“emptiness is an annihilation factor that brings its contagious nothingness to any substance”

— Gaston Bachelard, Les intuitions atomistiques (Essai de classification), 1975 [our translation]

That sentence portrays how emptiness was seen in the Middle-Ages as a threat, a radical absence. I, on the other hand, sees it a type of inner garden, a space with potential, a source of origin. Emptiness produced many scientific, philosophical and spiritual interpretations throughout history. I opted for the interpretation that sees it not as nothingness, but as being full, the quiet matrix of any and all creations. Empty Garden was realized as a second installment of Black Garden (2018-19), with a similar structure and some materials being reprised.

— Armando Balice [English translation: François Couture, v-25]

Empty Garden was realized in 2020 at the composer’s studio in Paris (France) and was premiered on 22 August 2020 by Éric Broitmann as part of the Futura 20 festival (Crest, France). I would like to thank Lola Malique (recorded cello), Éric Broitmann, Emmanuel Richier, Vincent Laubeuf, Motus, Futura, and Ina-GRM.

Premiere

• August 22, 2020, Futura 20: Concert 17, Salle des Moulinages — Espace Soubeyran, Crest (Drôme, France)