“Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from eliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people’s hats off — then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can. This is my substitute for pistol and ball. With a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon his sword; I quietly take to the ship. There is nothing surprising in this. If they but knew it, almost all men in their degree, some time or other, cherish very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me.”

— Herman Melville, Moby Dick

[i-15]

L’appel was realized in 2008 at the composer’s studio and premiered on December 11, 2008 during the Akousma (5) festival at Studio Hydro-Québec, Monument-National, Montréal. Thanks to Gabrielle Forget, the little girl singing to the ocean.

Premiere

• December 11, 2008, Akousma (5): Programme double, Studio Hydro-Québec — Monument-National, Montréal (Québec)

Awards

• Finalist, Category A (fixed medium), Musica Nova 2009, Prague (Czech Republic)