Compositional Notes

Artaud is a very unusual and complex character. A 20th century French poet, artist and philosopher that is known by some as a forward thinking genius too radical to be understood in his time, by others as an eccentric lunatic or simply as radical, misguided and foolish.
Artaud is arguably best known for his theory regarding the creative powers of mankind.
His theory is based around the concept that the creative prowess of mankind reaches a pinnacle when faced with the threat of extinction in an attempt to leave some kind of legacy to their existence. To justify this theory he describes the work of the great painters, poets, playwrights and composers of Renaissance Europe set against the terror of an all-consuming plague - the Black Death - that was ravaging the entire continent of Europe.
Artaud held a seminar in Paris describing this theory to the Parisian intelligentia whereby, against the advice of his peers, he re-enacted the final moments of a dying man, consumed by bubonic plague. After this re-enactment some of the audience were shocked and horrified, others simply laughed at him as though he were a madman or fool.

This piece of music depicts Artaud’s re-enactment in three sections.

Section 1: Artaud is describing his theories to an uncertain audience. His ideas come across as bizarre and are not well received. He is setting the scene for his re-enactment of dying by Black Death. The mood is of uncertainty creating an uneasy silence. The audience becomes agitated and confused, fascinated and fixed, disgusted but wanting. The scene is surreal.

Dynamic: Light and airy to create a ‘floating’ and strange quality.
Orchestration and Tonality: The orchestration is thin with a low note density to create a feeling that is light and open. However each chord within the verse is in a different key to the next creating a mood of instability and uncertainty. The chorus has a motif played on the lead guitar and French horns in unison that call out “Artaud” almost in the manner of a child’s playground taunt.

Section 2: The re-enactment begins with the introduction of the rotating riff. The drama of the scene magnifies as Artaud begins to moan in pain. His features are twisted, he begins to sweat and the pain begins to intensify. The audience looks on stunned into silence.

Dynamic: moderately heavy
Orchestration and Tonality: The orchestration thickens with a greater note density on the lead guitar to increase the feeling of intensity. Section 2 closes with a chorus but with the addition of a heavy riff that is bolstered with thicker orchestration to strengthen the taunt and hint at the suffering Artaud is acting out.

Section 3: The re-enactment climaxes with Artaud’s body convulsing in agony. The audience shouts and jeers in protest. Artaud continues unashamedly and is totally engrossed by his ‘death throws’. One by one, the audience leaves the room in sheer disgust at this display of insanity. Artaud not only continues hi re-enactment, but intensifies as ‘death’ approaches’. The scene is rowdy and chaotic with Artaud screaming in ‘agony’ and the audience yelling in protest.

Dynamic: very heavy
Orchestration and Tonality: The orchestration is at its densest to increase the intensity yet further towards the climax. The “Techno / Trance” like keyboard lines clash with a “Heavy Metal” rhythm section depicting respectively the chaotic cries of derision and protest aimed at an oblivious, screaming and thrashing Artaud resulting in a scene of utter mayhem.