A Blind War (11/13/15), op. 16

A Blind War (11/13/15) is a piece especially composed for the 13th international conducting summer academy of Jean-Sébastien Béreau, in Leiria, Portugal.

On the evening of Friday 13 November 2015, terrible attacks occurred in Paris and Saint-Denis. 

130 dead people, more than 400 injured, and countless others, who were forever traumatised by that evening.

130 dead. 

Killed because they simply wanted to spend a moment on a terrace, with family, friends, colleagues or students...

Killed because they wanted to attend a sporting event between two nations, sport being a time when the values of solidarity and self-sacrifice are valued... 

Killed because they wanted to attend a concert...


A Blind War (11/13/15) was inspired by these events but is not an illustration of them.

At the heart of the work is mankind. Man is a fabulous creature, capable of creating marvellous things and constantly seeking to improve himself and his environment. This beauty is illustrated in A Blind War by a lyrical and expressive, beautiful and melancholy theme. However, man also has the power to be at the root of his own loss and destruction; this 'power' is expressed at the beginning of the work by a five-note motive played by the basses. 

It is this ambivalence in mankind destiny that is expressed in A Blind War, with one question: will Man be able to stop his own self-destruction?

A Blind War (11/13/15) has been selected by the legal Ablaze Records to be featured on their CD "Orchestral Masters vol. 5" (2018).

     

Version française cliquez ici.

Specifications: 

  • Title: A Blind War - symphonic poem n°5, op. 16 (original title: Une guerre aveugle (13/11/15) - poème symphonique n°5, op. 16) 
  • Year of composition: 2016 
  • Duration: 15 minutes 30 seconds 
  • Instrumentation: 2 Flutes (including Piccolo), 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets in B (Clarinets in A), 2 Bassoons (including Contrabassoon), 4 Horns in F, 2 Trumpets in B, 3 Trombones, Timpani, 3 Percussions, Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello, Doublebass 
  • Creation: 29th July 2016 (Escola de Formaçao Social Rural de Leiria, Marrazes, Portugal - by: orchestra of the 13th international conducting summer academy of Leiria, conducting: Natanaël Iselin-Milhiet) / 30th July 2016 (Museu de Leiria, Leiria, Portugal - by: orchestra of the 13th international conducting summer academy of Leiria, conducting: Helder Abreu) / 31st July 2016 (Capelas Imperfeitas do Mosteiro de Santa Maria da Vitoria, Batalha, Portugal - by: orchestra of the 13th international conducting summer academy of Leiria, conducting: Romain Corbisier)
  • Commission: by Jean-Sébastien Béreau

Recording by the Brno Philharmonic Orchestra, conducting: Mikel Toms (Besedni Dum, Brno, Czech Republic, Label: Ablaze Records - 2018)

Daniel AELVOET, Alexandra ALLARD, Foteini ANGELI, Alain BEAUCHAMPS, Martine BEAUCHAMPS, Thérèse BEAUCHAMPS, Claude CHANALET, Béatrice CORBISIER, Cyrielle CORBISIER, Faustine CORBISIER, Stéphane CORBISIER, Jeanne COUSIN,  Jean-Claude DASSONVILLE, Micheline DASSONVILLE, Marion DELEHAYE, Clémence DELELIS, Jean-Pierre DELGRANGE, Josée DELGRANGE, Céline FAUVILLE, Eric FRANCOIS, Pauline GENISSEL, Elisabeth KREUTZ, Michael KREUTZ, Sophie LASCOMBES-MAYRAND, Fanny LAVIGNE, Françoise LEGRAND, Isabelle REMY, Joëlle REMY, Norbert REMY, Marie VALDELIEVRE. 
These people contributed generously to the production of the recording of A Blind War (11/13/15), op. 16 by the label ABLAZE RECORDS. 

Ensemble ACCORDEUS supported the recording and commissioned Romain Corbisier for a new work.

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