Création : 10 mai 2025, La Coupole, Saint-Louis
Commande et production : Les Percussions de Strasbourg
Effectif : 4 percussionnistes
Durée : 15’
Pièce créée dans le programme « MINIMAL ».
La compositrice chinoise Yang Song, née en 1987 à Hohhot, en Mongolie-Intérieure, est associée à l’équipe Analyse des Pratiques Musicales de l’université de Cologne (Allemagne) et a suivi le cursus de composition de l’IRCAM à Paris. La pièce que Yang Song a composée pour les Percussions de Strasbourg propose une vision nouvelle des chansons traditionnelles de sa région de naissance, en un travail rythmiques complexe où les harmonies se superposent. Elle complète ce regard sur le minimalisme d’aujourd’hui, tel que des compositeurs et compositrices et des ensembles – nouveaux venus ou riches de plusieurs décennies d’histoire – s’en emparent dans le monde entier.
« Ombres » is a composition that intricately blends minimalist aesthetics with the essence of Dong folk songs, written for two vibraphones and two marimbas. Dong folk songs represent a unique choral tradition of the Dong ethnic group in China, renowned for their intricate harmonies and repetitive melodies. These songs are characterized by their multi-voice arrangements and layered harmonies, creating a distinctive musical texture that resonates with cultural depth and emotional nuance.
In « Ombres, » the essence of Dong folk music is reimagined through a minimalist lens. The composition employs repetitive melodic patterns and complex harmonic structures to evoke the traditional soundscape while embracing modern simplicity. By combining ancient musical heritage with contemporary artistic forms, the piece offers listeners a novel and captivating musical experience, showcasing an intriguing dialogue between minimalism and tradition.
« Heterometric Patterns » (2023) for 15 musicians in three groups is inspired by the traditional South African singing technique « Umngqokolo. » In this technique, the singer produces both deep tones and overtones simultaneously, essentially singing multiple voices at once. Meanwhile, the piece used various rhythmic patterns, which are layered by different instrumental groups. The whole composition is an attempt to blend old folk music elements with modern sounds. I aim to strike a balance that showcases my own style while also honoring the cultural roots that have inspired me.
Yang Song