Jean-Pierre Vial
Phantaskhoreia
Duration: 6'
Instrumentation details:
flute
clarinet in Bb
trumpet
alto saxophone in Eb
percussion
harp
violin
violoncello
double bass
Phantaskhoreia
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Work introduction
Jean-Pierre Vial composed this chamber work, initially for choreographers, in 2017. Since then, he produced several arrangements of the piece, so as to accommodate various chamber ensembles.
The piece alternates episodes with a mysterious atmosphere and more lilting melodies. It begins with a leitmotiv full of mystery and punctuated by silences, then the sounds get more organized and develop into a more cohesive melody, with a sustained rhythm. At intervals, the melody is interspersed with the initial leitmotiv. The piece ends with a loud cymbal stroke.
The name Phantaskhoreia is the contraction of either phantasia or phantasma (let the audience choose their preference), and khoreia (dance).
What is necessary to perform this work?
1. The percussion part requires a xylophone, three toms, a Chinese or large suspended cymbal, a hi-hat and a snare drum. It includes a suggested percussion setup, also shown in Additional Materials below.
2. Whereas the score refers to a Bb trumpet, a trumpet part is supplied for both a Bb trumpet and a C trumpet, so instrumentalists can choose a part according to their tuning preferences.
3. The harp part includes suggested pedal markings.
4. You can consider alternative instrumentations. For instance, you may substitute a soprano sax for the trumpet, or a piano for the harp. If several percussionists share the percussion part, you may substitute a marimba or a vibraphone for the xylophone, or congas for the toms.