La belle aventure originated in the necessity – and the dream – of filling an obvious gap in the Canadian repertoire for young clarinetists.

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Between 2014 and 2021, it has become a vast array of contemporary creation, all aesthetics combined: tonal or neo-tonal, modal, atonal, with proportional notation or contemporary techniques, minimalist, Latin dances, little jazz waltz ...

Twenty composers have created with great pleasure more than 150 works, some very short - miniatures - others more elaborate. All are refined, fun or serious pieces of craftsmanship, but demanding whatever their level of difficulty, they are intended to be played between the first and the sixth year of clarinet study and sometimes beyond, the most demanding. are of the level of competition pieces.

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For composers who agreed to collaborate in this project, the challenge was twofold:  to work within highly restrictive parameters, with a purpose that was also very stimulating. Over twenty composers successfully met this challenge, and despite the constraints, everyone put their best foot forward. The greatest challenges were inherent in the simplest pieces – or so they seemed. If you listen successively to Petit train va loin by Robert Lemay, to Éric Champagne's Baba Cool, and to Bruce Mather's Colin-maillard, in three short minutes, three musical and poetic universes unfold before you.  

 All the works are or will be recorded and posted on the various online listening or purchasing platforms as well as being published by Doberman-Yppan.

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• In March 2021, 29 unaccompanied pieces were put online. They are published in 3 volumes by Doberman-Yppan La belle aventure col 1, 2 3. They introduce the musical universes of Simon Bertrand, Robert Lemay, Bruce Mather, Hope Lee, Michalis Andronikou and Jean Lesage.

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• In August 2021, 4 suites for clarinet and piano were put online: Visages de la paix Op 52 by François-Hugues Leclair, Winter Scenes by Richard Gibson, 6 Hexagones by Alain Perron, 7 Pièces pour clarinette et piano by Nicolas Gilbert.

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Pianist Philippe Prud’homme is my partner for all works with piano.

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I recorded these works in collaboration with their composers, and with the aim of providing future performers with a version of reference which, I hope, will also be a source of inspiration.

La belle aventure continues…

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