Continuity and the musical process, mobility of perception and harmony are constants of Philippe Leroux’s style; the composer has called upon the musical research and technology of IRCAM on several occasions for key works. After Voi(rex) and Apocalypsis, Quid sit musicus ? Leroux guides computer music towards the wake of Guillaume de Machaut, extracting the gestural essence from a 14th century manuscript, the perception of the ancient lines of calligraphy becomes the base of a sound production and the composition of a new work. Leroux uses the new augmented paper technology that, via an optical system and a Bluetooth pen, makes it possible to “recuperate” data from Machaut’s score sung during the concert. “Quid sit musicus?” (Boece). What is a musician ? Is it the person who plays, who does, or who understands?

Philippe Leroux © Pierre Raimbault

Ensemble Solistes XXI
Marie Albert and Raphaële Kennedy sopranos
Lucile Richardot mezzo-soprano
VVincent Bouchot tenor-bariton
Laurent David tenor
Jean-Christophe Jacques bariyton
Marc Busnel bass
Caroline Delume lute/guitar
Valérie Dulac vielle/cello
Conductor Rachid Safir
IRCAM Computer Music Design Gilbert Nouno
IRCAM and INRIA Musical Representations Research Team Jérémie Garcia

Philippe Leroux Quid sit musicus ? Premiere
commissioned by IRCAM-Centre Pompidou

An IRCAM-Centre Pompidou, Solistes XXI coproduction. This project was conducted as a part of a collaboration between IRCAM and INRIA (In-situ Team LRI), the ANR EFFICACe and ANR INEDIT projects. With the support of the Sacem. Recorded and broadcast on france Musique in “Contemporary Concert” Monday, June 23 at 20pm.

6:30pm, IRCAM, Igor Stravinsky Conference Room
Film: Images of a Work #18: Quid sit musicus ? by Philippe Leroux, a film by Thierry Paul Benizeau.
Free