A sound is sent out and makes rings. It bounces off and its rebounds can be formal, or energetic, or anecdotal. The instrumental sound is bounced, in real-time treatment, then it spreads to the spaces of fixed sound. And, without lingering, we go from one rebound to the next.

This piece was inspired by a news story: a young boy went biking and drowned on a submerged segment of a bike trail. I was very close to that spot and I was made aware of the drama by the sound of helicopters close by. The ricochet interplays between instrumentalist and fixed sounds at the beginning, the sudden appearance of referential sounds, the final wave that brings the piece to a close are all elements more or less related to that event.

I heartfeltly thanks saxophonist André Leroux whose perseverance, total engagement and constant playfulness in the studio and in the creative process were a pure marvel.

— Monique Jean [English translation: François Couture, vi-12]

Ricochets was realized in 2006 during a production and creation residency at PRIM (Montréal) and at the composer’s studio and premiered by André Leroux on November 1, 2006 during the Akousma (3) festival presented by Réseaux at the Studio Hydro-Québec of the Monument-National in Montréal (Québec). The piece was commissioned by Quasar with support from the Canada Council for the Arts (CCA).

Premiere

• November 1, 2006, André Leroux, tenor saxophone • Akousma (3): Ondes porteuses, Studio Hydro-Québec — Monument-National, Montréal (Québec)