Composed in
2003

For
Mezzo-Soprano, 16 Instruments and Electronic Sounds

Instrumentation
1/1/1/1 – 1/1/1/0 – 2 Perc – Pno – 1/1/1/1/1

Duration
22′

Lyrics by
Elisabeth Buzzard

First performance
December 3, 2003 at the Kaaitheater in Brussels (B). Barbara TETENBERG, mezzo. The Ictus Ensemble, conducted by Georges-Elie OCTORS

Commissioned by
Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels & Ictus Ensemble

Dedicated to
(my wife) Birgit Van Cleemput

Publisher

Donemus

Luc on Jocasta :

“Jocasta” is a monodrama for Mezzo-Soprano, instrumental ensemble of 15 instruments and electro-acoustic sounds on an original libretto (in English) by Elisabeth Buzzard. It’s about the myth (or the story) of Oedipus, but told from the point of view of Jocasta, the mother-wive. Elisabeth Buzzard conceived the text without any interpunction, which on one hand left me every freedom of musical interpretation possible but on the other hand forced me to make choices. As far as I’m concerned, I considered this text as an immense poem of love, and so did I work out the music. It speaks for itself that the moods change on the way, but it will be clear from the first audition that the sonorities contain certain constant elements. The main ingredients of the electro-acoustic sounds are based upon “objets trouvés” (and are of course manipulated) and upon instrumental and vocal sources (manipulated as well). The vocal writing won’t give enormous surprises to listeners who are familiar with my output. This work was a joint commission from the Music Section of the “Palais des Beaux-Arts” (BOZAR) in Brussels and from the Ictus ensemble. The score is dedicated to my wife Birgit. The First Performance was given in the Kaaitheater in Brussels on December 3, 2003 by the Ictus Ensemble with Mezzo Barbara Tetenberg, conducted by Georges-Elie Octors.

Luc Brewaeys