Composer

:

Philippe Hersant

Genre

:

Choral

Compose Date

:

2002

Average_duration

:

6:36

'Désert' is a contemporary classical composition by French composer Philippe Hersant. It was composed in 2001 and premiered on March 14, 2002, at the Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord in Paris. The piece is divided into three movements and has a total duration of approximately 25 minutes. The first movement, titled "Le désert des Tartares," is inspired by the novel of the same name by Dino Buzzati. It begins with a sparse and haunting melody played by the solo cello, which is then joined by the rest of the string orchestra. The music gradually builds in intensity, with the strings playing rapid, frenzied passages that evoke the sense of a vast, desolate landscape. The movement ends with a return to the sparse, haunting melody of the opening. The second movement, "Le désert de Gobi," is inspired by the desert of the same name in China. It begins with a slow, mournful melody played by the solo viola, which is then taken up by the rest of the orchestra. The music gradually becomes more agitated, with the strings playing rapid, dissonant passages that suggest the harshness of the desert environment. The movement ends with a return to the mournful melody of the opening. The third and final movement, "Le désert de Sonora," is inspired by the desert of the same name in the southwestern United States. It begins with a lively, rhythmic melody played by the solo violin, which is then taken up by the rest of the orchestra. The music gradually becomes more complex, with the strings playing intricate, syncopated rhythms that suggest the diversity of life in the desert. The movement ends with a return to the lively, rhythmic melody of the opening. Overall, 'Désert' is characterized by its use of sparse, haunting melodies, rapid, frenzied passages, and intricate, syncopated rhythms. The piece is a powerful evocation of the vast, desolate landscapes of the world's great deserts, and a testament to Hersant's skill as a composer.

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