Humeur de facteur
Yves Beaupré
Programme notes
“It was vertigo. A heady, insuperable longing to fall.” — Milan Kundera, The Unbearable Lightness of Being
Humeur de facteur, with its six movements, was conceived as an “ordre” in the style of François Couperin. In spite of the unique nature of each section, each one makes up an integral part of the whole.
An enigmatic project, an intimidating one, latent state, formidable demanding, agonizing. Humeur de facteur was in my head for a very long time. Day after day as I worked — physical, tangible labour — in my harpsichord-building shop, I would hear sound-noises superimposed on the smell of the wood that was constantly in the air around me. This created a remarkably musical and expressive atmosphere. The instrument being constructed, the harpsichord taking shape before me, was already speaking to me, voluble before its useful life had begun. The living case and the sound-board would constantly bounce back even the slightest touch of a tool, a marking gauge, a loose string, or a brass tack with a resonance that was deep and musical. The tones that came from it were unique. The large instrument under construction was giving me smaller, sonorous instruments. Let’s go
The builder finds himself, as ever, with a mountain of raw material ready to be worked, ground, cut, re-cut along every plane, clear-cut, cross-cut. A sense of déjà vu. The material is so expressive, already mature, so satisfying
[xi-01]
The cycle Humeur de facteur was realized in 1998-99 in the composer’s studio.
- Composer(s): Yves Beaupré
- Instrumentation: stereo fixed medium
- Publisher(s): Ymx média
Works in this cycle
Prélude démesuré
About this sound recording
The master tape of the version presented here was prepared in collaboration with Robert Normandeau in March 2001.
- Year of composition: 1998-99
- Cycle: Humeur de facteur
- Duration: 3:16
- ISRC: CAD500114630
La Beauséjour
About this sound recording
The master tape of the version presented here was prepared in collaboration with Robert Normandeau in March 2001.
- Year of composition: 1998-99
- Cycle: Humeur de facteur
- Duration: 12:11
- ISRC: CAD500114640
La Laurendeau
About this sound recording
The master tape of the version presented here was prepared in collaboration with Robert Normandeau in March 2001.
- Year of composition: 1998-99
- Cycle: Humeur de facteur
- Duration: 13:12
- ISRC: CAD500114650
La Pelots Point
Premiere
- October 4, 2001, ÉuCuE XX
: Concert 3, Salle de concert Oscar-Peterson — Campus Loyola — Université Concordia, Montréal (Québec)
About this sound recording
The master tape of the version presented here was prepared in collaboration with Robert Normandeau in March 2001.
- Year of composition: 1998-99
- Cycle: Humeur de facteur
- Duration: 9:33
- ISRC: CAD500114660
La DDB
About this sound recording
The master tape of the version presented here was prepared in collaboration with Robert Normandeau in March 2001.
- Year of composition: 1998-99
- Cycle: Humeur de facteur
- Duration: 9:04
- ISRC: CAD500114670
Péroraison
About this sound recording
The master tape of the version presented here was prepared in collaboration with Robert Normandeau in March 2001.
- Year of composition: 1998-99
- Cycle: Humeur de facteur
- Duration: 6:40
- ISRC: CAD500114680
