A group with a shifting line-up, L’Hexacorde favors the contemporary repertoire for classical guitar ensemble and its expansion. Through arrangements, commissions and premieres, the ensemble explores the potential of its unusual instrumentation, devoting a particular attention to Canadian music. When writing the Quatuor Bizarre (or “Strange Quartet”), Francis Marcoux was motivated by a healthy and strong will to blow to smithereens the sound construction L’Hexacorde had in mind up to that point. Composed for six (not four!) of our guitarists, the piece makes a point of not using their established skills, calling instead for piano, Archtop guitar, prepared guitars and a percussive guitar. In short, anything BUT classical guitar! Mister Marcoux also took pleasure in short-circuiting the immutable logic behind the quartet’s form and metrical, rhythmical, melodic and harmonic parameters by cutting off a whole section from his work, a section undoubtedly essential to the theoretical rigor of the piece. And it still works!!!!!!!!!!

— L’Hexacorde [English translation: François Couture, vi-03]

Enregistré à l’Auditorium de la Maison de la Culture Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, Montréal, le 28 avril 2003 par Pierre Olivier. Montage: Francis Marcoux

Premiere

• April 28, 2003, Concert, Maison de la culture Notre-Dame-de-Grâce — Botrel, Montréal (Québec)

Performers

• Francis Marcoux, Archtop guitar
• Simon Duchesne, piano
• Jérôme Perreault, bass
• Jean Desrochers, prepared guitar
• Hugo-Andres Larenas, prepared guitar
• Étienne Guérin, guitar-percussion