News
Projections libérantes was at the Festival des Guitares du Monde!
Simon Martin had the pleasure of presenting his Just Intonation guitar at the Festival des guitares du monde in Abitibi-Témiscamingue. Here’s a look back at his presence at the lutherie exhibition:
©Festival des guitares du monde
Musique d'art (2015) | It was today, but 10 years ago.
I remember… It was cold, it was sunny, March 5, 2015. That’s how long ago it was, the day of the premiere of my first concert work.
The event took place at the Salle de l’Agora de la danse, located, at the time, on Rue Cherrier. I’d seen a dance show there that made a lasting impression on me, and from this I immediately got the idea of arranging the audience on all four sides of the stage. In the center of the stage, I decided to place 18 lecterns, between which the musicians would scavenge their score samples throughout the concert. An accounting grid had to be created to keep track (thanks Alissa). A sound and lighting plan accompanied the work… In short, this music show left a lasting impression on me, and I took from it the idea of doing something simpler next time.
The concert was presented again the following year, in Germany. It remains one of the most memorable events of my career, although I do regret my haircut that day (see photo). The hall was equipped with huge cushions on which the audience could stretch out comfortably to immerse themselves in the hour of sound magnificently carried by the musicians, while, behind the console, I sipped the large beer the lighting engineer had given me. One thing led to another, and my next three creations were performed by German ensembles. But that’s a story for another time.
Thank you:
Quatuor Bozzini
- Clemens Merkel, violin
- Alissa Cheung, violin
- Stéphanie Bozzini, viola
- Isabelle Bozzini, cello
with - Reuven Rothman, double bass for the premiere
- Pierre-Alexandre Maranda, double bass for revivals and album recording
- Jean-François Blouin, sound engineer
Montreal/New Music Festival, distribution of the creation
A third fundraising campaign!
This year, Projections libérantes invites you to enjoy a unique musical experience as part of its fundraising campaign and first-ever benefit event! By participating in the “C’est ma toune!” campaign, vote for the song that will be arranged and performed by Simon Martin on guitar in natural harmony during our benefit evening on December 3.
Songs to choose from:
- Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana
- Zombie – The Cranberries
- Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles
- Illegal – Raven
Benefit evening
📅 Tuesday, December 3, 7:00-9:00 pm (doors open at 6:30 pm)
📍 Goethe-Institut Montréal
1626 Boul. Saint-Laurent, Suite 100, Montréal (métro St-Laurent)
Musique d'art (2022) as part of the CAM en tournée this spring
A composition by Simon Martin, which premiered at the Festival International Musique Actuelle Victoriaville (FIMAV) in 2022, and will be revived by the Conseil des arts de Montréal on tour this spring!
Friday, May 3, 7:30pm | Maison de la culture Côte-des-Neiges
Sunday, May 5, 2:00 p.m. | Maison de la culture de Saint-Laurent
Thursday, May 9, 7:30pm | Maison de la culture du Plateau-Mont-Royal
Sunday, May 12, 2:00 pm | Maison de la culture Marie-Uguay
Touring musicians :
Victor Fournelle-Blain, viola
Onyou Lee, viola
Quinn Robinson, viola
Audréanne Filion, cello
Sébastien Talbot, double bass
With the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Conseil des arts de Montréal.
Musique d'art (2023) finalist for the Prix Opus in the Creation of the Year category.
The finalists for the Prix Opus were announced this morning by the Conseil québécois de la musique. Projections libérantes would like to thank the musicians who created Simon Martin’s latest work, Musique d’art (2023):
- Cristian Gort, chef
- Cynthia Blanchon, viola
- Onyou Lee, viola
- Marie-Lise Ouellet, viola
- Jean René, viola
- Pierre-Alain Bouvrette, cello
- Audréanne Filion, cello
- Samuel-San Vachon, double bass
The results will be announced on February 4 at the Prix Opus Gala.
Projections libérantes launches its second annual fundraising campaign
The “Let’s Strike a Chord” campaign invites you to participate directly in the continuation of our project for guitar in natural harmony!
