To the enthusiasm of Florence Gonot and Alexandre Yterce

The title Corps et âme (Body and Soul) attempts to convey a two-sided notion: body and soul, which are, according to some psychoanalysts — and despite common sense —, a single thing; plus the meaning of the expression “body and soul,” that is to involve oneself completely, entirely, passionately.

Sound materials I perceive — rather subjectively — as quite fleshy or rather ethereal (as in non-gravity) are intertwining and melting together in a common crescendo. The vocal origins of some of the material prove the presence of the body. A key element is taken from a previous work, Un certain embarquement, and constitutes the sensual pole of this double yet homozygous being.

The work was conceived in the light of a reflection on myself, on the basic orientations of my life, a sort of free anamnesis triggered by the investigation of the Sonopsys magazine whose first issue was dedicated to my work.

— Francis Dhomont [English translation: François Couture, viii-06]

Corps et âme was realized in 2001-02 at the composer’s studio in Montréal (Québec) and premiered on January 13, 2003 at the Salle Olivier Messiaen, Maison de Radio France (Paris, France) during the Multiphonies concert produced by the Ina-GRM. The piece was commissioned by Florence Gonot and Alexandre Yterce for Sonopsys magazine. Corps et âme was awarded one of the five 1st prizes at the ZKM’s Short Cuts: Beauty competition in July 2006 (Karlsruhe, Germany). Corps et âme was first released in 2003 on the companion disc of the book Sonopsys: Francis Dhomont.

Premiere

• January 13, 2003, Multiphonies 2002-03: Acousmatique 1, Salle Olivier Messiaen — Maison de Radio France, Paris (France)