hirs enables listeners to perceive subtle shifts in texture and color, much like the interaction of light with a multifaceted prism. The piece unfolds in waves of sound, with gradual transformations and nuanced variations that create an impression of fluidity and organic growth.

A defining feature of article 10 [prismes] is its use of sum and difference tones, a psychoacoustic phenomenon. These additional tones are perceived when two simultaneous pitches interact, producing phantom tones at the sum and difference of their frequencies. Hirs incorporates this effect, allowing listeners to experience these spectral illusions directly. These phantom tones seem to materialize out of thin air, blurring the line between physical sound and auditory perception. In prismes, they contribute to the work’s multi-layered textures, crafting a shimmering, multidimensional soundscape that deepens the meditative quality of the piece. The harmonic spectra also guide the composition’s overall structure, inviting listeners into a sound world where time feels elastic, and the richness of harmonic spectra unfolds slowly.

details

commission
article 10 [prismes] (2021) by Rozalie Hirs was commissioned by Radio France for Festival Présences 2022.

instrumentation
cello solo

duration
12′ ca.

publisher
The score of article 10 [prismes] (2021) can be purchased through its publisher Deuss Music.

dedication
The composition is dedicated to Marie Ythier.

performances

13 February 2022, 15:00 CET, Festival Présences, Maison de la Radio, Paris, France – Marie Ythier (cello) – world premiere