LAURENT METTRAUX
Route Principale 160,
CH-1791 Courtaman (Switzerland),
tel. + fax: (+41)
26/684.18.65, E-mail : laurent.mettraux(at)bluewin.ch
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WORKS FOR /
WITH PIANO(S)
(catalogue from August 1st, 2010)
FOR ORDERING A SCORE - PRICE
LIST
M.505 : Concerto (1994) [17']
for piano and orchestra (3*-2*-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, virtuose 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.
In project :
Concerto for four-handed piano (for the Silver-Garburg Duo)
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 1st
International Piano Competition of Fribourg.
M.670 : Stèles (2007-8)
[13']
for piano
20 (+3) pages
CD recording
Presentation, score excerpts and audio recording
Cycle of five pieces after poems taken from the
collection « Stèles » by Victor Segalen : Écrit avec du Sang /
Written with Blood (granitic, tensed and terrifying), Joyau mémorial / Memorial
Jewel (enigmatic, from serene joy to
anguish), Éloge du Jade / Eulogy on Jade (bright, cold and sharp like the
jade), Miroirs / Mirrors (made of sparkling reflections, written in a mirrorlike
mode), Juges souterrains / Underground Judges (inexorable, peremptory and
terse). The first performance took place in Lausanne on March 23rd,
2009, by Dana Ciocarlie.
M.673 : Traces gravées dans le Sable (Tracks drawn in the Sand)
(2009) [12']
for piano
12 (+6) pages
CD recording
Presentation, score excerpts and
audio excerpts
The six pieces of this cycle are inspired by texts of the
Chan tradition. These pieces are more meditations on texts rather than a single
description. These appeased contemplations are voluntarily bare and sober. The
first performance has taken place by See Siang Wong in Zurich on September 9th,
2009.
In project :
Collections
of pieces for solo piano (among which Rhythmical Studies)
M.635 :
Swiss Dances (2003-4) [15']
for piano four hands
40 (+3) pages
Presentation, score excerpts and audio excerpts
This
series of 6 Swiss Dances is made of the following pieces : Ländler, Coraules,
Polka, Dwarves Gallop, Totentanz (Dance of Death) and Dance of the wild man.
The first three are written on themes inspired by the Swiss Folklore, whereas
the last three are more freely inspired, though referring to traditional
elements of Switzerland.
M.473 : Adagio (1993) [5']
for violin and piano
8 (+1) pages with violin part : 3 pages
Work of classical aspect, of bright simplicity. Very melodious
violin part.
M.520 : Trio (1995-6) [17']
for violin, cello and piano
35 (+1) pages ; violin and cello parts : 20 (+1) pages
– 20 (+1) pages
Presentation, score excerpts and audio excerpts
Tragic work,
with tensed climates, sometimes mysterious, even terrifying, a scherzo
furioso and a more calm ending. Commission of the Animae Trio, which first
performed it in Fribourg and at the Melos-Ethos Festival of Bratislava.
M.533 : Sonata (1996) [14']
for flute and piano
18 (+1) pages with flute part: 7 (+1) pages
score excerpt (pdf)
3 parts linked together, with a scherzo inspired by
andine music and a meditative finale, more and more inner. Order of the
Jeunesses Musicales of Gruyères, destined to celebrate their 25th anniversary.
M.551 :
Lied (1997) [6']
for soprano saxophone and piano
9 (+1) pages with saxophone part : 3 pages
Presentation and audio excerpt
Very singing work, showing up the expressive
properties of the saxophone.
M.553 : Sonata (1997) [16']
for cello and piano
22 (+1) pages with cello part : 6 (+1) pages
Epic and dark work, with a slow and elegiac movement
in the middle.
M.573 : Trio for alto saxophone, violoncello and piano (1998-9) [17’]
17 (+2) pages
M.573a: saxophone and cello parts: 2x12 (+2) pages
CD recording
Presentation, score excerpt and audio excerpts
2
contrasted movements: the first passionate, ending in distress, and the second meditating,
ending in serenity. Simultaneous performance, on February 11th,
2000, during concerts organized by the “Association for the Development of the
Classical Saxophone”, which commissioned the work, in more than ten cities in
Switzerland and abroad.
M.580 :
Paremboles (1998) [11']
for flute, clarinet (B flat), saxophone (soprano in B
flat and alto in E flat), viola ad libitum and piano (2 or 4 hands) ad libitum
30 (+2) pages ; performing material : 7 (+2) pages – 9
(+2) pages – 6 (+2) pages – 4 (+2) pages
Work which might be performed in 6 different versions,
according to the principle of the adding or the retrenchment of one or more
voices. From granitic to deep emotion, following compositional forms of the Ars
antiqua, but with contemporary harmonies.
