LEVEL 6

A composition for six percussionists

I composed Level 6 in 2019 to explore groove generated by rhythmic superposition. Four polyrhythms are introduced gradually; they interact across the form, alternately aligning and diverging to shape accents and meter. The palette references gamelan, Afro-Cuban, and Afro-Brazilian traditions, using steel pipes, gongs, claves, cowbells, snares, bongos, congas, and surdos to articulate shifting timbres and densities. Level 6 premiered in 2020 at the festival Days of Percussion (Ottawa).

Performed by: Béatrice Roy, Robin Jaget, Julien Grégoire, Joseph Visseaux, Alexandre Ducharme, Catherine Cherrier

Recorded at Salle Claude-Champagne, Montréal (Canada) - Sound engineer: Philippe Trudel-Chevalier - Camera operators: William Bovin, Anthony Martel - Audio mixing and video editing: Alessandro Garino

Contemporary Music