Sound Factory

Creative team

François et Bernard Baschet, creators of the sound sculptures
Geneviève Asselin, costumes
Jean Derome, composer
Lorena Corradi,composer
Merlin Ettore, composer
Reggi Ettore, composer
Christiane Duchesne, text
Éric Saint-Jean, stage direction
Lorena Corradi and Reggi Ettore, artistic direction

Performers

Myra Camirand, percussions
Thomas Brodeur, percussions

Technical team

Benoit Rolland, technical direction

François et Bernard Baschet creators af the sound sculptures
As the title implies ’Sculpture Sonores’ is the name given to a large collection of original instruments by the French inventors Francois and Bernard Baschet, who from 1952 pioneered for nearly 50 years a completely new way of combining sculpture and sound.
Some small, some over 20 feet high and incorporating glass rods, metal cones, wires’, plastic inflatable resonators, and many other devices, these fascinating structures are not only cosmetically entracing, but produce an incredible range of sounds and varied sonic textures. 

Some, such as the recent ’Cristal’ have evolved into extremely sophisticated fully chromatic musical instruments that are just as practical to use as their traditional counterparts, and are regularly used for performances of anything from Bach to Jazz, and a massive range of contemporary music.

Geneviève Asselin, costume and set design
Following her studies in theatre and visual arts at the Université du Québec à Montréal, Geneviève Asselin has worked on numerous theatre and opera productions, doing makeup and creating accessories, puppets, and set designs.

Christiane Duchesne, writer

In addition to being a scriptwriter, translator, and editor, Christiane Duchesne is also an illustrator and writer. Duchesne, always stimulated by adventure and discovery, loves children, as well as travelling and writing.
Her love of adventure, curious nature and joy of living are reflected in her stories for young people, which give pleasure again and again.
Several of her books have received literary awards, and some have been translated into English. The author herself has translated over 300 books.

Jean Derome, composer

Jean Derome is a cofounder of the Ambiances Magnétiques record label, and one of the most active and provocative members involved in the many creative music movements of Montreal.
As an accomplished musician, composer, interpreter, instrumentalist (actually, a multi-instrumentalist) and improvisor, he has been working to enlarge the boundaries of music for more than thirty years.

Eric Saint-Jean, stage director
The Sound Factory is Éric Saint-Jean’s first collaboration with l’Arsenal à musique. He has a B.A. in criticism and dramaturgy from the Université du Québec à Montréal and completed his master’s degree in directing under Martine Beaulne in 2003. He works regularly with many theatre companies and also teaches drama.

June 2010
Centre d’art Orford, Orford, Qc
3 June 2010

August 2009

The Sound Factory will be in L’Érable Regional County Municipality!
At The Cultural and Country Fair of Princeville, Quebec
8 August 2009 at 1h30 pm

These activities qualify for the program “Les artistes à l’école” through Quebec’s Ministry of education.

This workshop introduces kids to the infinite sound possibilities of the discovery and experimentation of a set of amazing contemporary instruments: the Baschet sound sculptures. When the students play these instruments, they create simple pieces and develop basic tools that will help them pursue their own musical experiences.

Thanks to the versatility of its artistic and educational capacities, L’Arsenal à musique is a major partner for the realization of artistic and cultural projects for young people, in collaboration with teachers and arts specialists (in the spirit of the program ‘La Culture à l’école.’).

These projects provide (through preparation, development and reflection) an opportunity to include students in all of the steps of the creative process, inviting them to invent, perform and appreciate their own works. It has been proven that such experiences help today’s children to thrive as citizens, becoming culturally active and open, curious, with sharp critical and aesthetic thinking.

Level: 1st, 2nd and 3rd cycle elementary
Length: 50-60 minutes or more, depending on the agreement
Maximum number of participants per workshop: 30 children
Available in French or in English

Les artistes à l’école (Web site only in French)

For information:
Anne-Marie Beauchamp
Administrative Assistant
info@arsenal.ca
+ 1 514 738-0336