In 1997 I composed a «Cantate» for the group TUYO, scored for violin and invented instruments (percussions of many types). This rather extensive work included a violin solo that was later isolated as a piece called «Envolée d’anges» and performed as such. Many years later, the dance company Cas Public asked me if they could use it for a dance number on a tour, but I rather decided to compose a whole new piece based on the musical elements of «Envolée d’anges». After completion, the work held so little common ideas with its predecessor that I decided to give its title, one that refers to its being in the “surroundings” (environs in French) of the original cantata. Later I became quite fond of the idea of creating musical environments – I composed a few pieces with this concept in mind.
The violin part of the 1997 Cantate used deconstructed elements from a famous J. S. Bach Cantata. In «Environnements de Cantate» the only surviving element from the original distorted citations is the repeated Ds in the opening of the piece, the rest of the composition is a long written improvisation that culminates in a virtuoso delirium using techniques that could remind one of some excellent gypsy violinists.
«Environnements de Cantate» is my most performed work up to now. It was premiered by Andréa Tyniec at the Chapelle historique du Bon-Pasteur in Montréal, and was awarded a few Prizes at competitions.