Laurent Mettraux, catalogue of works

This work, first performed very successfully by the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Jesus Lopez-Cobos, has got the first prize and public prize of the first competition for young composers in 1993. Tragic and passionate work, taking advantage of all the resources of a chamber orchestra. A slightly revised version has been first performed in 1999 by the Philharmonic Orchestra of Volgograd, conducted by Emmanuel Siffert.

M.515 : Ombre (Shadow) (1995-8) [14']

for full orchestra (3*-3*-3*-3* 4-3-3-1 4Perc. Strings)

36 (+4) pages

Performing material to be asked from the composer.

Presentation — score excerpt (pdf)

Impressive work, based on a tale by Edgar Poe, where terror and anguish mix together, with sometimes strange sonorities, from the imperceptible to the imposing ffff. This work won 1998 the prize of the Donaueschinger Musiktage, awarded for the first time. First performance by the SWR Symphony Orchestra Baden-Baden-Freiburg, conducted by Sylvain Cambreling, Donaueschingen, 17.10.1999.

M.603 : Le Cocyte (1999) [11’]

for full orchestra (3**-3*-3**-3* bar. sax. 4-3-3-1 4/5Perc. Strings)

15 (+4) pages

Performing material to be asked from the composer.

Presentation, score excerpt and audio excerpt

Describes the freezy and anxious atmosphere of the frosty lake called up by Dante in his Divine Comedy. Ordered by Pro Helvetia for the Festival of Arts on the occasion of the 100^th anniversary of the Association of Swiss musicians. First performed by the Symphony Orchestra of Bern, conducted by Luca Pfaff, St. Moritz, 2.9.2000.

M.458 : Lacrimosa (1990, rev. 2006) [8']

for orchestra or chamber orchestra (2-2-2 (2 basset horns ad libitum)-2 2-2 3Perc. Strings)

20 (+4) pages

Performing material to be asked from the composer.

This work, conceived as a « Tomb of Mozart », draws its thematic substance from two quotations, one taken from the Masonic Funeral Music KV 477, and the other from the Lacrimosa of the Requiem. Erected like a funeral monument with granite walls, this dramatic work contains a more elegiac central part.

M.464 : Vision Immanente (1992, rev. 2006) [7']

for full orchestra (3*-3*-3-3* 4-2-3-1 Hp Timp. Strings)

19 (+4) pages

Performing material to be asked from the composer.

This work, of epic character, contains also more agitated passages, contrasting with calm moments.

M.654b : Le Tombeau de Ravel (2006, orch. 2006-7) [6']

for chamber orchestra (2*-2*-2-2* 2-0-0-0 1Perc. Strings)

23 (+5) pages

Performing material to be asked from the composer.

Presentation, score excerpt and audio excerpts of the original version for ensemble

This work has been written for a project of the Compagnie CH.AU, for which six composers have written one movement each, corresponding to one of the parts of the Tombeau de Couperin by Ravel. This piece inspires itself of the Menuet of the Tombeau de Couperin, and has principally an elegiac, tender and nostalgic character. The original version of this work is written for an ensemble of 7 instruments.

M.662 : La Mort sur un Cheval Pâle (Death on a Pale Horse) (2007) [11’]

for full orchestra (3*-2*-2*-3* 4-4-3-1 2Perc. Strings)

30 (+6) pages

Performing material to be asked from the composer

Presentation

Commission by Pro Helvetia for the Basel Sinfonietta. The work is inspired by the episode of the apparition of the 4^th Rider of the Apocalypse and describes the frightful atmosphere and the sensations of terror it inspires. In order to obtain this, the work uses all the potentialities of the orchestra, among which, at some places, strange sounds. The dramatic tension is ensured by the opposition between, on one hand, the dynamism of the baneful action of the Rider and of his lightning ride, and, on the other hand, the anguished awaiting and the static pictures of the desolation following the sudden arise of Death.

