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Québecois-born, Pittsburgh-based composer, violonist, and producer Pier-Luc Boivin has been operating as Le Grand Salon since 2015. His latest EP, "L'Architecture de l'Impermanence", is a bold and experimental take on contemporary classical composition that will challenge and reward listeners with its tense harmonies, intricate textures, and haunting melodies.
The EP's four tracks all share a common compositional foundation: the prime tone row from Anton Webern's Symphony op. 21, a technique used in serialism that involves selecting a series of notes and then manipulating them in various ways. Boivin's use of this technique creates a sense of tension and unease throughout the EP, but also allows for moments of tonal beauty to shine through.
The opening track, "Rouille et vert-de-gris," exemplifies the complexity of Boivin's approach. While the piece requires a patient ear to fully appreciate its nuances, attentive listeners will discover moments of accessible and lovely passages amidst the more challenging dissonance.
Boivin's incorporation of mutilated electronics and unconventional textures, which often sound like they're coming from the netherworld, may also be challenging for some listeners to connect with on a visceral level. However, those willing to embrace the EP's intellectual ambition will be rewarded with cinematic intensity in the closing track, "Un paysage, immense," which uses orchestration, dulcimer, and jazz keys to paint a complicated soundscape.
Overall, "L'Architecture de l'Impermanence" is a technically impressive and intellectually stimulating work that will appeal to fans of the avant-garde and those with a willingness to challenge traditional notions of musical beauty.
★★★