Fracture Mechanics, the disc
by Gilles Gobeil |imed_9421-0001|
Medieval stone-cutters would strike rock, making it ‘ring’ in
order to judge its worth for construction. The illustration on the cover
refers to stained glass found in the Bourges cathedral (France).
I’ve discovered that my work as a composer has much in common with
this branch of civil engineering — exploring and evaluating the
behaviour of material on the verge of splitting apart. The composer searches
out well-defined forms, strong and clearly cut, alternating movements and
interaction marked by tension and release.
The material which I use is subjected to restraint, to enormous pressure,
until it finally sunders, shatters, transforms. Brought to its breaking
point.
Gilles Gobeil,
Montréal [vi-94]
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