In preparation :

- Piece for orchestra, on the theme of the Musical Offering by Bach

In project :

- Orchestration of the Swiss Dances, M. 635

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Concertos

M.481 : Concerto for 15 soloist strings (1994) [20']

for 8 violins, 3 violas, 3 cellos and double bass

103 (+1) pages

Performing material to be asked from the composer.

Presentation, score excerpt and audio recording

Each instrumentalist is at the same time soloist, chamber musician and member of the orchestra. 3 movements: passionate, elegiac, and the third more rhythmical, with successive cadenzas for each of the 15 soloists. First performed during the opening concert of the Tibor Varga Festival 1994, by the members of the Festival Orchestra, conducted by Tibor Varga.

M.505 : Concerto (1994) [17']

for piano and orchestra (3*-3*-3*-3* 4-2-3-1 3Perc. Strings)

Full score: 51 (+2) pages

Reduction for 2 pianos: 57 (+1) pages

Work yet to be first-performed (!! please contact the composer for first performance)

Impressive work, with a great variety of colours. Slow introduction, virtuoso part followed by a slow movement altogether of great tenderness and great sadness. The end is a slow rise towards the light, going through various stages.

M.544 : Concerto n.1 (1996) [13']

for violin and orchestra (2*-2*-2*-2* 2-0-0-0 Strings)

Full score: 20 (+4) pages

Reduction violin and piano: 11 (+1) pages

Solo violin part: 5 (+1) pages

Work yet to be first-performed (!! please contact the composer for first performance)

In two parts, the first one desolated and tragic, with the cadenza almost at the beginning of the work, and the second one meditating and profound, going away at the end towards high sounds (soloist part), towards deep sounds (orchestra), and towards silence.

M.579 : Concerto n.2 (1998) [19’]

for violin and string orchestra (6-6-4-4-1/ 2)

M.579: Full score: 58 (+3) pages

M.579a: Reduction with piano: 32 (+2) pages

Solo violin part: 12 (+2) pages

Performing material to be asked from the composer.

score excerpt (pdf)

First movement virtuoso and passionate, the second calm and meditative, the third energetic. The cadenza, particularly expressive, is to be found at the end of the second movement. First performance in Budapest, conducted by Tibor Varga, with Isabelle Lambelet as soloist.

M.607 : Concerto n.3 (1999) [20']

for violin and full orchestra (3**-3*-3*-3* 4-3-3-1 T.-t. Strings)

M.607: Full score: 51 (+2) pages

M.607a: Reduction with piano: 43 (+2) pages

Solo violin part: 17 (+1) pages

Performing material to be asked from the composer.

Presentation, score excerpts and audio recording

In two parts. The first virtuoso and dramatic, the second elegiac, tristamente semplice. Ordered by the Radio Suisse Romande - Espace 2, compulsory piece of the International Violin Competition Tibor Varga - 2000. First performed by Ryoko Yano, winner of the interpretation prize and 1^st prize of the Competition, and the Chamber Orchestra of Lithuania, conducted by Gilbert Varga.

M.628 : Concerto for organ and orchestra (2002-3) [18']

for great organ and orchestra (2*-2*-2*-2* 2-2-2-0 3Perc. Str.)

40 (+4) pages

Solo organ part (B4) : 35 (+3) pages

Performing material to be asked from the composer.

Presentation, score excerpts and audio recording

First performed on the occasion of the inauguration of the new great organ of the Cathedral of Lausanne (December 2003). German first performance : April 2010 at the Gewandhaus of Leipzig, with Michael Schönheit and the Gewandhaus orchestra, conducted by Riccardo Chailly. Alternately virtuoso, thoughtful, fiery or majestic. The organ has a dialogue with the instruments or opposes the orchestra.

M.629 : Double Concerto for pipa, violin and orchestra (2002-5) [21']

(2*-2*-2*-2* 2-0-0-0 2Perc. Strings)

64 (+6) pages

Pipa and violin part : 40 (+4) pages

Performing material to be asked from the composer.

To be first performed soon !

Work written for the famous pipa (chinese lute) player Yang Jing, and the violinist Boris Livschitz. In three movements : the first one alternates mysterious and energetic passages, the second one is meditative. The third, Eruptivo, contains an important cadenza for the soloists.

