Élastique

An avid reader of dictionaries since childhood, I generally start a composition with words, and preferably a title. In this instance, the title of the series of concerts for which this piece was written: mécanique, could not fail to pique my interest: “The branch of Physics concerned with the behavior of physical bodies, examining that which rules the laws of movement and equilibrium”. I quickly (and perversely) settled on the concept of ÉLASTIQUE, in reference to continuum mechanics, a subset of mechanics that deals with continuous matter. I liked the contradiction between the rigid and separate aspects that the word Mécanique evokes in French, and the suppleness and malleability implied with Élastique.

The piece thus focuses on deformation of continuous matter, as audible in the introduction, while echoes of rigidity remain. The opposition between the two aspects creates the momentum and form of the piece. Elastic deformation takes different shapes throughout the piece: the long held notes getting louder or softer, the stretching or shortening of durations, the tempo accelerations or decelerations, the expansion or contraction of the range of the orchestra. The rigidity of mechanics is heard in the closing theme, with its blocks chords in contrary motion, and the splicing of incongruous material to produce momentum.

Élastique was written in September 2007 on a commission from Orkest de Volharding with funds from the American Music Center.

This piece was chosen by the ensemble to conclude their farewell concert on February 21 2010.

Orkest de Volharding, Jussi Jaatinen, conductor