Guy Michaud

Petite Suite Lac Winnipeg

Petite Suite Lac Winnipeg was composed in January of 2017 and dedicated to the French guitarist Olivier Chassain. It was premiered in April of 2018 by Mr. Chassain at a Winnipeg Classical Guitar Society concert in Winnipeg. In L’oiseau sur un rocher, the composer is inspired by the observation of a cormorant on a hot summer’s day.This beautiful bird is cleaning itself on a rock along the gigantic Lake Winnipeg. The music attempts to imitate this process as it unfolds. The music through its fluctuating tempos, metric changes and quick trills help to visualize the cormorant’s every move. The 6th string of the guitar is tuned up to F and, along with the open B, brings out the modal quality of the music. Quartal and quintal harmonies reestablish the main theme of the piece. A tremolo section follows and evokes a sense of nostalgia and even urgency vis-à-vis man’s responsibility towards the environment. The piece ends with the introduction of a new theme which announces the next movement. L’envol, the second movement of the Suite, attempts to depict the take off, flight and landing of the cormorant. The piece starts with the introduction of the same theme alluded to in the last movement but at a brisk tempo. A declamato pesante section follows personifying the take off of our bird. The piece evolves with a fast arpeggiated section reminiscent of Leo Brouwer’s music. The main theme returns transposed and a new declamato section reappears as the landing of the bird is depicted rhythmically. The Lento section with its harmonics and cantabile melody ends in calm and serenity, bringing the story to a natural close.