Les objets obscures
"Les objets obscurs" was composed during an intense period in studio C at GRM in Paris during the summer of 1991. Since I was invited to make a piece at this very honourable institution, it came naturally to do something that related closely to the historical tradition represented by GRM. Concept as well as material and compositional methods lies within the basic framework of the classical “musique concrète”. Though through its lyrics the piece is self explanatory, but some background information may still come in handy. “Les objets obscurs” (the hidden objects) is a set of riddles partly describing the physical object producing the sounding material, partly describing some aspect of the musical content of each movement. The answer to these riddles may be found in each of the four movements. It works like this; a short text is read (in French) presenting the riddle, immediately followed by a movement ( i.e. the musical equivalent of the riddle). Each movement is based upon sounds and transformations of sounds produced by one single everyday object (like a comb, a cup, whatever...). One movement - one object. In the end of the last movement the “solution” of all the riddles is presented. These answers, however, set up a new “inner” riddle, to which no answer is given.
The lyrics
Ladies and Gentlemen,
listen ....... to the hidden objects
The first is the starting point of a riddle
The second:
A landscape on legs
A perpetual movement
Something that touches without moving
A movement without a goal
An object to rest in
The third:
Convex bodies thrown into a series of collisions
Random movements over jagged surfaces
Something that is loved without loving
Something that is collected only to be scattered
The fourth:
The fourth is the union of the first and the last
The first is the origin of the riddle
The last is the dissolution of he first
The solution:
The first is a lock
The second is a chair
The third is twenty-two stone marbles
The fourth is the voice and language
and the enigma of the hidden objects is
The Music
Björn Billing has written an article about Les Objets Obscurs
(in Swedish)
Magnus Bunnskog has made a vocal ”remake” of Les Objets Obscurs
“...the composition presented with extraordinary
fantasy all the nuances of the material, from cosmic glissandi to colourful bands of noise and metallic percussive sounds....A clear structure and a strong sense of willpower signifies the composition.”
Der Tagenspiegel (Berlin, Germany) 1994
Photo: Josef Doukkali
Concept: Åke Parmerud
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV