Topography of Darkness
Inspired by the main character in Alexander Zinoviev's novel Notes of a Night Watchman, Martin Bédard imagines himself - the watchman - doing an unreal round in the depths of darkness where, guided by a faint light and the echo of one's own footsteps, everything in each of the transfigured places is experienced from within.
I have send a very short piece (Topography of darkness, duration 4'00") but this piece is without reference to the call of borders... but the second piece (Check-point, duration : 14'12") is not about a specific or real geographic borders but..... all the piece (just the reference of the title) is based on this concept of border and separation between two territories. It's like a travel ( during the night) for pass to the other side... It's like many borders in this world...unfortunately.
Martin Bédard - born in Québec City in 1970 - studied music at Université Laval and at the Conservatoire de musique both in Québec City and in Montréal. As an electroacoustic composer, Martin explores the realms of instrumental and mixed composition. His ultimate artistic concern though remains the sound event as a means of expression through intelligent sound architecture.
Martin earned his master's degree in electroacoustic composition under the direction of composers Yves Daoust and André Fecteau at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal, graduating with honours. He is currently a lecturer and a PhD student in electroacoustic composition with composer Robert Normandeau at Université de Montréal.
Martin was selected for the San Francisco Tape Music Festival (USA, 2007), Florida Electroacoustic Music Festival (USA, 2007), the Seoul international computer music festival (Seoul, Korea, 2006), the IXe Cycle de Concerts de Musique par Ordinateur 2006/07 (Université Paris VIII) and the Sonorities Festival of Contemporary Music (Belfast, UK, 2006). He is a two-time winner in the Jeu de temps/Times Play competition (JTTP, Canada, 2003 and 2005) organized by the Canadian Electroacoustic Community (CEC).