Composer

:

Walter Boudreau

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Chamber Music

Compose Date

:

1977

Average_duration

:

13:44

Les Sept Jours is a contemporary classical composition by Canadian composer Walter Boudreau. The piece was composed in 1981 and premiered on March 25, 1982, by the Montreal Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Charles Dutoit. The composition is divided into seven movements, each representing a day of the week. The movements are titled: Lundi, Mardi, Mercredi, Jeudi, Vendredi, Samedi, and Dimanche. Each movement is characterized by its own unique sound world, with different instrumental combinations and textures. The first movement, Lundi, is characterized by its use of percussion and brass, creating a driving and energetic atmosphere. Mardi, the second movement, features a solo violin and a haunting melody that is passed between the strings and woodwinds. Mercredi is a more introspective movement, featuring a solo cello and a delicate, ethereal sound. Jeudi is a more dissonant and chaotic movement, with the use of extended techniques and unconventional sounds. Vendredi is a more rhythmic and percussive movement, with a driving ostinato and a sense of urgency. Samedi features a solo trumpet and a more contemplative atmosphere, while Dimanche is a more celebratory and joyful movement, with a triumphant brass fanfare. Overall, Les Sept Jours is a complex and challenging composition that showcases Boudreau's mastery of orchestration and his ability to create unique sound worlds. The piece is a testament to the diversity and richness of contemporary classical music and remains a staple of the Canadian classical repertoire.

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