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Easy, compose for the octobass? Acquired by the OSM in 2016 at the request of Ken Nagano following a commission from Canimex, a company run by patrons Roger and Huguette Dubois, this instrument, measuring 11 ft. 10 in. (3.6 m) in height and comprising hundreds of parts, pedals, and a system of levers that allow notes to be marked on the neck, which would otherwise be too high, is usually associated with the large orchestras of the Romantic period, when orchestral forces were steadily expanding. Following this new addition to its instrumentarium, the OSM acquired two additional octobasses, which could be heard in Berlioz’s Les Troyens in February 2020, given the enthusiasm generated by this instrument. This makes the OSM one of the only orchestras in the world to own three models of this massive instrument. But is it possible to give this orchestral instrument a role as a chamber instrument?
Composer Thierry Côté has lent himself to this stylistic and compositional exercise. His work Résilience for octobass, two cellos, and oboe will be premiered and performed during the Maison symphonique’s Discovery Tour as part of the Virée classique. Alexandre Villemaire of PAN M 360 spoke with him about this task he has undertaken.
Photo Credits : Antoine Saito