In project :

- Concerto for percussion and orchestra (for Pedro Carneiro)

- Concerto for four-handed piano (for the Silver-Garburg Duo)

- Concerto for Harp (for Chantal Mathieu)

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Instrumental and Chamber Music

Solos

Piano

M.463 : Sonata in 1 movement (1991) [8']

for piano

12 (+1) pages

score excerpt (pdf)

Tragic and pathetic work, of a great variety of shades. Very passionate.

M.566 : Sonata (1997) [8']

for pianoforte (Fortepiano), also to be played on a modern piano

10 (+2) pages

Brings the clearness of the low sounds of ancient pianos to the fore. Nevertheless, also to be played on a modern piano.

M.621 : Déploration (2001) [1'30]

for piano

2 (+1) pages

This short and grave piece shows in particular fragments of desolated melodies, also in dialogue or in canon, and the muffled hammering of a very low chord. Commission of the Association Jeune Musique, for the 1^st International Piano Competition of Fribourg.

See also piano four hands

In project :

- Collections of pieces for solo piano

Organ

M.456 : Gethsemané (1990) [4']

for organ

6 (+1) pages

CD recording

Presentation, score excerpt and audio excerpt

Sorrowful evocation as well as resigned. At least double manual and pedal keyboards. Sounds particularly well on great organs of romantic style. Has already been played in different places, two of them being the Kreuzkirche of Dresden and the Braunschweig Cathedral. First performance in 1994, by Erwin Messmer.

M.465 : Hommage à Olivier Messiaen (1992) [4’]

for organ

3 (+1) pages

Freely inspired by the poetical atmosphere of the great French composer. Soft deploration ending in serenity, composed upon the news of Messiaen’s death. First performance in 1999, by René Oberson.

M.614 : Lux Mundi (2000) [22']

for organ

26 (+14) pages

Written in such a way it can be played on different types of organs. To be played either on concerts or during the liturgy, suitable for the Holy Week or any other occasion. Very meditative work, alternatively dark or bright, tensed or oppressed. Commissioned by the European Music Month 2001. First performed by more than ten organists of Basel and the surroundings, during the Holy Week of 2001.

M.640 : Veilleur, où en est la nuit ? (2004-5) [5']

for organ

5 (+3) pages

score excerpt (pdf)

The title « Veilleur, où en est la nuit ? » (“Watchman, what of the night?”) is taken from the book of Isaiah. Between the anguish of the dark night and the hope, inspired by the watchman, that the day shall rise again.

M.650 : Serenata in chiaroscuro (2005-6) [6']

for organ

5 (+1) pages

This work has been commissioned on the occasion of the 20^th Concert Season of the Orgelserenaden of Berne-Bümpliz. In one single movement, the piece goes often from brightness to obscurity, and vice versa. It is elliptical and interrogative. The principal theme, hesitating, alternates with rich harmonies.

Accordion

In project :

- Work for solo accordion (for Pascal Contet)

Strings

M.497 : Fantasia (1994-5) [10']

for solo violin

8 (+1) pages

Very virtuoso work in its middle part (fantastico), very expressive starting and ending. Contains a fugue on the name of BACH. Ordered by the Radio Suisse Romande - Espace 2, compulsory piece of the international violin competition Tibor Varga - 1995.

M.585 : Soliloque (1998) [6']

for solo violin

2 (+1) pages

score excerpt (pdf)

Work of great inner contemplation, between melancholy and serenity. First performance in Morgins, 2002, by Jan Dobrzelewski, during the festival “Flâneries Musicales de Champéry”.

M.633 : Complainte (2003) [6']

for solo violin

5 (+2) pages

Presentation, score excerpt and audio excerpts

Written at the request of Shlomo Mintz to be the compulsory piece of the International Violin Competition of Sion (2003). Between rage and resignation, lamentation and anger.

M.639 : Microlude (2004) [1'40]

for solo cello

1 (+2) pages