Composer

:

Colin Matthews

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Chamber Music

Average_duration

:

3:48

"Postlude: Monsieur Croche" is a contemporary classical composition by British composer Colin Matthews. It was composed in 2012 and premiered on October 25, 2012, at the Wigmore Hall in London, England. The piece is a tribute to the French music critic and composer, Pierre Boulez, who wrote under the pseudonym Monsieur Croche. The composition is a single movement work that lasts approximately 10 minutes. It is scored for a chamber ensemble consisting of flute, clarinet, horn, percussion, piano, violin, viola, and cello. The piece is characterized by its use of complex rhythms, dissonant harmonies, and intricate textures. The opening of the piece features a series of short, staccato phrases played by the various instruments in the ensemble. These phrases gradually build in intensity and complexity, leading to a section of frenzied activity characterized by rapid, syncopated rhythms and jagged melodic lines. The middle section of the piece is more subdued, featuring a series of slow, mournful melodies played by the strings and woodwinds. The percussion provides a subtle, rhythmic underpinning, while the piano adds occasional bursts of dissonant chords. The final section of the piece returns to the frenzied activity of the opening, with the various instruments in the ensemble engaging in a series of intricate, interlocking rhythms and melodies. The piece ends with a sudden, abrupt cutoff, leaving the listener with a sense of unresolved tension. Overall, "Postlude: Monsieur Croche" is a challenging and complex work that showcases Colin Matthews' skill as a composer. Its use of intricate rhythms, dissonant harmonies, and complex textures make it a fitting tribute to the innovative and influential work of Pierre Boulez.

More....