Philippe Manoury is particularly interested in the pure string instrumentation because it allows for a unique interplay of textures: “Boulez once said something to me that made a big impression: when you layer woodwind instruments, it very quickly becomes opaque. But you can layer strings by dividing them infinitely; despite their density, they always retain their transparency.” The work deals with the idea of “ladders”, i.e. musical scales. “With each step on the ladder, a new expression can reveal itself, like a landscape that you gradually discover as you gain height,” explains Philippe Manoury.
moreOn 6 September, the Orchestre de Chambre de Paris, conducted by Pascal Gallois, will premiere Philippe Manoury's new composition Scales for string orchestra at the Festival Classique au vert in Paris. The work will also be performed by the MKO in Rennes and Quibéron at the end of the month.
