Composer

:

Georges Aperghis

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Chamber Music

Compose Date

:

1997

Average_duration

:

8:50

'Volte-face' is a contemporary music composition by the Greek-French composer Georges Aperghis. The piece was composed in 2006 and premiered on 17th November 2006 at the Théâtre de la Ville in Paris, France. The composition consists of three movements, each with its own unique characteristics. The first movement, titled "L'homme qui tombe," is a solo piece for a male performer. The performer is required to recite a text while performing various physical actions, such as falling and getting up repeatedly. The text is fragmented and nonsensical, adding to the overall chaotic and disorienting atmosphere of the movement. The second movement, titled "La femme qui pleure," is a solo piece for a female performer. Similar to the first movement, the performer is required to recite a fragmented and nonsensical text while performing physical actions. However, the atmosphere of this movement is more melancholic and introspective, with the performer portraying a woman who is crying and mourning. The third and final movement, titled "Le couple enfin," is a duet for a male and female performer. The performers are required to recite a text together while performing physical actions that are synchronized with each other. The text is more coherent in this movement, with the performers portraying a couple who have finally found each other after a long search. Overall, 'Volte-face' is a complex and challenging composition that requires performers to not only have strong vocal and physical abilities but also the ability to convey a range of emotions and atmospheres. The fragmented and nonsensical texts add to the overall disorienting and chaotic atmosphere of the piece, while the synchronized physical actions add a layer of complexity and coordination.

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