M.620 :
Septet (2001) [18']
for flute, clarinet, horn, bassoon, violin,
violoncello and piano
41 (+3) pages
M.620a : performing material : 25 (+2) pages – 25
(+2) pages – 25 (+2) pages – 27 (+2) pages – 26 (+2) pages – 27 (+2) pages
Presentation, score excerpts and audio excerpts
This
septet has been especially written for the formation of the Mittelland
Ensemble. Five movements linked together, mixing disquieting, tragic,
mysterious or melancholic aspects.
M.632 :
Trio for clarinet, cello and piano (2003)
[14’]
24 (+3) pages
M.632a : separate parts : 16 (+3) pages – 15
(+2) pages
Presentation, score excerpts and audio
excerpts
Ordered
by the Avalon Trio, first performed in April 2004 during the « 2 days
& 2 nights of modern music » Festival of Odessa and during a concert
tour in Ukraine. In three movements : angoscioso, where the lyricism of the clarinet
and of the cello contrasts with the implacable rhythms of the piano ;
scherzo furioso, followed by a more calm ending. This work is inspired, among
others, by elements of the Klezmer music.
M.636 :
Attente (2004) [11']
for saxophone, cello, piano and percussion (1 percussionist)
22
(+4) pages
M.636a:
performing material: 16 (+3) pages – 16 (+3) pages – 22 (+4) pages
Work yet to be
first-performed (!! please
contact the composer for first performance)
This work is in turn passive and resigned, or active
and revolted expectation. The saxophonist plays on three instruments :
successively baritone, soprano and alto.
M.654 :
Le Tombeau de Ravel (2006) [6']
for tenor saxophone, bassoon, violin,
cello, piano, guitar and percussion
14 (+5) pages
M.654a : performing
material : 2 (+2) pages – 2 (+2) pages – 3 (+2) pages – 3 (+2) pages
– 2 (+3) pages
Presentation, score excerpt and audio excerpts
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. It has also been instrumented for a chamber orchestra.
M.655 : Petite
Suite de Danses (2006-7) [8’]
for violin and piano
22 (+ 3) pages with violin part : 10
pages
This
little dance suite consists of four movements (Polka, Dwarves Gallop, Totentanz
- Dance of Death - and Dance of the wild man). It is a transcription of four of
the Swiss Dances, originally written for
four handed piano.
In project :
Sonata
for violin and piano
M.462 : Racines avides (1991-2) [17']
for middle voice and piano
23 (+5) pages
Work yet to be
first-performed (!! please
contact the composer for first performance)
7 poems in French language by Luce Péclard relating
the human search for the inside of his being. Polyphonic, subtle accompaniment
by the piano; more mystical and bare parts.
M.548 :
Auf die erniedrigende Erhebung und erhebte Niedrigkeit (1997) [5']
for high voice and piano
6 (+1) pages
Text in German language by Catharina Regina von
Greiffenberg. Conflict between mysticism and human torment. Appeasement during
the coda, played only by the piano.
M.549 : Elògio
della Nòtte (1997) [10']
for voice and piano
12 (+3) pages
CD recording
Presentation, score excerpt and audio excerpt
Three versions : original version for bass voice,
version for alto voice, version for medium voice. On texts by Michelangelo, in
Italian language. Dark and tormented, then meditative and appeased. particularly
well-written for the bass-voice. The accompaniment is sober, which is even more
impressive.
M.559 : Al
cor di zolfo... (1997) [5']
for bass-voice and piano
5 (+2) pages
Between passion and thought. On a sonnet by Michelangelo
(in Italian language).
M.659 : Quelle
terre est vide de toi ? (2007) [3’]
7 (+ 3) pages
Text and audio excerpt from the
oratorio out of which this song is taken
This
song is a transcription of a passage of the oratorio « Le Nom Caché »
(The Hidden Name). The text, by the composer, is inspired by mystic poems of
the sufi sage Hallaj ; it is a meditation on the unknowable nature of the
Divinity.
M.625 : Le Nom Caché (The Hidden Name), oratorio (2001-2) [48']
for 4 soli (SATB), mixed choir, solo cello, two
pianos and percussion (6 players)
M.625 full score 149 (+ 30)
pages
M.625a reduction voice/piano:
197 (+26) pages
Performing material to be asked from the composer.
CD recording
Presentation, score excerpts and audio
excerpts — Text
Ordered by the National Swiss Exposition (2002). Work based
on texts stressing the anguish, and then the appeasement of the beings facing
the mystery of a hidden God, that can’t be named. The work develops itself
while following the various human feelings : questioning, rebellion, despair,
haunting doubts, acceptation of the limits of human comprehension,
contemplative silence.
In project :
Collections
of works for voice and piano: cycles on words by V. Hugo, Shakespeare, etc...
All commissions welcome!