flute, clarinet, violin, cello, percussion and piano

Integral/parent work: Ensuite

Commission: Continuum, with support from the CCA

Premiere: February 22, 2011, Montréal / Nouvelles Musiques 2011: Suite de danses, Conservatoire de musique de Montréal, Montréal (Québec)

Writing music for a contemporary music ensemble based on the notion of “gigue” or “gig” I was confronted with the challenge of creating a situation for the players to perform in and out of an extremely standardized form. Assuming that each of the six instrumentalists may have had an experience only peripheral to either the baroque or the popular eras, the gig you will hear tonight is a spontaneous exploration of a known entity with a unknown result. May this dance be dedicated to the French Canadian singer-songwriter Mary Travers (aka La Bolduc).

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