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Work

Répons

for six soloists, electroacoustic device and ensemble

Composer:
Pierre Boulez
Composition:
1980-1984; some subsequent revisions
Duration:
45 min Score inscription
Sponsor(s):
SWF Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden, for the Donaueschinger Musiktage
Dedication:
To Alfred Schlee on his 80th birthday

Premiere

  • Version 1: 18 October 1981, in Donaueschingen (Baarsporthalle, Donaueschinger Musiktage), by Vincent Bauer and Daniel Ciampolini (percussion), Michel Cerutti (cymbalum), Pierre-Laurent Aimard and Alain Neveux (piano), Marie-Claire Jamet (harp), Andrew Gerzso (electroacoustic production) and the Ensemble intercontemporain, conducted by Pierre Boulez.
  • Version 2: 6 September 1982, in London (Royal Horticultural Society, as part of the BBC Proms), by the same performers.
  • Version 3: 22 September 1984, in Turin (palestra della Caserma Cernaia, Settembre Musica festival), by the same performers.

Work structure

1 movement (eight linked sections, preceded by an introduction and followed by a coda): Rapide. Énergique

Instrumentation

6 soloists: 2 pianos (also electronic organs), harp, vibraphone, glockenspiel (also xylophone), cymbalum Ensemble:

  • 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets in B-flat, bass clarinet in B-flat, 2 bassoons
  • 2 horns in F, 2 trumpets in C, 2 trombones, bass tuba
  • 3 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos, double bass
Electroacoustic equipment:
  • mixing console
  • computer (processing and spatialization)
  • for each of the 6 soloists: 1 linked loudspeaker
Stage layout: instrumental ensemble placed on stage, preferably in the centre of the room; the 6 soloists positioned at regular intervals, on raised podiums placed around the audience.

Publisher

Universal Edition (London), cop. 1981 [UE 33696 (study score)/UE 33637 (large format)] and Andrew Gerzso, Technical manual [UE 36888]

Note

  • Composition studio: IRCAM (Paris), Andrew Gerzso (assistant electroacoustic producer).
  • The score has been extended several times: "The first version lasts about 17 minutes, the second (premiered in London in 1982) about 35 minutes, and the third (premiered in Turin in 1984) 45 minutes. Electronics were added to certain parts of the work in 1998 and 1999. Slight modifications were made around the year 2003" (preface to the score, Andrew Gerzso, 2014).

Source: Excerpt from Pierre Boulez : catalogue de l’œuvre, edition prepared by Alain Galliari, Éditions de la Philharmonie, 2025.

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