This piece for solo harp, written in 2011, is the oldest piece that I consider the fruit of my personal expression.
Dépression Atmosphérique is a descriptive piece that could be performed with the inclusion of accompanying physical/dramatic motions of the performer’s body. This characteristic will return years later in my music with a more prominent role.
The scene depicts a harpist playing their instrument in an open space. At the beginning of the piece the musician plays traditionally: a dreamy use of harmonics, arpeggios and glissandos with theatrical movements (e.g. the circular motion suggested during the glissandos). The music is interrupted by a sudden rain and impending grey cloud (represented with fast groups of notes moving chromatically until the reach of a tonal chord which allows the harpist to continue the initial musical gestures. A battles against these natural interruptions is in place; thunder (gong sounds) and clouds fragment the melodic line into a climax of anxiety. The wind (represented by a rubbing motion on the strings) blows out the grey clouds and dampens the resonance of the notes played by the musician.
New clouds appear (white clouds, represented by Aeolian Tremolos), now softer than the previous ones and characterised by a linear motion with some variations in the pedals instead of the more aggressive chromatic movement of the grey clouds. The harpist tries once more to restart the song; eventually the wind blows the clouds away silencing the scene. The musician then draws inspiration on the previous natural sounds and integrates them in the musical phrases. All the possible body movements/theatrical actions can be decided upon by the interpreters as they sees fit.
