JEAN SCHWARZ / Erda / Suite N (LP)

JEAN SCHWARZ の1960年代の作品を含むアルバム『Erda / Suite N』。フランスの電子音楽に関わる研究機関 Groupe de Recherches Musicales (GRM) に所属し、ミュージックコンクレートの研究と共に民族音楽の研究も行っていたフランスの作曲家 Jean Schwarz による「Erda (1972年)」と、｢Suite N (1982年)」の２作品を収録。スタジオで音の配列を研究していた彼は、元々はJAZZのパーカッショニストとしても活動していたとのこと。

Cut by CGB at Dubplates & Mastering, Berlin, August 2015
Digital Transfer: Jonathan Fitoussi
Translations: Valérie Vivancos
Layout: Stephen O'Malley
Coordination GRM: Daniel Teruggi & François Bonnet
Executive Production: Peter Rehberg

Tracklist
Erda (1972)
This piece illustrates my early research carried out in a professional composition studio. After studying every available tools and creating variably hybrid connections between them, I chose to compose several short sequences, each being the expression of a research based on a sonic manipulation and exploring a well defined sound hue. Besides, my background as a percussionist and a jazzman encouraged me to conduct a rhythmical study in each of these sequences.

Erda consists of seven movements:
1. Variations: a lengthy framework interwoven with granular variations.
2. Cellules (Cells): this movement comprises a group of melodico-rhythmic cells shifting from the left channel to the right channel. The slightly raucous and acid texture of the ‘square’ sounds, that can be heard in several movements, is a reminder of saxophone and muted brass sonorities, as used in contemporary jazz.
3. Grillons: (crickets) an evocation of the realm of insects.
4. 54 oiseaux (birds): stereotypical bird songs produced by the generators of the studio 54.
5. Erda: a tribute to the Goddess of Wisdom and the Earth in Wagner’s Das Rheingold and Siegfried.
6. Génorgue: this sequence is somehow mirroring Cellules. The sound has however lost some of its aggressiveness and is getting closer to that of an organ or an electric piano.
7. Klook: rhythmical drumming figures such as those Kenny Clarke (aka Klook) used to teach me.
8. In memoriam J.C.: a tribute to John Coltrane.

Suite N (1982)
Commissioned by the Direction de la Musique and the Ina GRM.
Composed in the Ina GRM’s numerical composition studio with the assistance of Benedict Maillard and Yann Geslin.