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 VOICE(S)

(catalogue from August 1st, 2010)

 

 

FOR ORDERING A SCORE  -  PRICE LIST

 

 

OratoriosLieder, mélodiesStage works

 

 

 

Oratorios

 

 

M.528 : Vers le soleil couchant (Towards the setting sun), oratorio (1995-6)  [42']

for 4 soli (SATB), children's or young girl's choir, mixed choir and orchestra (0-c.a.-2 basset horns-2  0-2-3-0  Perc.(2)  Vl. and Vc. soli  strings)

M.528 full score 148 (+ 15) pages

M.528a reduction voice/piano: 91 (+15) pages

Performing material to be asked from the composer.

CD recording

 

Numerous texts, also superimposed, on the subject of death, from the epic of Gilgamesh to E. Brontë, from the Vedas to Apollinaire (in English, French, German, Italian, Latin and Sanskrit languages). Very impressive work in its expressivity and its musical as well as philosophical development. Multitude of climates and very appeased ending. An order from the choir of the Fribourg University, which has first performed this work with great success in June 1996.

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

Lieder

 

 

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    Text

 

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’]

for high voice and piano

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.

 

 

In preparation :

 

Work for voice, flute, viola and harp after haiku texts

Collections of works for voice and piano: cycles on words by V. Hugo, Shakespeare, etc...

 

 

 

Stage Works

 

 

M.634 : Les Serrures à Secret (2003-5)  [95']

For solo bass, actors, choirs and instrumental ensemble

242 (+16) pages

 

On a libretto by Michel Gremaud. Explores the myth of Hephaestus, placed in our time. The instrumental ensemble is divided into different groups, among which a wind quintet and a percussion ensemble.

 

 

 

In project :

 

Opera after a Japanese medieval stage work

Thyestes, after Seneca

Other projects on request

 

 

All commissions welcome!