Denis Gougeon: Between affect and narrative
This analysis adopts a particular perspective in order to illustrate the importance of affect and narrative in the work of composer Denis Gougeon. It focuses on a specific part of his oeuvre, namely works that build bridges between musics of diverse historical and/or geographic origins. The main focus is Toy (Music Box), composed in 2009-2010 for two bamboo flutes (dizis) and symphony orchestra – a work that won the First Prize at the 2010 Presences Festival International Composition Competition in Shanghai. By way of introduction, three other works are briefly discussed: Voix-Vénus (1990), for soprano (or tenor) and piano, on a text by Goethe; Un fleuve, une île, une ville (1991-1992), for symphony orchestra; Chants du coeur (2011-2012), for violin and piano.