As part of the campaign, it’s up to you to choose the first slide fingerboard we’re going to build! We’ve carefully selected three different fretboard models, each with its own unique sound. Your contribution entitles you to a vote for the key of your choice. The winning fingerboard will be made following the campaign, and musical sketches performed with it will be revealed. It’s up to you to choose between the rational, the dreamy and the rebellious fretboard!
Join us on this musical adventure!
Sharing workshop on natural harmony
In the style of a potluck, Simon Martin invites professional musicians, composers and performers to bring their contribution to the table for convivial group sharing. An idea, a question, an experience, a discovery, a composition project… anything to do with natural harmony, or unconventional musical scales in general, is welcome. It’s a rendez-vous!
// WHEN? Wednesday, June 21, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
// WHERE? Goethe-Institut, 1626 Boul. Saint-Laurent, Montreal
Free, with registration (places are limited)
Please fill in the form below to validate your registration.
Musique d'art (2023): photos from the concert
On March 5, 2023, Simon Martin’s latest composition, Musique d’art (2023), was presented as part of the festival Montréal/Nouvelles Musiques organized by the SMCQ. Some photos by Arach’ Pictures – Najim Chaoui, 2023:
Musique d'art (2023) : Creation in natural harmony with a unique sound!
Simon Martin continues his fascinating exploration of natural harmony with his new creation, Musique d’art (2023). The piece will be presented as part of the international festival Montréal/Nouvelles Musiques organized by the Société de musique contemporaine du Québec.
Rendezvous on Sunday, March 5 at 11 a.m. at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal.
Projections libérantes launches its first fundraising campaign!
From now until December 22, participate in the campaign and contribute to the production of concert music from Quebec.
For over 10 years, Projections Libérantes has distinguished itself in this field by the originality of its creations, “strong, independent, unique proposals” performed by exceptionally talented local musicians.
Our goal for this first campaign is to raise $1000. This amount will be directly invested in Projections libérantes’ next work, Musique d’art (2023)!
Beyond its financial objective, we hope that this campaign will be an opportunity to bring together a community of inspired people, for whom creativity represents a fundamental human dimension.
Just Intonation Guitars : Esquisses #1 and #2
Created in collaboration with the École-Atelier Lutherie-Guitare Bruand, the Just Intonation guitar is now operational. Here are two compositions to hear it.
__________
Simon Martin : composition
Jérôme Ducharme guitariste : interprétation
Simon Jolicoeur-Côté : images and editing
« Musique d'art (2015 ) » met New York at TIME:SPANS FESTIVAL
« Musique d'art (2022) » : a wonderful premiere at FIMAV!
Press quotes:
Alain Brunet, PAN M 360
« Sa musique très spéciale se fonde sur le déploiement de textures harmoniques qui varient progressivement en relief et en intensité, le tout conclu par une superbe ascension dans les fréquences plus aiguës. Cette linéarité du son finit par happer le mélomane et le brancher sur les microdétails de ce minimalisme apparent exprimé dans l’œuvre créée dimanche, Musique d’art (2022). »
Alain Brunet, PAN M 360
Full article →
“Performed Sunday in the main sanctuary of a beautifully renovated 19th-century church, the simplicity of the music provided a calm and reflective respite from the more complex and vigorous material in most festival concerts over four days.”
Irwin Block, Avant Music News
Full article →
“Long tones intersected, diverged, converged and finally built to shimmering climax. A fascinating concert.”
Mike Chamberlain, All About Jazz
Full article →
“The church’s special ambience was even more ideally suited to composer Simon Martin’s mesmeric minimalist work Musique d’Art (2022).”
Josef Woodard, DownBeat
Full article →
Excerpts:
First rehearsals for « Musique d'art (2022) »
This is it! The rehearsals for Musique d’Art (2022) are over. Here are some pictures!
World premiere on Sunday, May 22, 2022, 1:00 pm, at the Saint-Christophe d’Arthabaska church, during the Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville (FIMAV)
Composition : Simon Martin
Interpretation :
- Lyne Allard, viola
- Victor Fournelle-Blain, viola
- Jean René, viola
- Émilie Girard-Charest, cello
- Étienne Lafrance, double bass
- Technique: Guillaume Barrette
Duration: 50 minutes
Photos by Caroline Campeau
« Musique d'art (2015) » US premiere at TIME:SPANS Festival 2022 in New York
After Montreal, Dresde and Quebec, « Musique d’art (2015) » is going to be presented in New York! The string and electronic quintet will perform at the TIME:SPANS festival on August 26, marking it the first performance of Projections Liberantes’ work in the United States.
