Acousmonium: at the heart of listening

By deploying its Acousmonium, the Groupe de Recherches Musicales (GRM) of the national audiovisual institute (INA) offers an immersive experience, open to unique sound universes through a selection of works by artists from diverse backgrounds. A new way to experience music.

Do you know the acousmonium? Defined as an orchestra of loudspeakers, this impressive device was designed to delve into the very heart of sound material. Imagined in the 1970s by François Bayle, composer and member of the GRM of the INA, it has since been used by major figures in contemporary music: Pierre Henry, Bernard Parmegiani, Luc Ferrari, Éliane Radigue, etc.

The idea is to diversify the types of loudspeakers — in terms of sound color, tessitura, intensity — and to exploit their positioning in space. The listener is thus literally immersed in a powerful orchestra. The whole is intended to be directed by a performer, via a mixing console, who explores the qualities of sound and the emotions they produce, so much so that we also speak of "cinema for the ear."

It is this experience at the heart of sound material that INA-GRM invites you to live, in partnership with Césaré – National Center for Musical Creation, Reims. A rare opportunity to discover bold musical programming, at the crossroads of generations and sensitivities, in a spirit always renewed with curiosity and sharing.

*Compositions by Michèle Bokanowski, François J. Bonnet, Philippe Gordiani (creation), Eve Aboulkheir, Stephen O’Malley

* Each composer will present their own piece, except for Michèle Bokanowski and Stephen O'Malley. Their pieces will be played by François J. Bonnet.

PROGRAM

Michèle Bokanowski "Rhapsodia" 2018, 17’
François J. Bonnet "Banshee" 2024, 22’
Philippe Gordiani "Clausis" creation 2025, 20’14

intermission

Eve Aboulkheir "Venus Road" 2024, 20’
Stephen O’Malley "But remember what you have had" 2024, 32’

Direction François J. Bonnet
Coordination Jules Négrier
Technical direction Philippe Dao, Emmanuel Richier

learn more: Interview with François BAYLE: the Acousmonium
source: INA grm YouTube channel