Régis Campo

Nova

A proposition by the Soli-Tutti ensemble led to this new project involving twelve mixed voices, amateur choir and instruments, not forgetting high percussion instruments, namely crotals, a glockenspiel and triangles. For the brass, just a twin pair of trumpets. And for the strings, there will be a few violas, cellos and a double bass. With words by Claude Debussy, sung now a century later, making up a work of thirty minutes' duration (at least). I listen half-amused, half - Les Jeux de Rabelais (Rabelaisian games): the last movement. The initial harmonic ideas come all of a sudden. And then the form, in a loop. No melodrama. Harmonies bubble up. A little movement. The phone goes: what's the title to be? Rumination. Using the title 'Nova'. Return to work. Trying to find a formal balance. It's a building site. Variation of pleasure. Rejoicing. Anxiety. Requests. The post. Discussion. Distraction. Work. Finally it's finished. Euphoria, then mist and doubt come crowding in. The publisher's infinite patience, and confidence springs anew. More requests - around the voice. A happy coincidence of desires. So - Musicatreize, Les Jeunes Solistes, La Péniche-Opéra (which means, I realise with amusement, that I must definitely be a 'voice composer'). Words taken hostage. Words jumbled up. Laughter. Jostling. Then the revenge of all the old cantatas of Rome. Finally a brief peace - but not eternal peace. Régis Campo