The title Détour [Detour] is both a nod to the name of the ensemble Déviation(s), from Montpellier (France), and the acknowledgement of a rare sidestep into instrumental composition, something I had not done in over fifteen years. However, I approached this project with an acousmatic lens, in an attempt to bring together the best of both worlds.

— Gilles Gobeil [English translation: François Couture, ii-24]

Détour was realized in 2018 at the composer’s studio and was premiered by the trio Déviation(s) on May 21, 2018 at Opéra Comédie’s Salle Molière (Montpellier, France) as part of the Klang! électroacoustique festival. It was commissioned by Maison des arts sonores for Déviation(s). Thanks to the trio’s members, Patrice Soletti (electric guitar, processing), Ludovic Nicot (violin), and Julien Guillamat (cello), for providing me with the raw materials used to compose the instrumental parts. When performing this piece, the guitarist uses, among other effects, a HOG (Harmonic Octave Generator) synthesizer by Electro-Harmonix, which can freeze a chord in order that it can be modulated by hand, filtering the frequencies, in much the same way as an organist does with pipe organ stops. Thanks also to the Canada Council for the Arts (CCA) for their generous support. Détour was awarded an Honorable Mention — Mixed Works at the 2018 international electroacoustic music competition Musica Nova (Prague, Czech Republic).

Premiere

• May 31, 2018, Déviation(s) (Ludovic Nicot; Julien Guillamat; Patrice Soletti); Gilles Gobeil, Jonty Harrison, diffusion • Klang! électroacoustique 2018: Concert 2, Salle Molière — Opéra Comédie, Montpellier (Hérault, France)

Awards

• Honorable Mention, Category B (mixed work), Musica Nova 2018, Prague (Czech Republic)