This piece puts the coffee theme under pressure. From single bean to hot bowl, its aroma is enough to awaken the mind. Whether it be JS Bach profaning it through a sweet cantata or Gainsbourg eroticizing it with a sunburnt old song, the extract it produces is always cheerful.

In French, the word “café” is used for both coffee and an establishment where people meet and talk, where odd characters brush elbows with an affected Roland, thus becoming the perfect spot to experiment with otherness.

Long or strong, the espresso expresses the exhilaration of urban speed. And I would like to express my regards to the expressiveness of my espresso machine.

— Jacques Tremblay [English translation: François Couture, viii-08]

Espresso espressivo was realized in 2003-04 at the composer’s studio in Montréal, and premiered on February 11, 2004 during the Rien à voir (15) concert series presented by Réseaux at Espace GO in Montréal. The piece was commissioned by Réseaux des arts médiatiques with support from the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ).

Premiere

• February 11, 2004, Rien à voir (15): Multiple Soundings, Espace Go, Montréal (Québec)