FRANCIS
ST-GERMAIN
ST-GERMAIN
CARENCE CROASSE
AUDIOVISUAL WORK FOR TRUMPET, TAPE & VIDEO
Credits
Music composition - Francis St-Germain
Trumpet & Video - Émilie Fortin
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.
The trumpet part is composed of 15 interchangeable modules, allowing the performer to determine the order and number of sections played during each performance. This modularity provides flexibility and mirrors the fragmented, often unpredictable nature of oppression and resistance within toxic relationships. The lyrical trumpet passages contrast with the heavy soundscape, purposefully living as a disconnected object from its surrounding.
The electroacoustic tape was created using sounds recorded within the composer’s home, compelling him to reflect on his immediate surroundings and relationships. This introspection informed the sound material, which includes extended vocal techniques and violin samples played in an extremely low scordatura. These samples were then processed to construct an oppressive soundscape whose timbre is at the intersection between a broken organ and choir. The tape, which can also stand alone as a solo work, becomes a metaphor for the overwhelming, inescapable presence of abuse, enveloping the listener in its disquieting textures.
The video component, created by Émilie Fortin, further amplifies the piece’s themes of intimacy and vulnerability. Recorded entirely within her home, the visuals expose fragments of her identity, including close-ups of her body and her trumpet, an extension of herself as a musician. As a novice in video art, Émilie intentionally embraced simplicity in her editing process, bringing a childlike quality to the visuals. This aesthetic juxtaposes the oppressive electronic soundscapes and the lyrical trumpet, offering a window into her personal and artistic essence. By granting her creative freedom, the video becomes a medium for her to navigate the tension between exposure and self-preservation.
At its core, Carence croasse is a reflection on the interplay between personal agency and external control. By intertwining the selected freedom of the trumpet, the rigidity of the tape, and the fragility of the visuals, the piece invites listeners to confront the complexities of power, identity, and emancipation.
Duration: 25 minutes
Credits
Music composition - Francis St-Germain
Trumpet & Video - Émilie Fortin
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.
Music composition - Francis St-Germain
Trumpet & Video - Émilie Fortin
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.