CHOPIN DESSÉCHÉ - étude d'un prélude I
2009
for piano solo
dedicated to Olivier Senn
duration: 7'15"
The twelve works in the Études d'un prélude series are all based on micromeasurements of timing and volume of Martha Argerich's recording of Chopin’s Prelude op. 28/4 in E minor, recorded in Munich on 22-25 October 1975 and released by Deutsche Grammophon as DG 2530 731, reissued as DG 415 836-2. The duration of Argerich’s original recording is 1'51".
Chopin desséché — Étude d’un prélude I leaves its source somewhat intact: all of Chopin’s pitches are preserved, and placed in accordance with Argerich’s original timing and dynamics. The ‘dessication’ results from the removal of all resonance; for each sound event, only the initial attack is preserved. The time-axis of the source is expanded to 7 minutes. The title is a play on Satie’s 1913 work Embryons desséchés.