This is an early solo recording by French avant-cellist Didier Petit from 1989, before he became notorious as the instigator in NOHC or a member of the Parisian "Masterclass" teacher and student ensemble. Fans of Ernst Reijseger's solo efforts would be well advised to seek this set out as the disc of a kindred spirit. First, Petit is an improviser and, therefore, the recording was recorded live in the studio with the exception of the Conversations suite, which was edited and stitched together purposely out of sequence. Using two-handed bowing and percussion techniques on a 19th Century cello, Petit's notions of improvisations lie deeply embedded in the sonorities and melodic ideas of jazz saxophonists rather than in the classical world that birthed him as a musician. The eight Conte that make up the bulk of this disc are realizations upon one or another modal theme, improvised without thought, seemingly relying only on modality and harmonic consonance for their next linear or spatial idea. As such, Petit has no needs for squealing or bone sawing his way through a piece; his naturally expressive bowing patterns are based on saxophone phrasing, and therefore loop lyrically around one another without seams. There are moments when a work becomes so intricate, he creates a drone for air, allowing breathing space for the listener to enter and exit as timbres, sonances, and overtones collide and weave into different mutations of each other. Since the release of this excellent offering, Petit has gone on to spectacular things; but all of his ideas have their basis on Sorcier. ~ Thom Jurek, Rovi

1		Premier Conte
2		Deuxième Conte
3		Troisième Conte
4		Quatrième Conte
5		Cinquième Conte
6		Sixième Conte
7		Septième Conte
8		Huitième Conte
9		Conversation 1-3
10		Conversations 9
11		Conversation 2-6
12		Conversation 4-7