Composition: Simon Martin
With Quatuor Bozzini:
Clemens Merkel, violon
Alissa Cheung, violon
Stéphanie Bozzini, viola
and Pierre-Alexandre Maranda, double bass
« Musique d'art (2022) » at the Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville (FIMAV)
Projections libérantes is celebrating its tenth anniversary with a new creation at the Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville (FIMAV). The world premiere of Musique d’art (2022) will be presented on Sunday, May 22, 1:00 pm, at the Saint-Christophe d’Arthabaska church.
After 10 years of activity, 5 creations, 3 albums, 1 Opus Composer of the Year award, 2 national broadcasts, 1 natural harmony treatise, 1 just Intonation guitar making project, Projections libérantes is proudly returning to the forefront of the Quebec scene with a brand new 100% local work!
Musique d’art (2022) is deeply rooted in the continuity of the last decade: Simon Martin’s compositional style is more personal and more accessible than ever. His most recent innovations in natural harmony allow him to satisfy niche audiences in search of singular artistic experiences, but also the general public, to whom he offers a space to reflect outside of time.
First rehearsals of « Musique d'art (2022) »
A new work by Simon Martin
with
Jean René, Victor Fournelle-Blain, Lyne Allard, viola
Émilie Girard-Charest, cello
Étienne Lafrance, double bass
Guillaume Barrette, technique
at the Goethe-Institut Montreal
Launch of the Just Intonation guitars project
Finally! We are happy to release today the first video we filmed last November at L’école-atelier Lutherie-Guitare Bruand in which Simon Martin explains the project!
A second video will be released soon about the work of the luthiers. Warning… it’s fascinating! Enjoy!
Simon Martin: artistic direction
René Wilhelmy: direction of lutherie, development and CAD/CNC programming
Dan Kelly: luthier (apprentice-technician of l’école-atelier Lutherie-Guitare Bruand)
Maxime Baron : luthier (apprentice technician of tl’école-atelier Lutherie-Guitare Bruand)
Simon Jolicoeur-Côté : images and editing
The guitar used for the shooting of this video is the work of Julien Côté (graduate of l’école-atelier Lutherie-Guitare Bruand in 2020)
The guitar used for the development of the project is the work of Élise Lacasse (graduation from l’école-atelier Lutherie-Guitare Bruand in 2018)
Just Intonation guitars project at École Lutherie-Guitare Bruand
Some pictures of the shoot on November 18th. We will reveal more to you shortly!
Treatise : Numbers-Based Musical Harmony
Musique d'art (2021) webcast by Ensemble Musikfabrik
Facebook Live, Septembre 9th 2021, 2pm
- Christine Chapman, horn
- Marco Blaauw, trumpet
- Bruce Collings, trombone
- Melvyn Poore, euphonium
- Daniel Seitz, sound / technical direction
- Janet Sinica, video
- Hendrik Manook, sound engineering
- Martin Schmitz, lighting
Next premiere: Musique d'art (2021)
for trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium and electronics
Projections libérantes resumes its collaboration with the musicians of Ensemble Musikfabrik to propose a work composed for a group of instruments unique in the world: four double-bell brass instruments. The double bell affords each instrument with instant or perfectly gradual transition between normal
playing and muted playing, producing striking timbre effects.
Musique d’art (2021) is an international coproduction between Projections libérantes and Ensemble Musikfabrik.
Credits
Composition: Simon Martin
Performers: Ensemble Musikfabrik
- Marco Blaauw, trumpet
- Christine Chapman, horn
- Bruce Collings, trombone
- Melvin Poore, euphonium
Audio engineering: Guillaume Barrette
Guitar project under development
We recently started working on a project for classical guitars. This project will take a few years to reach fruition as, before the composition process can begin, we need to completely redesign the fret layout to achieve new scales.
We will be sharing more information about this project, in sound and vision, very soon. Stay tuned!
