Sortie

Sortie (2020)
Commissioned by Linda Beaumont in 2020, Sortie was written during the early stages of
the COVID-19 pandemic, and was subsequently performed by the composer for a recording
released later in 2020. Sortie takes the listener on a journey instilled with anticipation and
hope, despite being written during a time of great uncertainty in the world.
Meurant employs a restrained palette of musical concepts throughout this work. Simple
ostinati are carefully layered, and they gradually build in intensity as the upper melody
slowly climbs ever higher. As the hands spread apart, the ostinati pickup pace before forte
bass pedals continue from the climax through into the next section. A fourth voice enters
with dyads to conclude the main section of the work, before a reprise of the whole work from
the beginning. A serene coda follows, with bell-like chimes in the upper register sitting on top
of a familiar rising ostinato, now in the left hand.
The listener’s ear is kept engaged throughout as the downbeat pulse undergoes constant yet
subtle subversion — the metre expands and contracts seamlessly between odd and even time
signatures. This push and pull occurs underneath a continuous flow of the accompanying
ostinati, which itself ebbs and flows with directed rubato markings.
The composer writes:
Having had numerous theatre and ensemble works postponed or cancelled since the start
of the pandemic in early 2020, Sortie — French for ‘exit’ or ‘launch’ — was essentially
created out of a desire to continue on working, composing and even performing during
lockdowns.
Sortie was later paired with my Sonata for solo violin and piano piece Pas de deux to form
the musical basis for the dance theatre work Au revoir mon ami which was presented by
the National Youth Ballet Company, with choreography by Timothy Gordon and artistic
director Brett Morgan.
PE204 – v