Title, Duration, Place, Year, Publisher, Dedicated to, Premiere (performer(s), place, date)

SYMPHONIE EN TROIS MOUVEMENTS, Prix de Composition des Amis de l'Orgue 1984, 15', Bayonne, 1984, Combre, à mes parents, Naji Hakim, église de la Madeleine, Paris, 12.12.84

Composed in 1984, the Symphonie en Trois Mouvements won the Composition prize of the Amis de l'Orgue in homage to Louis Vierne. Each movement illustrates a verse of the Bible. The first, « I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly » (John 10/10), is an Allegro constructed according to the arithmetical series of Fibonacci : in a lively character, the number of semi-quavers increases following the first 13 terms of the series (1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 81, 144, 233, 377). With the last term appears, on the pedal, an energetic descending theme symbolizing the coming of the Saviour. The second movement, Moderato, evokes, by his highly contrasted variations, the verse of Psalm 117, « … and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever ». Jointly with a choral theme, the first movement’s theme returns in a cyclical way. This triptych ends with a Vivo in a rondo form. « O sing the Lord a new song ; sing to the Lord, all the earth ! ». This verse of Psalm 96 is illustrated by a rhythmic dance theme alternating with varied cyclical appearances of the themes of the preceding movements, as well as with the quotation of the gregorian melody of this verse. The first performance of the Symphonie en Trois Mouvements was given by the composer on 12 December 1984, at the Madeleine in Paris.

© Marie-Bernadette Dufourcet / translated by Amy Johansen