I finished my doctor degree dissertation and Ishtar recording

May 12^th, 2012 — Last Tuesday, I submitted my dissertation. Five years of hard work, composing, studying, researching, giving lectures, working in side jobs during studies, all that ended Tuesday afternoon, when I submitted six copies of dissertation, six copies of four different scores, six CDs.

You surely guess that I feel for that an immense joy. But it comes also with the impression to turn a page of your life. Before, I was a student being accountable to his supervisors, having a schedule, a goal, a laid out path. Now, I am a worker having extreme freedom to make his life, to choose projects in which he seeks accomplishment... or do nothing. Sure, there is the thrill of possibilities. There is also the vertigo of consequences of my choices for which I am entirely responsible. There is finally a nostalgia of a time where I had a goal without asking (or wanting to ask) too much questions.

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Video of Marie-Hélène Bilodeau playing La Lame de l'horizon

May 3^rd, 2012 — As I wrote you in the previous article, Marie-Hélène Bilodeau performed La Lame de l'Horizon during her master degree recital. Here is her performance in a Youtube video.

Dissertation, dissertation... and concerts

April 24^th, 2012 — If I look quieter these days, it is for a simple reason: I am finishing my doctorate dissertation to be submitted on April 30^th, if everything goes fine.

During that time, two saxophonists are performing my works in student recitals this week.

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Ishtar : video and recording

April 10^th, 2012 — First, a big thanks to all those who came to listen to Ishtar last Thursday! It was an excellent concert.

Marc Belley filmed the whole concert and has quickly edited it for Ishtar. We can hear it here or on his Youtube channel.

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Excellent premiere of Ishtar against Elements

April 6^th, 2012 — At last! Ishtar is finally born with Louis-Philippe Bonin and the Paramirabo Ensemble. It was an excellent premiere, to my humble opinion among the best concert of the year for the ensemble. If performance quality is always present, it was the concert program that made it memorable, where – when forgetting my work, false modesty assumed here! – many pieces by themselves were worth the detour, like Sur les rives de by Gabriel Dharmoo and Gates of Light by Kevin Lau.

The performance by Louis-Philippe and Paramirabo was both refined and highly energetic, energy being of course mostly in 2^nd movement of course. Soft microtonal inflexions and evening nature ambiances of “Étoile du soir, déesse de l'amour” and sheer joy of “Étoile du matin, déesse de la guerre” have been rendered with magnificent accuracy.

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