Pour Notre-Dame (2019)

Calliope Tsoupaki (b. 1963) — Pour Notre-Dame (2019) for organ

“Pour Notre-Dame” (2019) was written in response to the shocking April 15, 2019 fire in Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. The composer writes: “The fire was a major disaster, and much has been rightly written about the value of the church for Christianity, architecture, and art. But the Cathedral is also a symbol for music. The first polyphonic music was composed in Notre-Dame. The overwhelming space and grand acoustics inspired the choirmasters around 1200 to enrich the one-part Gregorian chant with extra voices and musical ornaments. Notre-Dame is thus the cradle of our Western music. This piece is thus not just about Notre-Dame, but also the music that connects us all across both time and space.” The sounds of the piece evoke both the large church bells, the resonant acoustic, and the early modal chant and polyphony.

Greek-Dutch composer Calliope Tsoupaki (b. 1963) was born in Piraeus and was educated in music in Athens. Further musical study occurred at the Royal Conservatory in the Hague (Netherlands) with Louis Andriessen. Tsoupaki settled in Amsterdam and began a career as a pianist and composer. In 2007 she joined the faculty of the Koninklijk Conservatorium. Tsoupaki’s output as a composer includes works in many genres and for many instrumentations, including numerous pieces for “folk” instruments from different cultures as well as various multidisciplinary and multisensory projects. Tsoupaki’s style draws on elements from pre-baroque music in conjunction with more contemporary techniques and influences from music of the Middle East and Greece. From 2018–20, Tsoupaki served as “Componist des Vaderlands,” a Dutch “composer laureate” position of national musical ambassador.

Published by Donemus (http://www.donemus.nl)