L’éveil initially centers on the creation of the universe and the presentation of its various poles: matter / antimatter, illumination / darkness, and searing heat / glacial cold. The idea of opposites presented at the beginning is later developed on a larger temporal scale. Slow and relatively peaceful sections alternate with highly charged, tense sections and rough textures with smooth material. Near the end of the work, the human being awakens in this hostile universe and, echoing its environment, assimilates its own oppositions such as the light and the shadow of the soul. However, these are balanced separately, yet delicately, without strife, on the fulcrum of the conscience.

L’éveil is the first work in a cycle that is inspired by the book inspired by the book Owning Your Own Shadow: Understanding the Dark Side of the Psyche (1991) by Robert A Johnson (Portland, OR, USA, 1921) which explores the paradox of opposition in the psychological realm of mankind. I translated Johnson’s psychological paradox of opposition into a physical realm of environmental proportions that I express through sound.

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L’éveil was realized in 1996-97 at the Métamorphoses d’Orphée studio of Musiques & Recherches in Ohain (Belgium) and premiered on January 11, 1997 during the Concert acousmatique: l’espace du son concert at the L’Orangerie of Le Botanique in Brussels (Belgium). L’éveil was awarded the Public Prize in March 1998 at the 5th Prix international Noroit-Léonce Petitot (Arras, France, 1997).

Premiere

• January 11, 1997, Festival de création sonore et radiophonique: Concert acousmatique 1, L’Orangerie — Le Botanique, Brussels (Belgium)

Awards

• Public prize, 5th Noroit-Leonce Petitot International Prize 1997, Arras (Pas-de-Calais, France)