"Rajazz meets Messiaen"

As part of his FRArt research, Manuel Hermia launched a call for scores in 2024, inviting composers to write new works based on his theory of "rajazz." Clément Cerovecki composed a series of pieces combining the rajazz system with Messiaen's modes of limited transposition. The symbolic motivation behind the rajazz theory stems from a desire to reconcile seemingly opposite approaches to music: Eastern (modal and static) and Western (tonal and unstable). Meanwhile, Messiaen's modes allow the idealistic rigidity of a system (exact divisions of the octave) to coexist with rich poetic potential (tonal evocations and coloristic imagery). From the encounter between these two systems emerges music with somewhat strange colors, full of double meanings, leaving each musician free to simultaneously follow distinct approaches. The quintet will perform compositions by Clément and Manuel.

Manuel Hermia – alto saxophone

Laurence Cousseau – alto flute Clément

Cerovecki – keyboard

Gionata Giardina – drums

Emanuel Van Mieghem – double bass

Conscious contribution (suggested price: €15)