Le Génie Humain

The piece opens with the strings swaying between two notes that are either right next to each other or 15 tones apart but the interplay of these two notes sets each instrument in sympathetic vibration with each other. A melodic line appears in the first violin and is continued by the double bass while the second violin and viola continue to play with the two-note motif, pushing it rhythmically and melodically as far as is possible, exposing the tensions and friction as the melody soars higher and higher. Then a pizzicato motif introduces a return to the opening melody in the second violin that is repeated by the first violin as gradually each instrument resumes the climb to a higher plane where they all settle, steadily repeating as they decrease in volume, the height achieved.

© Dominque Le Gendre